Medicare For All Explained

This is episode 86, “Medicare: A Complicated Mess.”  In this episode, I discuss why Medicare is a complicated mess, how to make it better, and why single-payer Medicare for All would be better for seniors and everyone else. Do not miss this episode as I discuss why Medicare is complicated and how to make it better. The Medicare handbook can be found here: “ Medicare & You 2023 .” Here are the link...

This is episode 85, “The American Healthcare Mess.”  My guest, Gilbert Simon, MD, wrote “ Ripped Off!: Overtested, Overtreated and Overcharged, the American Healthcare Mess .” In 1989, Dr. Simon founded the Sacramento Family Medical Clinics to care for people who had trouble affording and getting quality healthcare.  Before he founded his medical clinics, Dr. Simon was a pediatrician, and taught a...

This is episode 84, "Puerto Rico’s History of Single-Payer." My guest, Carlo Bosques, is a medical student in Puerto Rico.  He was born and raised in Puerto Rico and did his undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University, majoring in molecular and cellular biology. While at Johns Hopkins, he served as a volunteer at a clinic that served undocumented patients. That experience helped him to realiz...

This is episode 83, “Why Medicare For All Is Cool!”  In this episode, I describe what makes single-payer Medicare for All cool. In brief, it is cool because people get the medical care and prescription drugs they need when they need it without having to worry about cost.  Do not miss this episode as I discuss all the reasons why Medicare for All is cool.  

This is episode 82, “Electronic Health Records and Interchangeable Data.” My guest, A Jay Holmgren, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at University of California San Francisco and the Center for Clinical Informatics and Improvement Research, and a Senior Advisor at the Stanford Clinical Excellence Research Center. He researches information technology and digital health,...

This is episode 81, “Little Things That Can Make a Difference.” In this episode, I discuss two actions that can be taken that would make life easier and save time for most people. I discuss how interchangeable health data would save time when people change or go to a new doctor, and that the government could figure taxes for most people. Do not miss this episode as I discuss how interchangeable he...

This is episode 80, “A Catastrophic Ruling: The Overturning of Guaranteed Abortion Access.” My guest, Diljeet Singh, MD, is board certified in OB/GYN and Gynecologic Oncology. She also has an MPH in Maternal and Child Health, and a Ph. D. in Health Services Research. Dr. Singh currently practices in the Washington D.C. metro area.  Do not miss this episode as Dr. Singh discusses how ending women’s...

This is episode 79, "Gun Violence and Public Health in the U.S." In this episode, I discuss gun violence and why gun violence is a serious public health threat in the United States.  Do not miss this episode as I discuss why gun violence is so rampant in the United States and what can and should be done about it.  Here are links to the video, article, and podcast episodes that I reference in this...

This is episode 78, “Public Health, Single-Payer and the American Public Health Association.” My guest, Anthony Spadaro, MD, MPH, is a resident physician in Emergency Medicine in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He graduated from a combined MD/MPH program from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He was one of the authors on a policy statement endorsing single-payer healthc...

This is episode 77, “The Healthcare Skin-in-the-Game Myth.”  In this episode, I discuss why the assumption that people need to have skin in the game in healthcare is false and harmful to getting medical care.  Do not miss this episode as I discuss how requiring skin in the game for healthcare prevents people from getting the medical care they need. 

This is episode 76, “Achieving the Cancer Moonshot in 10 Years.” My guest, Diljeet Singh, MD, is board certified in OB/GYN and Gynecologic Oncology. She also has an MPH in Maternal & Child Health and a Ph. D. in Health Services Research. Dr. Singh currently practices in the Washington D.C. metro area.  In February of this year, Pres. Biden released his plan for a “ Cancer Moonshot .” His goals are...

This is episode 75, “Jeffrey Sachs Testimony from the House Oversight Committee Hearing on Medicare for All.”  The House Oversight and Reform Committee had a hearing on “Examining Pathways to Universal Health Coverage” on March 29, 2022, and Medicare for All was a large part of that discussion. In this episode, I play the testimony of Jeffrey Sachs, PhD. Dr. Sachs is an economics professor at Colu...

