In April, Thomas Sanford, a medical student who regularly listens to “An Arm and a Leg,” set out to create a resource he could easily share with patients to help them deal with unaffordable medical bills.
In this mini-episode, host Dan Weissmann talks with Sanford about how handing out charity care information on tiny cards snowballed into an ever-growing list of resources to erase medical debt. They discuss the inspiration behind his project, the role “An Arm and a Leg” listeners played in building it, and how others can contribute.
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Transcript: A Listener’s DIY Project Helps Others Deal With High Medical Bills
Note: “An Arm and a Leg” uses speech-recognition software to generate transcripts, which may contain errors. Please use the transcript as a tool but check the corresponding audio before quoting the podcast.
Dan: Hey there. So here’s a story — a project — that’s given me more encouragement than anything I can think of lately. It’s driven by you– by listeners to this show.
One of my big dreams for An Arm and a Leg, from almost the beginning, has been to connect people, to help folks learn to help each other.
And I think I’m seeing the beginnings of a win.
It started with one listener, trying to do what he could for people right around him. He asked us for advice, we asked folks who get our First Aid Kit newsletter to pitch in.
And now, with that help, our original listener has started creating a tool I think can ultimately help a LOT of people help each other.
It seems like the start of a virtuous cycle. And you can help keep it going, and growing.
OK, here’s the story — so far:
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