Tradeoffs
@tradeoffs.org
Journalism that explores the complicated, costly, and often counterintuitive world of health care.
New podcast episodes every Thursday, hosted by Dan Gorenstein.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: tradeoffs.org/subscribe
New podcast episodes every Thursday, hosted by Dan Gorenstein.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: tradeoffs.org/subscribe
In the spirit of the holidays, we've been featuring people with innovative fixes to health care's toughest challenges.
Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick believes plainspoken information from trusted messengers can help shrink health disparities.
tradeoffs.org/2023/02/02/h... less
Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick believes plainspoken information from trusted messengers can help shrink health disparities.
tradeoffs.org/2023/02/02/h... less
One Doctor’s Crusade to Improve Health Literacy
Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick believes plainspoken information from trusted messengers can help shrink health disparities, and some insurers are buying in.
tradeoffs.org
December 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
In the spirit of the holidays, we've been featuring people with innovative fixes to health care's toughest challenges.
Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick believes plainspoken information from trusted messengers can help shrink health disparities.
tradeoffs.org/2023/02/02/h... less
Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick believes plainspoken information from trusted messengers can help shrink health disparities.
tradeoffs.org/2023/02/02/h... less
Have you signed up yet for our virtual event about the challenges facing health care access in rural America?
🗓️ Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 6 from 12-1 p.m. ET for our talk with national experts, co-hosted with @pennldi.bsky.social
🔗 Register here: tradeoffs.org/event/50-bil...
🗓️ Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 6 from 12-1 p.m. ET for our talk with national experts, co-hosted with @pennldi.bsky.social
🔗 Register here: tradeoffs.org/event/50-bil...
Decoding the Moment: The $50 Billion Rural Health Program in Context
Discussing the challenges facing health care access in rural America, evidence-based solutions to those issues, and how states and the federal government are looking to use the RHTF.
tradeoffs.org
December 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Have you signed up yet for our virtual event about the challenges facing health care access in rural America?
🗓️ Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 6 from 12-1 p.m. ET for our talk with national experts, co-hosted with @pennldi.bsky.social
🔗 Register here: tradeoffs.org/event/50-bil...
🗓️ Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 6 from 12-1 p.m. ET for our talk with national experts, co-hosted with @pennldi.bsky.social
🔗 Register here: tradeoffs.org/event/50-bil...
Violence is one of the biggest threats to the health of American children.
Listen to or read the transcript of our episode about a program in Chicago that’s having success using therapy to prevent violence among kids who are most at risk.
tradeoffs.org/2025/06/05/t...
Listen to or read the transcript of our episode about a program in Chicago that’s having success using therapy to prevent violence among kids who are most at risk.
tradeoffs.org/2025/06/05/t...
How Treating Teens’ Trauma Is Stopping Violence in Chicago
A Chicago violence prevention program is pairing cognitive behavioral therapy with intensive mentoring and wraparound support to help high-risk teens avoid incarceration.
tradeoffs.org
December 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Violence is one of the biggest threats to the health of American children.
Listen to or read the transcript of our episode about a program in Chicago that’s having success using therapy to prevent violence among kids who are most at risk.
tradeoffs.org/2025/06/05/t...
Listen to or read the transcript of our episode about a program in Chicago that’s having success using therapy to prevent violence among kids who are most at risk.
tradeoffs.org/2025/06/05/t...
Join us on Tuesday, 1/6 @ 12 p.m. ET for our virtual event with @pennldi.bsky.social for a discussion with experts about challenges facing health care access in rural America.
Register here: https://tradeoffs.org/event/50-billion-rural-health-transformation-program/
Register here: https://tradeoffs.org/event/50-billion-rural-health-transformation-program/
December 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Join us on Tuesday, 1/6 @ 12 p.m. ET for our virtual event with @pennldi.bsky.social for a discussion with experts about challenges facing health care access in rural America.
Register here: https://tradeoffs.org/event/50-billion-rural-health-transformation-program/
Register here: https://tradeoffs.org/event/50-billion-rural-health-transformation-program/
There are only a few hours left to donate to Tradeoffs by midnight for our $2,000 matching challenge, where every amount donated will be matched, dollar for dollar.
Give a gift to help continue to make our reporting possible.
