It would sound a LOT like Explanation of Benefits, which is a musical revue that actually played in New York City in 2019.
... so it would feature a parody of "Bills, Bills, Bills" — the 1999 Destiny's Child hit —rewritten for the age of GoFundMe.
And it would have smart, funny musical numbers tracing the long, sad history of the U.S. health care industry.
Welcome to our musical episode! And thank you to the young NYC troupe Heck No Techno for creating Explanation of Benefits.
Our episode isn't sung all the way through — it's more like the PBS documentary on Hamilton than an actual musical of its own. But that is still. Pretty. Darn. Cool.
AND: In keeping with our theme this season of self-defense against the cost of health care, Explanation of Benefits wraps with a set of short vignettes demonstrating ways patients can work to protect themselves from excessive charges.
So we have included here an email-by-email breakdown of songwriter Emily Lowinger's successful battle to fight off a surprise medical bill.
... and we've set it off with music — timing and cues lovingly adjusted by our audio wizard, Adam — and it is a TREAT.
Go enjoy. Have a great Thanksgiving!
... and speaking of thanks: I recently spent a weekend afternoon sending thank-you cards to folks who support this show on Patreon. I'd love it if you became one: https://www.patreon.com/armandalegshow
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
A new golden age is dawning, and it starts where the sun don’t shine.
A listener got a pricey quote for her colonoscopy, but the medical practice …
Dan’s COVID has hung on there for a while, kept him SUPER tired. Yoinks. Back in a couple weeks!
Meanwhile, as always, we'd love for you to:
Hey there — I got COVID a little before we were scheduled to tape this week's episode. Whoops!
I'm fine now, but kinda tired. Just to be on the safe …
It’s illegal to advise someone who’s being sued for medical debt, unless you're a lawyer. Yep, really. Even in its most basic form (like helping people fill out a checklist) it’s considered …
Pharma and insurance companies play devious, clever games, competing for dollars. They’re sharks! It’d be fun to track, but they’re eating us alive.
…
Last year we brought you the story — part caper, part tragedy — of how Philadelphia tried to hand off its COVID vaccination program to a wannabe tech …
You can listen to episodes right here on the website, or if you prefer, in a podcast app. Listening in an app makes it easier to keep track of what you’ve already heard, listen without using your data plan and many other conveniences.