This week, we bring you a deeper look inside the health insurance industry. The dark side of prescription drug coupons. A story about Pet Health Insurance, which is in its infancy, and how it is changing human behaviors—for example, if you have the pet health insurance, you bring your pet to the vet more often, and the vet makes more money and...well, you can see the parallels.
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And insurance company jargon, frighteningly decoded. This show was a co-production with NPR News, and was one of two shows we did on health care: The other is More Is Less.
Act One
One Pill Two Pill, Red Pill Blue Pill
Planet Money's Chana Joffe-Walt explains why prescription drug coupons could actually be increasing how much we pay, and prevent us from even telling how much drugs cost. (16 minutes)
Act Two
Let's Take Your Medical History
Alex Blumberg and Adam Davidson recount how four accidental steps led to enacting the very questionable system of employers paying for health care. (11 minutes)
Act Three
Insurance? Ruh Roh!
Planet Money correspondent David Kestenbaum investigates the growing popularity of pet insurance, and what it reveals about insurance for people. (15 minutes )
Act Four
Sorry Johnny... It's Only Business.
This American Life producer Sarah Koenig reports on a very surprising reason why insurance companies dump members, and how this reasoning contradicts President Obama's argument for what will lower health care costs. (12 minutes)
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Act Two: Fall 2009
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