Hey there, before we start, I just want to say thank you for supporting our work here.

Thanks to you, we beat all of our goals for the end of 2023,

and that means we collected every dollar of matching funds that were on offer.

And because so many folks became donors

for the first time, we earned a bonus

from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

So we are starting this year in good shape, which is is great because we got some big projects

planned thank you so much now in less delightful news I'm fighting a little bit

with my insurance company right now or is it the

hospital billing office I'm fighting with like each one keeps sending me back to the

other it's a good time there's a first aid kit newsletter in all of this but for now I am struggling

to find the hours for all the phone calls and to keep my composure. On that last note, keeping my composure, this seems like a really good time to bring

back what may be the most useful episode we've ever done from late 2020.

You ready? Here we go.

I got a voicemail from a listener named Amanda Jaffey. He's been listening to our

episodes about folks who fight back against insurance companies and outrageous bills and she says she's kind of a bulldog on this stuff herself, but she says there's a snag and maybe you can relate. I definitely can.

When I call the insurance companies I start to get angry to a point where maybe it's

unproductive so I need some guidance how to remain cool

when calling insurance companies thanks I'd really need the help.

Bye.

Yes. I have been thinking about this for months and months.

We've been hearing from people who fight and fight and sometimes win.

...