Tradeoffs.org/donate
Give a gift to help continue to make our reporting possible.
Tradeoffs.org/donate
Donate to Tradeoffs
Support smarter health policy conversations.
tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org
December 20, 2025 at 12:00 AM
There are only a few hours left to donate to Tradeoffs by midnight for our $2,000 matching challenge, where every amount donated will be matched, dollar for dollar.
Give a gift to help continue to make our reporting possible.
Tradeoffs.org/donate
Give a gift to help continue to make our reporting possible.
Tradeoffs.org/donate
Reposted by Tradeoffs
Registration is open for our first virtual event of 2026!
🔴 DECODING THE MOMENT: The $50 Billion Rural Health Program in Context 🔴
🗓️ Tuesday, January 6 @ 12pm ET co-hosted by @tradeoffs.org
https://ldi.upenn.edu/events/decoding-the-moment-the-50-billion-rural-health-fund-in-context/
🔴 DECODING THE MOMENT: The $50 Billion Rural Health Program in Context 🔴
🗓️ Tuesday, January 6 @ 12pm ET co-hosted by @tradeoffs.org
https://ldi.upenn.edu/events/decoding-the-moment-the-50-billion-rural-health-fund-in-context/
December 17, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Registration is open for our first virtual event of 2026!
🔴 DECODING THE MOMENT: The $50 Billion Rural Health Program in Context 🔴
🗓️ Tuesday, January 6 @ 12pm ET co-hosted by @tradeoffs.org
https://ldi.upenn.edu/events/decoding-the-moment-the-50-billion-rural-health-fund-in-context/
🔴 DECODING THE MOMENT: The $50 Billion Rural Health Program in Context 🔴
🗓️ Tuesday, January 6 @ 12pm ET co-hosted by @tradeoffs.org
https://ldi.upenn.edu/events/decoding-the-moment-the-50-billion-rural-health-fund-in-context/
Today is the last day to raise $2,000 to unlock a matching gift from our Audience Match Fund.
Donate by midnight to Tradeoffs so each dollar you give can be doubled, increasing the effect of your support.
Tradeoffs.org/donate
Donate by midnight to Tradeoffs so each dollar you give can be doubled, increasing the effect of your support.
Tradeoffs.org/donate
Donate to Tradeoffs
Support smarter health policy conversations.
tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Today is the last day to raise $2,000 to unlock a matching gift from our Audience Match Fund.
Donate by midnight to Tradeoffs so each dollar you give can be doubled, increasing the effect of your support.
Tradeoffs.org/donate
Donate by midnight to Tradeoffs so each dollar you give can be doubled, increasing the effect of your support.
Tradeoffs.org/donate
We have the chance to unlock a $2,000 matching gift — but only if we raise $2,000 by midnight Friday.
If you’ve valued our clear, evidence-based reporting this year, this is a great moment to power the stories and coverage you rely on.
tradeoffs.org/donate
If you’ve valued our clear, evidence-based reporting this year, this is a great moment to power the stories and coverage you rely on.
tradeoffs.org/donate
Donate to Tradeoffs
Support smarter health policy conversations.
tradeoffs.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
We have the chance to unlock a $2,000 matching gift — but only if we raise $2,000 by midnight Friday.
If you’ve valued our clear, evidence-based reporting this year, this is a great moment to power the stories and coverage you rely on.
tradeoffs.org/donate
If you’ve valued our clear, evidence-based reporting this year, this is a great moment to power the stories and coverage you rely on.
tradeoffs.org/donate
How can regulating street drugs change lives?
"The drug supply has gotten more intense, more dangerous. We need to do something that will break that cycle," said epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
"The drug supply has gotten more intense, more dangerous. We need to do something that will break that cycle," said epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
One Scientist's Mission to Change How We Prevent Overdoses
A leading addiction expert explains how he’s driven by the memory of a friend who died, and why he believes giving data on the drug supply to people on the street is more important than using it to inform national drug policy.
tradeoffs.org
December 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM
How can regulating street drugs change lives?
