Advertise on podcast: Uncared For

Four in ten people in the United States have medical debt. It's something many of us deal with every day – by avoiding bills, paying with our credit cards, even crowdfunding to cover costs. Whether you have a chronic illness, need an expensive treatment, or are caring for a loved one, debt unfortunately seems to be unavoidable in our system. In this episode, we break all this down with KFF Health News  Senior Correspondent Noam Levey. And we hear from radiation oncologist Dr. Fumiko Chino about what drowning in medical debt felt like when her husband, Andrew, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation working toward a health care system where everyone – no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make – can get the health care they need. Read Noam Levey’s reporting at KFF Health News, including the reporting series he led, Diagnosis: Debt.  Learn more about Fumiko Chino’s research on health care costs and affordability here. If you’re struggling with a big medical bill, check out the website dollarfor.org. It’s a great resource for navigating a hospital’s financial assistance program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Fumiko’s husband Andrew died, he left behind a lot of medical debt. Debt collectors were calling Fumiko regularly – even during Andrew’s funeral. In this premium episode, Fumiko describes what eventually happened with the debt. This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation working toward a health care system where everyone – no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make – can get the health care they need.

Nearly one in five people report that they or a family member have been denied coverage for a service that their own doctor recommended. For cancer patients like Kay Hsu, those denials aren’t just about money – they’re about survival. When her insurance company denied a life-saving scan, Kay fought to get the care she needed and became an advocate along the way. In this episode, we’ll break down what it means to get a denial, and how – like Kay –  you can fight back.  This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation working toward a health care system where everyone – no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make – can get the health care they need. Check out Pro Publica’s Claim File Helper to request your claim file before submitting an appeal, and create appeal documents to send to your insurer using Fight Health Insurance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rural healthcare is in crisis. Nearly 200 rural hospitals across the country have closed in the past two decades, and many more are on the brink. In this episode, we’re zeroing in on the state with the lowest-ranking health care system in the nation: Mississippi. With help from Dr. Kimberly Sanford, an OB/GYN, and Dr. Daniel Edney, Mississippi's State Health Officer, we’ll uncover what rural healthcare looks like today – and why it’s so important to support it.  This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation working toward a health care system where everyone – no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make – can get the health care they need. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In rural communities, where access to health care is limited, it’s often easy to get used to living with pain and discomfort. That’s something Dr. Kimberly Sanford, an OB/GYN in Mississippi, sees regularly in her practice. Patient by patient, she’s hoping to change that – often uncovering long-ignored health issues and providing education about the kind of care we all deserve.  This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation working toward a health care system where everyone – no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make – can get the health care they need.

About half of people with mental illness aren’t able to access treatment – and it's not just because the U.S. is facing a provider shortage. Health insurance networks often create barriers to mental health care, rather than making it more accessible. Just ask Berkeley-based therapist Kendra F. Dunlap, who stopped taking insurance due to low reimbursements, coding errors, and endless paperwork. This week, we’re exploring how insurers make it so challenging for therapists like Kendra to stay in-network – and why patients often pay the price. This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation working toward a health care system where everyone – no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make – can get the health care they need. For access to sliding scale therapy, check out Open Path Collective. For Black women and nonbinary people, Loveland Foundation is another great resource offering therapy support.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the U.S. being the most dangerous high-income nation for childbirth, postpartum is a critical time for new mothers to have continuous, uninterrupted healthcare. Most of the country has extended postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months, but two states, Arkansas and Wisconsin, have yet to extend coverage – putting the lives of thousands of women at risk. In this episode, Arkansas mother of twins Maya Gobara talks about losing her healthcare while her preemie twins were on breathing tubes and she needed urgent surgery. This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation working toward a health care system where everyone – no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make – can get the health care they need. Learn more or donate to Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families at aradvocates.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s an impossible choice many clinicians face today: stay in insurance networks that barely pay the bills, or go private pay and risk pricing out the clients who need help most. Therapist Kendra F. Dunlap shares advice for therapists in that position, and why it comes down to balancing ethics, finances, and access. This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation working toward a health care system where everyone – no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they make – can get the health care they need.

When your loved one is sick, all you want is to make the pain go away. But for far too many Americans, finding – and paying – for healthcare is when the real pain begins. From medical debt to insurance denials to rural hospital closures, host SuChin Pak is taking a hard look at the many ways our system is failing us. Season 3 of Uncared For from Lemonada Media and The Commonwealth Fund. Coming August 6.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re caring for an aging parent, you want the best care possible. But what does that care cost? And who pays for it? AARP’s caregiving expert Amy Goyer struggled financially to give her parents the best care possible and even ended up filing for bankruptcy. Despite this, Amy looks back on the joy of caregiving and celebrating the wins. AARP has financial and legal resources for caregivers, including ways to protect your money while caring for a loved one or friend. AARP also has information on how to find credit counseling here. Join AARP’s Family Caregivers Discussion Group on Facebook. This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation making grants to promote an equitable, high-performing health care system. Help others find our show by leaving us a rating and writing a review. Follow SuChin Pak on Instagram @SuchinPak and Lemonada at @lemonadamedia across all social platforms. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AARP’s National Family and Caregiving Expert Amy Goyer tells us why it’s important to talk to older loved ones early and often about how they want to age. And she gives us guidance on how to approach these hard conversations.

Poet and artist Yosimar Reyes moved home to take care of his grandmother during the pandemic. Sometimes he cries in his car from the stress and pressure of caregiving. But he also knows how lost he’d be without her. In this beautiful and honest conversation, Yosimar shares how he supports his 90-year-old grandmother – financially, mentally, and emotionally. Learn more about Yosimar Reyes on his website and follow him on Instagram @yosirey. This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation making grants to promote an equitable, high-performing health care system. Help others find our show by leaving us a rating and writing a review. Follow SuChin Pak on Instagram @SuchinPak and Lemonada at @lemonadamedia across all social platforms. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poet and caregiver Yosimar Reyes describes what it was like to have a rare night off and go on a date. When his date says Yosimar is “reserved” and not open about his life, Yosimar explains that all he wants is to enjoy the moment and not talk about caregiving.

When Jessica Guthrie became a caregiver at age 26, her life turned upside down. Her career, friendships, and love life went on the back burner as she prioritized caring for her mom, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Over nine years of caregiving, she’s faced burnout, medical racism, and the isolation of doing it all alone. But despite the challenges, Jessica finds power in the small moments she still has with her mom, and the community of Black caregivers she’s found on social media.   Learn more about Jessica Guthrie at https://www.jessicacguthrie.com/ and follow her on Instagram @careercaregivingcollide. This season of Uncared For is presented by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation making grants to promote an equitable, high-performing health care system. Help others find our show by leaving us a rating and writing a review. Follow SuChin Pak on Instagram @SuchinPak and Lemonada at @lemonadamedia across all social platforms. Want to become a Lemonada superfan? Join us at joinsubtext.com/lemonadasuperfan.   Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/ shortly after the air date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full-time caregiver Jessica Guthrie reflects on her mom’s advancing Alzheimer’s disease and the unique perspective she’s gained as someone who stepped away from her career and found a new calling in the caregiving space.