Help us build a one-stop shop resource
Plus an exciting DIY project to help your neighbors
Hey there —
Dan here. We recently got our favorite kind of note: One from a Arm and a Leg podcast listener who says they’ve been using our information to help other people.
This one, from a med student named Thomas, went a lot farther.
Because when Thomas described how he’s been aiming to help folks — a small but awesome project — it was something I’d love to see other people try.
Thomas also had a suggestion for something the Arm and a Leg team would love to take a crack at.
And we’d love your help with it.
So here’s Thomas’s note, plus some thoughts from me about:
How you could maybe duplicate his small/awesome project, and…
How you can help us follow up on his suggestion.
Thomas’s awesome – and very replicable – DIY project
First, I can’t resist quoting part of the opening of Thomas’s note, where he says nice things about An Arm and a Leg.
Your podcast has been an incredible resource; not just for understanding the insanity of our healthcare system, but for equipping me with actual tools to help both myself and my patients navigate it.
It’s been eye-opening, grounding, and wildly helpful.
All by itself, this would have made my week.
But what makes this note worth sharing is what comes next, starting with what Thomas has already done.
He writes: You inspired me to reach out to Dollar For.
…which is a kickass nonprofit that helps people connect to charity care from hospitals — also called financial assistance.
Charity care is when hospitals erase or lower bills for people who can’t afford to pay them. Nonprofit hospitals are legally required to offer it, and most for-profit hospitals do too.
The folks at Dollar For have taught us what not enough people are aware of: SO many people qualify for charity care, but not enough people know (a) that it exists, and (b) how to access it.
The result: At least $14 billion in hospital bills could get forgiven every year, but become medical debt instead.
So, here’s what Thomas did:
I’ve printed and distributed about 1,000 of their business cards across five different hospitals here in Brooklyn.
Which sounds both truly awesome, and pretty doable.
I asked Thomas for some details: He said the folks at Dollar For shared a PDF — with English on one side, and Spanish on the other, and a QR code — and used a site called VistaPrint to print them for cheap.
Distributing them was simple: Every clinic in his hospital system has a holder for business cards on the counter — with cards hawking the drug-coupon site GoodRx, insurance brokers, that kind of thing.
Thomas had no problem just popping in a bunch of his Dollar For cards. He also handed out cards to fellow med students, so they could spread them around too.
If you’ve got a few hours and maybe fifty bucks, this is something you could try.
If you try it, PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES.
Meanwhile…
Help us build on Thomas’s next idea
Thomas put his suggestion in the form of a question:
Is there a “one-stop shop” resource you recommend, or might consider creating, that I could share with patients to help guide them through managing current or future medical debt? Something simple and accessible that covers key steps or points them to trusted orgs, useful tips, or just what to know?
I know there’s no silver bullet, but even a roadmap or a curated set of links could go a long way for folks who are overwhelmed, scared, and don’t know where to start.
Whoa. I really, really want to do that.
Of course, this newsletter is one attempt to share the most useful information we’ve picked up in our reporting for An Arm and a Leg.
But we’re chipping away at that gradually. This isn’t a streamlined, one-stop shop.
If you or a loved one were leaving the hospital today and staring down the likelihood of a ginormous set of bills, something like a one-pager — just the basics — seems like it could be really helpful.
So… what should be on our one-page list of resources? Here’s our first draft.
Following Thomas’s suggestion — key steps and trusted organizations — here’s my first-draft list.
Maybe your hospital bill can be forgiven: Most hospitals offer financial assistance, also called charity care. The nonprofit we mentioned above, Dollar For, can help. Their website has a free tool to see if you qualify. And if you do, the site has tools and staff to help you apply.
If you’ve got a serious/chronic health condition, you could get free help from the Patient Advocate Foundation. Their case managers can help you get insurance to approve treatment and claims — and possibly register for benefits that you may not know you qualify for. You can connect with case management services through their website.
If you’re uninsured, you might qualify for Medicaid or an Obamacare plan with a super-low premium.
In some areas, assistors can help you find the best option and sign up for free. Search for help in your area here.
The site will also direct you to agents/brokers. Those folks may help you find an Obamacare plan, but they can’t help with Medicaid.
To see on your own if you qualify for Medicaid, this federal website has instructions.
If your prescriptions are too expensive, a site called NeedyMeds has an incredibly comprehensive list of resources. (It is a LOT. Give yourself a little time.)
If you’re on Medicare and having a problem with your insurance plan — like they’re denying a claim you think they should pay — the Medicare Rights Center has a free national hotline. 800-333-4114. More information here.
If you need help getting started with any of this, ask to speak to a hospital social worker or patient advocate. No guarantees, but they may be able to help.
If you think the charges on your bill are wrong, the First Aid Kit newsletter (what you’re reading right now!) may have some advice you can use. You can find every installment in our archive here. (Or subscribe below.)
That’s my starting point. Now, we need your help:
What’s missing here? That could be a key step we’ve left out, or an organization we’re forgetting to link to.
OR it could be key DETAILS: What words and instructions would make this clearer?
If you’re a design expert: What should we know to make this as effective as possible? We’re talking fonts, type size, use of white space, images/symbols.
Should this be a card, with a QR code, so people can start accessing links right from their phones?
Please chime in! Comments are open below. Or, if you’re getting this in your email, you can hit “reply” to chime in privately.
Thank you so much, and catch you soon.
— Dan
A flowchart would be so helpful and could prevent people from feeling overwhelmed by a massive list of resources. Maybe it starts with "Are you insured?" (Yes/No) and moves on from there and you could list the resources under each step.
I had these notes from basic information you provided which should be on your one page:
When you receive a big medical bill DO NOT PAY IT RIGHT AWAY. You have a year to research what the details mean and--if it is unfair--to chase down your options and your people to help you dispute it.