"The drug supply has gotten more intense, more dangerous. We need to do something that will break that cycle," said epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
"The drug supply has gotten more intense, more dangerous. We need to do something that will break that cycle," said epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
Nabarun Dasgupta has spent two decades studying and trying to turn the tide on America’s drug addiction and overdose crises.
Listen to the latest episode to hear about the very personal reasons that drive his work.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
Listen to the latest episode to hear about the very personal reasons that drive his work.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
One Scientist's Mission to Change How We Prevent Overdoses
A leading addiction expert explains how he’s driven by the memory of a friend who died, and why he believes giving data on the drug supply to people on the street is more important than using it to inform national drug policy.
tradeoffs.org
December 13, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Nabarun Dasgupta has spent two decades studying and trying to turn the tide on America’s drug addiction and overdose crises.
Listen to the latest episode to hear about the very personal reasons that drive his work.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
Listen to the latest episode to hear about the very personal reasons that drive his work.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
“Their lives are on the line.”
Listen why epidemiologist @nabarund.bsky.social thinks regulating street drugs will save lives, and how memories of the friends he’s lost drive him to continue this work.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
Listen why epidemiologist @nabarund.bsky.social thinks regulating street drugs will save lives, and how memories of the friends he’s lost drive him to continue this work.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
One Scientist's Mission to Change How We Prevent Overdoses
A leading addiction expert explains how he’s driven by the memory of a friend who died, and why he believes giving data on the drug supply to people on the street is more important than using it to inform national drug policy.
tradeoffs.org
December 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
“Their lives are on the line.”
Listen why epidemiologist @nabarund.bsky.social thinks regulating street drugs will save lives, and how memories of the friends he’s lost drive him to continue this work.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
Listen why epidemiologist @nabarund.bsky.social thinks regulating street drugs will save lives, and how memories of the friends he’s lost drive him to continue this work.
https://tradeoffs.org/2025/07/31/scientists-mission-change-prevent-overdoses/
Economist Amy Finkelstein has studied America’s patchwork of health insurance policies for more than 20 years. She’s finally concluded that it’s time to tear the whole system down.
Listen to the episode:
Listen to the episode:
One Economist’s Plan to Blow Up America’s Health Insurance System
Economist Amy Finkelstein has studied America’s patchwork of health insurance policies for more than 20 years. She’s finally concluded that it’s time to tear the whole system down.
tradeoffs.org
December 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Economist Amy Finkelstein has studied America’s patchwork of health insurance policies for more than 20 years. She’s finally concluded that it’s time to tear the whole system down.
Listen to the episode:
Listen to the episode:
Sometimes the best ideas come from the unlikeliest places, like the tiny, faraway country of Costa Rica. That's where a group of Baltimore-based nurses found their inspiration for overhauling primary care in America.
A New Kind of Primary Care Comes to America
A group of nurses in East Baltimore is piloting a bold plan to bring basic primary care to everybody no matter their age, income or insurance. Can this idea from abroad take root in the United States?
tradeoffs.org
December 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Sometimes the best ideas come from the unlikeliest places, like the tiny, faraway country of Costa Rica. That's where a group of Baltimore-based nurses found their inspiration for overhauling primary care in America.
A group of nurses in East Baltimore piloted a bold plan to bring basic primary care to everybody no matter their age, income or insurance.
Could this idea from abroad take root in the United States?
Could this idea from abroad take root in the United States?
A New Kind of Primary Care Comes to America
A group of nurses in East Baltimore is piloting a bold plan to bring basic primary care to everybody no matter their age, income or insurance. Can this idea from abroad take root in the United States?
tradeoffs.org
December 5, 2025 at 12:31 AM
A group of nurses in East Baltimore piloted a bold plan to bring basic primary care to everybody no matter their age, income or insurance.
Could this idea from abroad take root in the United States?
Could this idea from abroad take root in the United States?
If our reporting has helped you make sense of the fast-changing health policy landscape this year, consider supporting our nonprofit newsroom this Giving Tuesday.
https://tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org/donate/
https://tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org/donate/
December 2, 2025 at 11:11 PM
If our reporting has helped you make sense of the fast-changing health policy landscape this year, consider supporting our nonprofit newsroom this Giving Tuesday.
https://tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org/donate/
https://tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org/donate/
Economist Amy Finkelstein has studied America’s patchwork of health insurance policies for more than 20 years. She’s finally concluded that it’s time to tear the whole system down.
tradeoffs.org/2023/07/06/u...
tradeoffs.org/2023/07/06/u...
