Marshall Allen has a message for you: get ready to fight.

His book, "Never Pay the First Bill," urges consumers to know their rights and understand what you’re up against—namely the nation’s healthcare system.

“Our healthcare system is exploiting our sickness for profit,” Allen told Steve Tarter in this 2021 interview.

“It’s okay to make a profit and we want to reward excellence but what we have too often in the American healthcare system is profiteering,” he said.

“You have businesses creating schemes to take more of our money than they should and a lot of schemes are very deceptive,” said Allen, who’s been covering the healthcare scene for 16 years as a reporter.

“I’m trying to help people understand how these schemes have been working against them,” he said.

Allen said the consumer must be constantly vigilant. “No one else is coming to our rescue,” he noted.

Allen’s guerrilla guide includes the following:

--Analyze and contest your medical bills, so you don't pay more than you should;
 --Obtain the billing codes for a procedure in advance;
 --Write in an appropriate treatment clause before signing financial documents.