Health Savings News – Episode 18: Social Determinants of Health

Note: This is a rough transcript of episode 18 of Health Savings News and has been lightly edited for clarity. Copy may not be in its final form. Evan (00:09): Hello and welcome to Health Savings News, the podcast about healthcare costs in America, and how to save money on the often expensive care all kinds of people need. I’m your host, Evan O’Connor, joined by retired doctors Rich Sagall and Mike Woods.  How are you guys doing today?  Mike (00:23): Good. Rich (00:24): Doing well. Evan (00:25): Each episode we discuss healthcare costs in America, offer tips for saving […]

Get the flu shot to avoid complications and coinfections with COVID and RSV

This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week in the United States. Established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2005, this week highlights the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holidays and beyond. Vaccines against the flu are the best defense against the virus and developing flu-related complications.   The influenza vaccine contains elements of killed or inactivated viruses. The dead virus still contains the antigens they had when active, and a person’s immune response is similar to the immune response from an infection. Despite misconceptions, the flu shot can not cause the flu. Due to […]

Health Savings New – Episode 17: Indirect Costs of Healthcare

Note: This is a rough transcript of episode 17 of Health Savings News and has been lightly edited for clarity. Copy may not be in its final form. Evan (00:09): Hello and welcome to Health Savings News, the podcast about healthcare costs in America, and how to save money on the often expensive care all kinds of people need. I’m your host, Evan O’Connor, joined by retired doctors Rich Sagall and Mike Woods.  How are you guys doing today?  Mike: Good.  Rich: Doing well.  Evan: Great. Each episode we discuss healthcare costs in America, offer tips for saving money, and […]

Holiday Tips for Safe Travel and Mental Health

The holiday season in the United States and throughout the world has begun, and many people travel to visit family during these months — including some who may be traveling with a chronic illness, all of which have added complications due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We at NeedyMeds have some tips for healthy travel over the holidays along with suggestions for staying safe and mitigating the spread of coronavirus. Getting fully vaccinated and/or receiving boosters of available COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to protect yourself from infection while traveling — especially if you are uninsured; COVID vaccines will […]

Health Savings News – Episode 16: How to Appeal Health Insurance Denials

Note: This is a rough transcript of episode 16 of Health Savings News and has been lightly edited for clarity. Copy may not be in its final form.   Evan (00:08): Hello and welcome to Health Savings News, the podcast about healthcare costs in America, and how to save money on the often expensive care all kinds of people need. I’m your host, Evan O’Connor, joined by retired doctors Rich Sagall and Mike Woods. How are you doing today, guys? Rich (00:22): Good, and you? Evan (00:23): Doing all right. Mike (00:24): Good. Except for the bleak, rainy day, but… […]

About Us

Welcome to the NeedyMeds Voice! We look forward to presenting you with timely, provocative pieces on healthcare reform, patient advocacy, medication and healthcare access, and other health-related news. Our goals are to educate, enlighten, and elucidate; together, we will try to make sense of the myriad and ongoing healthcare-related changes in the U.S. today.