One Economist’s Plan to Blow Up America’s Health Insurance System
Economist Amy Finkelstein has studied America’s patchwork of health insurance policies for more than 20 years. She’s finally concluded that it’s time to tear the whole system down.
tradeoffs.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Economist Amy Finkelstein has studied America’s patchwork of health insurance policies for more than 20 years. She’s finally concluded that it’s time to tear the whole system down.
tradeoffs.org/2023/07/06/u...
tradeoffs.org/2023/07/06/u...
More than 50 million seniors, and others with certain disabilities, rely on the Medicare Part D marketplace to find coverage for the medications they need.
But troubling trends suggest this essential part of Medicare is on shaky ground.
https://youtube.com/shorts/gcxeiBn-2yg?si=aHyR_RayrA_Rt8BN
But troubling trends suggest this essential part of Medicare is on shaky ground.
https://youtube.com/shorts/gcxeiBn-2yg?si=aHyR_RayrA_Rt8BN
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM
More than 50 million seniors, and others with certain disabilities, rely on the Medicare Part D marketplace to find coverage for the medications they need.
But troubling trends suggest this essential part of Medicare is on shaky ground.
https://youtube.com/shorts/gcxeiBn-2yg?si=aHyR_RayrA_Rt8BN
But troubling trends suggest this essential part of Medicare is on shaky ground.
https://youtube.com/shorts/gcxeiBn-2yg?si=aHyR_RayrA_Rt8BN
We make health policy coverage that cuts through the noise — but we can’t do it without you.
If you value the work we do at Tradeoffs, please consider donating. Every contribution helps power independent, evidence-based reporting.
💙 tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org/donate/
If you value the work we do at Tradeoffs, please consider donating. Every contribution helps power independent, evidence-based reporting.
💙 tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org/donate/
Join | Tradeoffs
Tradeoffs is supported by people like you. Support Tradeoffs today.
tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org
November 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
We make health policy coverage that cuts through the noise — but we can’t do it without you.
If you value the work we do at Tradeoffs, please consider donating. Every contribution helps power independent, evidence-based reporting.
💙 tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org/donate/
If you value the work we do at Tradeoffs, please consider donating. Every contribution helps power independent, evidence-based reporting.
💙 tradeoffs.fundjournalism.org/donate/
Several cities and counties are addressing street homelessness with a new approach, which experts say can clear encampments while protecting the health of people who are forced to move.
Read the story: tradeoffs.org/2025/11/20/h...
Published in partnership with @themarshallproject.org.
Read the story: tradeoffs.org/2025/11/20/h...
Published in partnership with @themarshallproject.org.
Homeless Camp Sweeps Can Harm Health. Some Cities Are Trying a New Way.
Several cities and counties are addressing street homelessness with a new approach, which experts say can clear encampments while protecting the health of people who are forced to move.
tradeoffs.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Several cities and counties are addressing street homelessness with a new approach, which experts say can clear encampments while protecting the health of people who are forced to move.
Read the story: tradeoffs.org/2025/11/20/h...
Published in partnership with @themarshallproject.org.
Read the story: tradeoffs.org/2025/11/20/h...
Published in partnership with @themarshallproject.org.
Facing mounting financial pressures, insurance companies are changing the prescription drug coverage available to many consumers in Medicare Part D.
tradeoffs.org/2025/11/13/r...
tradeoffs.org/2025/11/13/r...
Rising Costs, Fewer Choices: What’s Up with Medicare Drug Plans?
Facing mounting financial pressures, insurance companies are changing the prescription drug coverage available to many consumers in Medicare Part D.
tradeoffs.org
November 19, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Facing mounting financial pressures, insurance companies are changing the prescription drug coverage available to many consumers in Medicare Part D.
tradeoffs.org/2025/11/13/r...
tradeoffs.org/2025/11/13/r...
Many shoppers are expected to be priced out of the health insurance market next year, leaving those who stay with higher premiums. It’s a dynamic that threatens to repeat, leaving markets with fewer and more expensive options as insurers exit, too. How did we get here?
tradeoffs.org/2025/09/11/o...
tradeoffs.org/2025/09/11/o...
