October 16, 2009

Someone Else's Money

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.

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.

Prologue

By

Ira Glass

Host Ira Glass talks to Rob Lamberts, a doctor and blogger in Georgia, who describes the crazy world of medical billing, where armies of coders use several contradictory different systems of codes...and none of it makes us healthier. (3 minutes)

Act One

One Pill Two Pill, Red Pill Blue Pill

By

Chana Joffe-Walt

Planet Money

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

By

Alex Blumberg

Adam Davidson

Planet Money

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!

By

David Kestenbaum

Planet Money

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.

By

Sarah Koenig

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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