In this inaugural Healthcare 101 segment, Dr. Randy Vogenberg breaks down the fundamentals of the American health insurance system. From the evolution of employer-sponsored coverage to the rise of managed care and vertical integration, this episode explores why healthcare feels so complex and where the money actually flows.

Listeners will gain clarity on the role of middlemen, cost shifting, site of care decisions, and what individuals can do to better navigate the system. Whether you are an employer, industry leader, or consumer, this episode offers foundational insights to help you make more informed healthcare decisions.

Key Topics

• The historical evolution of the American health insurance system
• Cost, access, and quality as the core healthcare triangle
• Employer-sponsored coverage and government programs
• The rise of managed care and third-party intermediaries
• Vertical integration and consolidation in healthcare
• Who the “middlemen” are and how they influence costs
• Transparency challenges in healthcare pricing
• Cash pay options vs. traditional insurance pathways
• How consumers and employers can become more engaged
  
  
  

Episode Chapters with Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Healthcare 101
00:34 – What is the American health insurance system?
01:04 – How cost, access, and quality shape healthcare
03:55 – Why the system is so complicated
05:20 – Who are the key players in healthcare?
07:15 – The role of middlemen and consolidation
09:16 – Vertical integration explained
09:59 – What individuals can do to navigate the system
11:51 – Cash pricing vs. traditional insurance models
13:00 – Why understanding the system matters

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Sponsored by:
Peek: A game-changing prescription shopping solution that allows its members to view all their prescription cost options across cash discount programs and their insurance in one easy-to-use platform. Peek is currently being offered to organizations to help both employees and plan sponsors save money on their prescription spend. https://peekmeds.com/.

Institute for Integrated Health (IIH): Health care benefits, insurance coverage regulations, and doing business in the healthcare industry can be complicated. At IIH, Dr. Randy Vogenberg and his team understand these unique challenges and provides strategic guidance customized to every client. To help overcome your unique challenges, IIH delivers education, planning and advisory on market trends, and U.S. health care market intelligence. The firm’s decades of proven success are due to strategic collaboration with associates from the business, clinical, and scientific communities. https://iih-online.com/.