Obamacare Premiums Are About to Soar. How’d We Get Here?
Federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans are set to shrink next year. Many shoppers are expected to be priced out, leaving those who stay with higher premiums. The dynamic that threatens...
tradeoffs.org
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Many shoppers are expected to be priced out of the health insurance market next year, leaving those who stay with higher premiums. It’s a dynamic that threatens to repeat, leaving markets with fewer and more expensive options as insurers exit, too. How did we get here?
tradeoffs.org/2025/09/11/o...
tradeoffs.org/2025/09/11/o...
Extra federal support has helped millions of Americans access health insurance. What's going to happen if that aid goes away? tradeoffs.org/2025/09/29/b...
BONUS: What Happens if Obamacare Subsidies Shrink?
Excerpts of a live conversation with two top health economists about how extra federal support has helped millions of Americans access health insurance, and what would happen if that aid went away.
tradeoffs.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Extra federal support has helped millions of Americans access health insurance. What's going to happen if that aid goes away? tradeoffs.org/2025/09/29/b...
ACA enrollment opened this week and West Virginia navigator Jeremy Smith has been talking with consumers who feel overwhelmed.
"What are they going to do? Go without health care? Or have to pay more and not have enough money for groceries.”
"What are they going to do? Go without health care? Or have to pay more and not have enough money for groceries.”
The Quiet Cuts Making ACA Enrollment Harder
Higher premiums and penalties have made shopping for Obamacare plans more confusing this year. Navigator programs, a resource for consumers, lost about 90% of federal funding across more than two dozen states earlier this year. How’s open enrollment going so far? “Chaotic,” says one remaining ACA navigator.
tradeoffs.org
November 7, 2025 at 6:01 PM
ACA enrollment opened this week and West Virginia navigator Jeremy Smith has been talking with consumers who feel overwhelmed.
"What are they going to do? Go without health care? Or have to pay more and not have enough money for groceries.”
"What are they going to do? Go without health care? Or have to pay more and not have enough money for groceries.”
If you're a fan of Tradeoffs, could you do us a favor?
We're looking for a few more people to take our audience survey to help guide our editorial decisions and shape the future of Tradeoffs.
10 mins of your time will help inform the next year of our work: www.surveymonkey.com/r/5TZRDMG
We're looking for a few more people to take our audience survey to help guide our editorial decisions and shape the future of Tradeoffs.
10 mins of your time will help inform the next year of our work: www.surveymonkey.com/r/5TZRDMG
Tradeoffs 2025 Audience Survey
Help us chart Tradeoffs’ path forward by taking our annual survey.
www.surveymonkey.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:55 PM
If you're a fan of Tradeoffs, could you do us a favor?
We're looking for a few more people to take our audience survey to help guide our editorial decisions and shape the future of Tradeoffs.
10 mins of your time will help inform the next year of our work: www.surveymonkey.com/r/5TZRDMG
We're looking for a few more people to take our audience survey to help guide our editorial decisions and shape the future of Tradeoffs.
10 mins of your time will help inform the next year of our work: www.surveymonkey.com/r/5TZRDMG
Higher premiums and new penalties have made shopping for Obamacare plans more confusing this year.
Listen to our latest episode to hear why federal funding cuts have left consumers in many states with fewer guides to help them navigate their options.
Listen to our latest episode to hear why federal funding cuts have left consumers in many states with fewer guides to help them navigate their options.
The Quiet Cuts Making ACA Enrollment Harder
Higher premiums and penalties have made shopping for Obamacare plans more confusing this year. Navigator programs, a resource for consumers, lost about 90% of federal funding across more than two dozen states earlier this year. How’s open enrollment going so far? “Chaotic,” says one remaining ACA navigator.
tradeoffs.org
November 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Higher premiums and new penalties have made shopping for Obamacare plans more confusing this year.
Listen to our latest episode to hear why federal funding cuts have left consumers in many states with fewer guides to help them navigate their options.
Listen to our latest episode to hear why federal funding cuts have left consumers in many states with fewer guides to help them navigate their options.