‘An Arm And A Leg’: Am I Protected If I Need COVID-19 Care?

By Dan Weissmann April 20, 2020

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About This Podcast

Health care — and how much it costs — is scary. But you’re not alone with this stuff, and knowledge is power. “An Arm and a Leg” is a podcast about these issues, and its second season is co-produced by KHN.

Visit armandalegshow.com

A lot of insurance companies have said they’ll waive copayments and deductibles for COVID-19 care — as long as patients receive “in-network” care. But a lot of people have insurance policies with very limited networks.

A podcast listener in Minnesota with a bronze-tier health plan and a $6,000 deductible wrote in wondering: What if I get sent to a place that my insurance doesn’t cover? What then?

We put her question to one of the country’s top health insurance nerds: Sabrina Corlette, founder and co-director of Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms.

Corlette offered her interpretation of the rescue legislation Congress passed in March, which included some money for hospitals. Some patients may avoid surprise medical bills, but it’s not totally clear if we will be “100% protected.”

“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of Kaiser Health News and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” subscribe to the newsletter. You can also follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers would love to hear from you.

To hear all Kaiser Health News podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Google Play or Spotify.

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‘An Arm And A Leg’: Am I Protected If I Need COVID-19 Care?

By Dan Weissmann April 20, 2020

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<p><em>Can’t see the audio player? <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/if-i-get-covid-19-what-good-will-my-insurance-do-me/">Click here to listen.</a></em></p>

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<p><em>Can’t see the audio player? <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/if-i-get-covid-19-what-good-will-my-insurance-do-me/">Click here to listen.</a></em></p>

<p>A lot of insurance companies have said they’ll waive copayments and deductibles for COVID-19 care — as long as patients receive “in-network” care. But a lot of people have insurance policies with very limited networks.</p>
<p>A podcast listener in Minnesota with a bronze-tier health plan and a $6,000 deductible wrote in wondering: What if I get sent to a place that my insurance doesn’t cover? What then?</p>
<p>We put her question to one of the country’s top health insurance nerds:<a href="https://chir.georgetown.edu/faculty_sabrina_corlette/"> Sabrina Corlette</a>, founder and co-director of Georgetown University’s<a href="https://chir.georgetown.edu/"> Center on Health Insurance Reforms</a>.</p>
<p>Corlette offered her interpretation of the rescue legislation Congress passed in March, which included some money for hospitals. Some patients may avoid surprise medical bills, but it’s not totally clear if we will be “100% protected.”</p>

<p>“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of Kaiser Health News and Public Road Productions.</p>
<p>To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/newsletter/">subscribe to the newsletter</a>. You can also follow the show on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/armandalegshow/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/armandalegshow">Twitter</a>. And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/contact-us/">would love to hear from you</a>.</p>
<p><em>To hear all Kaiser Health News podcasts, <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/tag/podcast/">click here</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/an-arm-and-a-leg/id1438778444">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://play.pocketcasts.com/web/discover/podcast/6e9e33e0-b911-0136-7b93-27f978dac4db">Pocket Casts</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hcm1hbmRhbGVnc2hvdy5jb20vZmVlZC9wb2RjYXN0Lw%3D%3D">Google Play</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3wBgLSbYPKT3gnd9KGjz5t?si=jEMzB2soS_ayOsYbK0cmnQ">Spotify</a>.</em></p>
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<p>A lot of insurance companies have said they’ll waive copayments and deductibles for COVID-19 care — as long as patients receive “in-network” care. But a lot of people have insurance policies with very limited networks.</p>
<p>A podcast listener in Minnesota with a bronze-tier health plan and a $6,000 deductible wrote in wondering: What if I get sent to a place that my insurance doesn’t cover? What then?</p>
<p>We put her question to one of the country’s top health insurance nerds:<a href="https://chir.georgetown.edu/faculty_sabrina_corlette/"> Sabrina Corlette</a>, founder and co-director of Georgetown University’s<a href="https://chir.georgetown.edu/"> Center on Health Insurance Reforms</a>.</p>
<p>Corlette offered her interpretation of the rescue legislation Congress passed in March, which included some money for hospitals. Some patients may avoid surprise medical bills, but it’s not totally clear if we will be “100% protected.”</p>

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