This is episode 74, "Highlights from the House Oversight Committee Hearing on Medicare for All." The House Oversight and Reform Committee had a hearing on “Examining Pathways to Universal Health Coverage,” and Medicare for All was a large part of that discussion. In this episode I highlight the testimony of a Representative and witnesses who explain why they support Medicare for All.  Do not miss...

This is episode 73, “Some Survey Results on Why Having Health Insurance Doesn’t Mean Squat.”  In this episode, I discuss a recent survey that shows why having health insurance often doesn’t mean squat, and I review the survey results that show some of the economic harm caused by the U.S. health insurance system. Do not miss this episode as I discuss how this survey illustrates the economic harm ca...

This is episode 72, "Well-Known and Lesser-Known Problems With Our Healthcare System." In this episode, I discuss some of the well-known and lesser-known problems with the United States healthcare system.  I start by discussing that federal law requires the states to seek reimbursement from Medicaid beneficiaries’ estates upon their deaths. While this usually applied to Medicaid beneficiaries who...

This is episode 71, "Medicare for All Changes That Will Make Your Life Better." In this episode, I describe some changes under Medicare for All that will make lives better and why these changes make Medicare for All the best choice for better healthcare in the United States.  Do not miss this episode as I explain how Medicare for All will make your life better.  Note that this podcast quotes from...

This is episode 70, “How a Conservative Came to Support Single-payer Healthcare.” My guest, Joseph Q Jarvis, MD, MSPH, received his medical and public health training at the University of Utah School of Medicine. His career includes time as a family doctor at a community health center, the state health officer for Nevada, a public health physician for state and federal agencies, a physician consul...

This is episode 69, “Highlights, Volume 3.” In this episode, I wish to honor Martin Luther King Jr. by highlighting important clips from Medicare for All Explained about racism in the U.S. healthcare system and how Medicare for All can reduce the racism that exists in health care. Do not miss this episode as I highlight how Medicare for All can reduce racism in the United States healthcare system....

This is episode 68, “How Tragedy Created a Single-Payer Advocate.” My guest, Scott Desnoyers, became a supporter and advocate for single-payer health care after tragedy struck his family, and his story provides a powerful lesson on why we need Medicare for All.  Do not miss this episode as Mr. Desnoyers explains how tragedy caused him to become an advocate for Medicare for All. Note: As near as I...

This is episode 67, "Why We Need Universal Continuous Healthcare From Birth." My guest, Judith Albert, MD, is a retired physician in Pittsburgh, PA. She received her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati, completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh and a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania.  She practiced in aca...

This is episode 66, “Our Insidious and Nefarious Healthcare System.” My guest, Scott Goldberg, MD, is an assistant professor in General Internal Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and an attending primary care physician at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, where he sees patients and teaches residents in the Primary Care/Social Internal Medicine program.  Dr. Goldberg has worked...

This is episode 65, "Our Healthcare Mess and Why We Need Medicare for All." In this episode, I describe some of the current problems with the United States healthcare system, what is Medicare for All, and how Medicare for All can solve those problems. This episode is a good primer on problems with the U.S. healthcare system and why we need Medicare for All. It should not be missed. Also please not...

This is episode 64, "Highlights, Volume 2." In this episode, I take clips that highlight important points about Medicare for All.  I highlight:  Why single-payer healthcare was a revelation for Stephanie Nakajima. How fire departments provide a good example of why we need public funding for healthcare. Dr. George Bohmfalk describes how fire departments came about and how that relates to health car...

This is episode 63, “Entrepreneurs and Medicare For All." My guest, Prof. Jerome Katz, is an internationally recognized expert on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education. He currently is the Director of Saint Louis University’s highly ranked entrepreneurship program. From a background in his family’s and his own business in Memphis, Prof. Katz went onto obtain degrees from Rhodes College,...

This is episode 62, “Women’s Health and Reproductive Justice.” My guest, Dr. Ashley Duhon, is a current second year Ob/Gyn resident working in the Bronx borough of New York City. She received her medical training from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. She is a current board member of the New York Metro Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program.  As a stude...