In 2018, Americans spent $3.65 trillion on health care. $365 billion of it went for end-of-life care. "But the question we should ask, and we should ask it of not only the last year of life, but of everything we spend on health care, are we getting our money’s worth?," asked Dr. Greg Eastwood, professor of bioethics, humanities and medicine at Upstate Medical University. He's the author of the book "Finishing our Story: Preparing for the End of Life," that looks at the planning for death.

Political debate on practically every side of the aisle agrees that the health care system as it stands today is fundamentally broken. Fixing it, though, may require small, incremental changes different from what often makes headlines, argues a University of Washington educator. Dr. Vin Gupta , an assistant professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Washington, joined us on “ Take Care ” to discuss how the health care system is broken and how to fix it.

What’s the state of health care today? And, more importantly to some, where is it headed? Presidential candidates aren’t the only ones on the hook as many Americans ask what’s next? With us today on “Take Care” is Dan Goldberg . He’s a health care reporter for POLITICO Pro covering health care politics and policy in the U.S.

With Democratic presidential debates well under way, health care has been a frequent conversation on the table, especially the cost of it. As a health reporter at The Atlantic can attest, that cost is often large, unexpected and the source of so much debate. Olga Khazan , a staff writer at The Atlantic who primarily covers health, gender and science, joined “ Take Care ” to discuss her article, “ Americans are going bankrupt from getting sick ” and what it means for our current health care

Many believe that health care is a basic human right, but there are many Americans who are not receiving the care that they need. This time on “Take Care,” we explore the cost of health – why health care is so expensive and how health care could change. We’ll also take a look at hospital visits and surprise bills, plus one doctor’s prescription for fixing (not perfecting) our health care system. First, a conversation with Olga Khazan , staff writer at The Atlantic, about how expensive health

Everyday life can be draining, especially with plenty of tasks to do. Dealing with this busyness can be stressful, but the Dutch concept of “niksen” -- literally “doing nothing”-- may be just the way to take a much-needed break. Olga Mecking , who lives in the Netherlands, is a writer and journalist who wrote a piece for The New York Times called “ The Case for Doing Nothing .” She joined “ Take Care ” to talk about niksen and how best to practice it.

Workplace wellness programs continue to thrive in this country, with companies looking to improve workers’ health and reduce overall medical spending. While larger corporations often take on the task themselves, there are opportunities for smaller businesses to help employees take control of their health. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, in 2018 82% of companies with more than 200 workers offered some sort of wellness program, ranging from exercise and nutrition support, to

One of the things that causes many of us to think we need to recharge is our jobs, but now, many employers offer workplace health and wellness programs. An expert in the field joined “ Take Care ” to shed some light on these programs and the controversy behind them. Julie Appleby is a senior correspondent for Kaiser Health News who previously spent 10 years covering the health industry and policy at USA TODAY. She said about 80% of large employers and more than half of small employers offer some

In today’s information society, “mental fatigue” can be as common as physical fatigue. As such, just as the body needs rest, so too does the mind, according to an author and researcher. Alice Boyes, a former clinical psychologist and researcher turned writer, joined “ Take Care ” to talk about her work and how to best recharge.

For some, all they want to do after a hard day’s work is get a good night’s rest. For others, sleep is a challenge, but as a Harvard educator advises, there are measures anyone can take to improve sleep length and quality. Dr. Jeanne Duffy , an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, joined “ Take Care ” to talk about sleep, the results of getting too little and how to get enough.