Care Talk with Laura Packard: American Health Care Explained

Did you know that Congress is working on a budget through the budget reconciliation process that could strip health care from millions of Americans to pay for tax giveaways to the rich? Maura Quint from Families Over Billionaires explains what’s at stake for Tax Day.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices, Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org, and Rachel Madley from the Center for Health & Democracy answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes updates about the budget reconciliation process, a family member in California that can't get Medi-Cal, what happens to your Medicare if you're already disabled and turn 65, a bat bite that cost $15,000, and taking several weeks to be approved for Medicare enrollment.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

The subsidies which make Affordable Care Act health insurance plans more affordable for millions of Americans expire in 2025. What happens if they aren’t renewed by Congress? Mina Schultz of Young Invincibles talks about what’s at stake for our health insurance.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices, Diane Archer from Just Care & Social Security Works, and Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes more about tariffs and the price of prescription drugs, final rules to Medicare, Dr. Oz confirmed to run Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, what to do when a provider charges you for services which should be free, and do you need to sign up for Medicare when you turn 65 if you still have health insurance from your employer.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

25% of the workforce at the National Institutes of Health slashed. Scientific research paused or canceled. Measles and other infectious diseases spreading. Dr. Elle Saine of Doctors for America talks about public health under attack in America.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices, Diane Archer from Just Care & Social Security Works, and Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes more about how the administration's cuts to HHS would affect Medicare, how dental and vision insurance works on the Affordable Care Act marketplace exchange and off-exchange, and what dental and vision care options are available for people on Medicare or people without insurance.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

How fifteen years of the Affordable Care Act has changed health care in America, and what is at risk in 2025. Anne Shoup of Protect Our Care talks about current attacks on the ACA including insurance premium subsidies set to expire this year, Medicaid expansion under attack in the House budget, and more.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices, Diane Archer from Just Care & Social Security Works, and Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes more about Medicare Advantage overpayments, changes proposed to marketplace open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act next year, and last chance to make changes to your Medicare Advantage insurance coverage during the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period which ends March 31st.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through September 30. Bobby Kogan of Center for American Progress talks about what changes are in that budget, what happens next, and how it will affect you.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices and Rachel Madley from Center for Health & Democracy answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes more about changes proposed to open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act for next year, how to appeal when your Medicare Advantage plan denies your insurance claim or prior authorization, how the Medicare versus Medicare Advantage open enrollment periods work, and when do you become eligible for Medicare.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

If Congress does not pass a budget or budget extension (continuing resolution) by March 14, the federal government will shut down. Alex Lawson of Social Security Works talks about the budget process, how government shutdowns work, and how it will affect you.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices, Rachel Madley from Center for Health & Democracy, and Louise Norris of healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes what to do when your health insurance company denies needed medical imaging, loopholes that let rich people avoid paying their fair share of Medicare taxes, a Congressman's friend is facing medical debt because chemotherapy was not covered with an out of pocket maximum, and more about the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period which continues through March 31st.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

The U.S. House just passed a budget resolution, which would include massive cuts to health care including Medicaid. Bobby Kogan of Center for American Progress talks about how the budget process works in Congress, what the House and Senate need to do next, and how it could affect you.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices, Rachel Madley from Center for Health & Democracy, and Louise Norris of healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes the latest on Trump administration cuts to health insurance enrollment helpers, and an end to public comments for federal health care proposed policies, as well as answers to what to do if your tax form for marketplace health insurance is wrong, how to fight back against proposed Medicaid cuts, and how trigger laws could take away health coverage from people on expanded Medicaid in some states.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

The House and the Senate are battling on budgets, and health care for 80 million Americans on Medicaid is at stake. Allison Orris of Center on Budget & Policy Priorities talks about President Trump & Congress’ budget reconciliation crisis, potential government shutdown, and how it threatens our health care.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices, Diane Archer from Just Care and Social Security Works, and Louise Norris of healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes answers on what to do when you can't afford your medication, when you have Medicare Advantage and can't get assistance, when your family's employer-based health insurance is suddenly cancelled, and does Medicare Advantage overbill the U.S. government?

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

What’s going on with America’s budget? The House and the Senate have different versions, conservative politicians want to strip health care from millions of Americans to pay for tax cuts for the rich, and without agreement by March 14th the government will shut down. Margarida Jorge of Health Care for America Now talks about President Trump & Congress’ budget reconciliation crisis and how it threatens our health care.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices, Diane Archer from Just Care and Social Security Works, and Louise Norris of healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes what to do when receiving a large hospital bill, can insurers deny you a Medicare supplemental (aka Medigap) policy based on pre-existing conditions, and what to do if your insurer denies you a medical screening test.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!

What’s going on with medical research in America? Grant funding through NIH and NSF was paused. What does this mean for medical breakthroughs and cures? Dr. Meena Bewtra of Doctors for America talks about the attacks on medical research funding in America, and abroad through the shutdown of U.S.A.I.D.

Plus experts including show host, stage 4 cancer survivor and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices, Diane Archer from Just Care and Social Security Works, and Louise Norris of healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance and more.

This episode includes explainers about what changes we could see in Medicare Advantage during the Trump administration, open enrollment for Medicare Advantage continues through March 31st, what to do when your insurer won't cover a full series of vaccines.

New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows!