The Affordable Care Act and Heath Care

This is the truth on Kilburn with Denise Thomas and Dr. Ken Harris.

Let's say what it actually is.

These are children and when a child is seeking help and still does it make it home safe?

You know Dr. K, we've got to ask like in the words of Marvin Gaye, what is really going on?

What is really going on and who will step up?

Now you can put it in here and I have no qualms saying that.

I don't care what her race is, I don't care what her gender is,

I don't care where she's from, I don't care what her family does,

I don't care how much money she has, she has proven that she belongs in jail.

And I said it when they were going to release her, it should all left her in.

It's Tussle live at the Avenue.

Here's Denise Thomas and Dr. Ken Harris.

Good evening.

Good evening, good evening.

Milwaukee, southeastern Wisconsin and everyone who is listening no matter where you are.

This is truth unfiltered with DT and Dr. Ken Harris.

Where you know we're going to keep it real, we're going to keep it honest and we're going to keep

it rooted in the experiences of our community.

Now tonight we have got a full but delicious plate because you deserve real talk,

you deserve honesty and transparency.

We're not going to impact just, or I should say, unpack, not just one,

not two, but three major conversations that matter to Milwaukee, Black Milwaukee,

and everyone who calls this city and Wisconsin home.

So first, Dr. Ken, how are you?

I am doing phenomenally well.

It's been a great break.

You look great.

I've been off since like Thursday, like a while ago.

So life is good.

I've been off since the 19th.

It's my first day back on the air.

I can tell.

Wow.

Because you look refreshed.

You look good.

You've got the, what do you call it when you let your beard grow out a little bit,

a little stubby winter.

What's that called?

The shadow, the five o'clock shadow.

Five o'clock shadow.

It's more like the 1130 p.m. shadow.

Well, I've only not shaved for about less than a week.

It looks good.

So I figure in another week, which I'm trying to get rid of this Tuesday or Wednesday.

But I figure another week and I'll be back to babyface.

So not being babyface.

If y'all want to listen, if y'all want to check out Dr. Ken's 1130 shadow,

you can stream right now and watch both Dr. Ken and I live

on our X formally notice Twitter.

And that's just going to X and searching for 620 WTMJ.

Click on that button.

You'll see us live.

Shout out to everybody who's already in the room.

Hope you had a wonderful, wonderful holiday and you're still celebrating.

I sure am.

And speaking of celebrations, as part of the holiday season,

we also celebrate Kwanzaa.

Yes, we do.

And so Kwanzaa began, what was it, the 26th?

Yep.

And it is a week-long celebration.

It's principles, the meaning behind this week-long,

very cultural observance and how our city is celebrating unity,

purpose, creativity, and faith this holiday season.

There's been a number of events, Dr. Ken.

There's always a number of events in Milwaukee and South East,

Wisconsin, South Eastern Wisconsin, whether it's the opening ceremonies,

but there's one organization here in Milwaukee that consistently is dedicated

to celebrating Kwanzaa.

And it's the America's Black Holocaust Museum and they call it Kwanzafest.

Are you familiar with the Kwanzafest at America's

Black Holocaust Museum, Dr. Ken?

No, I'm not.

Yeah, it's a big deal and it celebrates in particular the spirit of

Umaja or Umaja.

And I think we have, if I'm not mistaken, we have a sound clip.

Do we still have that, Evan?

Evan, say it like you mean it, brother.

Evan, we got that Kwanzaa clip, brother.

Yeah, crazy.

All right, when we listen, when we come back, we're going to get

that sound clip going.

And as we mentioned, Dr. Ken, I know you're going to have a lot of great insight

because part of what we're going to talk about during our second hour,

so you definitely want to stay tuned.

But for our second hour, we're going to take the whole hour

with Dr. Ken's perspective for our 2025 Black Milwaukee year in review.

We're going to talk about the wins, the challenges, the leaders,

the moments that shaped our community and the people who showed up

for our community because part of unfiltering the truth is just that.

We want you all to leave today's show with an understanding of where we have been

and where we are trying to go in the new year, 2026.

So health access, Kwanzaa, and the year in review.

How you feel about that, Dr. Ken?

I'm excited.

And I got about 10 things that I want to talk about.

So this is going to be a full hour.

Yep.

Oh, listen.

Evan, I understand your pain.

I know that the sl, I mean, the Green Bay Packers.

Oh, you have to go there.

She had to go there.

Well, I mean, as a Bears fan, why would I not?

She had to go there.

We have not had the NFC North Championship since 2018.

Because of who?

I'm going to say this though.

Wait, because of who?

Because the Bears were consistently terrible.

And the Green Bay Packers got beaten them.

And listen, let me just say this.

I am not a sore loser.

And as a diehard loyal diehard Bears fan, season after season,

when the Green Bay Packers would just put it on the Chicago Bears.

I have always said, you know what?

Good game.

Good game.

Y'all played like y'all came to win.

I've always, I'm not a sore loser.

Correct.

But what I'm finding interesting is that now we are finally number one again since 2018.

The rest of the prosody just isn't there, Dr. Ken.

No, it's me hearing things like, well, our quarterback was hurt.

That's the only reason why you guys were able to take it.

Oh, this is all luck.

And I'm like, come on now.

Come on, y'all.

Listen, y'all are still in the playoffs.

Yes, they are.

Seven C.

This is my final petty LeBel moment, y'all.

This is the final petty LeBel moment.

I doubt it.

And then I'm going to just go back.

I thought I had just get it out.

Then I promise I will not talk about sports at all for the rest of the show.

But I just have to put it right there.

Evan, do you believe that?

Honestly, do you believe that between 14 minutes after the hour and another hour and

46 minutes, she's not going to mention the Chicago Bears or the Packers or the Bears and the

Packers.

Well, I think you may try to bait her in the commenting on it.

Not at all.

I'm not going to fall for it, Evan.

Do not try to bait me, Dr. Ken.

I'm done.

The nice, the nice.

Yes.

The Bears.

Listen, I'm not going to, you know what?

On that note, this is the truth I'm filtered with DT and Dr. Ken.

And when we come back, again, we're going to get into

health care access.

You do not want to miss because we've got a significant update regarding potential changes

to the entire health insurance landscape that could leave thousands of families uninsured

right here in Milwaukee.

So we want to give you that information.

And most importantly, unfiltered the truth so that you can start preparing.

Because y'all matter whether you're our neighbors, our community, we want to make sure

that we give you the information so that you can stay ready.

And then of course, in our second hour, live, Dr. Ken is going to be giving you his top 10 moments

as part of our 2025 Black Milwaukee year in review.

Again, this is the truth unfiltered on 620 WTMJ also broadcasting on our sister station,

the truth 101.7 FM all part of good karma brands.

Stay locked in.

We will be back.

Welcome back to the truth unfiltered.

You're listening to the truth unfiltered on your host, Dr. Ken Harris, along with the

infamous by way of Texas that needs Thomas.

The effect.

You're giving me so many layups.

Communication.

Well, I'm not going to take the shot.

I'm not going to.

Because you know when you said from Evansville, Indiana, who has a who has a favorite team that's

north of there in another state, hello, la, la, la, la, every time she mentions whether we need

a we need a looping sound effect that just goes, la, la, la, la, la, la, if we time she tries to tell.

I'm not going to say a word.

We're going to get right into this these topics.

So Dr. Ken, as we discussed as part of our kickoff,

right now in Milwaukee, there is a major Milwaukee health center that is basically bracing.

And I'll use the word because it is accurate potential changes.

I want to emphasize potential changes, Dr. Ken to the health insurance landscape that could

leave.

We're talking tens of thousands of people without coverage.

So basically, and just let that sink in.

Tens of thousands of people without coverage.

And before you think, well, that's not my problem.

You remember 2019 or excuse me, 2020?

Yeah.

COVID.

Yeah.

So Dr. Ken, we basically have the outreach community health center.

Now this health center serves more than 21,000 patients a year.

And they're right now preparing for a future i.e.

2026 where more than half of the people that they serve, half of those 21,000 people

may walk through their doors uninsured.

Why?

Because enhanced ACA subsidies that made coverage affordable for working families

are set to expire unless Congress acts.

How do you feel about that?

Couple things.

I've never understood why Congress didn't make a permanent.

But I'm sure they didn't have the votes to override it to make a permanent.

I think they need it like 60 votes or something like that.

Earl called the truth and explained that very, he articulated that very, very clearly.

So a lot of times, they'll vote in the Congress, whether Republican or Democrat,

would vote in something good.

But then they can't make it permanent.

And so because it's not permanent, it becomes one of those balls they get to bat around

to run for office and politics and all that.

It wasn't sustainable when they created it and they've had how many years

to fix it and nobody has bothered to fix it.

Not Democrats, not Republicans.

Even to just sit down and let's have a discussion about this.

Democrats say, we want it permanent, we want this, this, this, this, and that's it.

And if you don't want to do that, we're not going to talk.

Republicans say, we're going to scratch the whole thing and restart.

And if that's not it, and nobody's willing, there's no civility.

There's no sitting down and saying, we have to offer some type of health care

for people who can't afford it.

If they can't afford it, we're going to end up paying for it.

Just really quick, and I apologize, because I know people are like,

some people are like, what is this ACA acronyms?

Because we've heard, in all fairness, we've heard so many different terms.

So ACA, and the reason why I say it just like that, Dr. Ken is because I've been on ACA

as a small business owner since it came into existence under the Obama administration.

So the ACA is the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

So I just had to clarify that for those that are listening.

I think it's important that people recognize that we started a system that was similar to

Social Security. Only we don't have enough people pouring into the Affordable Care Act

in a mandatory way, the way we do Social Security.

So Social Security, wild little stumble and fall, and some iteration of it all,

it'll change and turn into whatever it needs to be in order to sustain it.

We've got, you know, however many millions of people who are working

paying into Social Security, whether it's full-time or part-time work.

We don't have that. We only have people paying into the Affordable Care Act and then getting money

on the other side. So you don't have enough people paying to sustain it so they get a subsidy

from the federal government. And if I'm explaining this wrong, the siding unlimited WTMJ

Tuckham text line is a 556161620. And so now we have an issue where we can't keep paying the

subsidy. Like we can't keep paying it the same way we pay for housing because housing we pay

taxes on all our houses. And if we pay taxes on all our houses, then that means that,

you know, everybody owns a house, pitches in. Well Affordable Care Act isn't like that.

And so now you got to spread this cost around and not enough people are paying. We don't have

enough money to pay all the bills. We have a subsidy. And it's about to end what, December 31st, I think?

Yes. So to your point, and some of the things that you said, Dr. Ken, I agree with.

Some of them, it's not necessarily that I disagree. However, I hope that anyone who was listening

regardless of your identity, your zip code, that you understand that this is a public health issue.

This is a working class issue. This is an issue. If you are someone who works for a living,

which the vast majority of Americans do, please understand that this impacts you as well. Now,

just high level, because I remember, you know, I remember Dr. Ken. See, he's the genius smart

person. And I'm the third grade level second. I'm going to break it down for those that are,

you know, at my level, third grade public school. So here's what's changing. As Dr. Ken had mentioned,

the Affordable Care Act subsidies that lowered monthly premiums. So whatever you were paying for,

that's about to expire. And so when you have the clinics like the outreach

community health center, they have to now prepare for a surge in uninsured patients. And let

me say this to all those people that are working and have these great benefits, you are now going

to become the exception and not the rule. If this goes as far as what Congress is probably going

to make happen, we just had enrollment. Okay. What was that? November the first, Dr. Ken?

Yep. November the first was okay. Check this out. Only 30% of eligible people have signed up so far.

Think about that. And and why this matters, especially for black and brown communities,

working families who don't qualify for Medicaid. But then on the other hand, they can't afford

private insurance. This is going to lead into a society of where people will postpone their

health. And then when it gets to the point where they can't, you know, treat it with an over

the counter drug. And they have to go to the emergency room. The emergency room is going to turn

them away. And you're going to see a lot of people who shouldn't be, and I'll just say it, fatalities

are going to increase. This is the truth on filter. We have to say what it is. So think about Dr.

Ken, whether it's delayed care or no care at all, you got folks out here that have diabetes,

heart disease, asthma, and mental health. And if I can't qualify for Medicaid, and I can't

afford private insurance, and everybody is going to the outreach center for health care.

And they're already stretched then. No insurance delayed health care, delayed health care,

emergency care, emergency care, higher cost for everyone. So I want to be clear, this is not

of them thing. I just had to say that. It's a big deal. But part of the issue I have with it,

is we would need the Affordable Care Act if we would fix the insurance, or I'm sorry, yeah,

insurance and health care system. The health care system has a metal man who controls what money

goes out. So you pay money into the system through insurance, and they control what medical

doctors are paid. And it's a closed system. And the problem I have with that is now,

they get to decide what they cover, what they don't. In other words, in America, health care is not

a right. It's a privilege, and it's a business. And I think people need to understand that that's

the system that needs to change in order to make sure the cost of health care comes down. Now,

will that mean that medical doctors won't get paid as much? Yes. But that also means that medical

schools will eventually not cost as much. Yes, it's over. It's not overregulated, but it's

regulated to a point where you have to spend so much money and so much time making sure doctors

even even have something as simple as liability insurance. That the cost of health care is,

it has skyrocketed year after year after year. And at some point, there's a breaking point.

Now, we talk about these other countries that have socialized health care. I was about to go

there. And I was literally about there. And one of the things people have to understand about

those countries with socialized health care is that they put a limit on what they'll pay.

They put a limit on when you can get in. You can't be in a, in a democratic republic like America

over there. Here, I get sick. I got, I got urgent care. If I don't, if I need more

energy care, I got an emergency room. I got more of the emergency room. I got a hospital. I got

ortho. I got, they have those things, but it's limited. So if, if you reach a certain age,

there's just a point in time where the money spent on you may not necessarily be a good deal

because they're working with a limited pot. Their income tax has been astronomical. I mean,

it's come down, but in some cases, in some places, it's 50, 40, 30% for everybody. So if those are

the types of things we want to do, then we're going to have to pay for it. So when we come back,

I want to hear your input on the social side of medicine and those countries that are small

enough, who, who do what? Limit their immigration. There are only certain jobs you can take when

you come and work there. If you're, if you're, I guess you wouldn't be an expat. If you're an

immigrant, all, all those little things that we don't know about it, I'd love to hear what your

thoughts are about that because I'm more than happy. Christmas tree when I, when I, social,

it's like you're in my head. Social. You're listening to truth unfiltered. I'm your host,

Dr. Kin Harris, along with the ubiquitous because she's everywhere. And when we come back,

you need to tell us about your trip down, down yonder, down under. I come from a land down and

I will. We talk about the news, the London, the neighbor. Yep. Yep. And Australia recap, which

actually will tie into the countries that face the most major or significant health challenges

this while we see, especially in the United States, such high cost and access in equality. So

we'll be back. Truth unfiltered with Dr. Kin and your girl, DT. You're listening to the truth

unfiltered. In East Thomas, Dr. Kin Harris, we're here on a Sunday night, 35 minutes after the

hour. I almost punched it up, but I decided not to because I didn't want to make myself be depressed

about the weather, but you know, some people, you want to know what the weather is here?

And that was, is that what you said, Dr. Kin? Sure. Sure.

Thank you, Evan. Appreciate you, Evan. Ding ding. In all, in all seriousness, you are listening

to the truth unfiltered. Y'all go ahead and visit us in Xland, commonly known as Twitter. We

not is just talking about weather. We're not what? Just weather. I'm done talking about the weather.

I'm not talking about the weather. It's 36 degrees here. Okay, I said it. Now y'all, I'm trying

to move on. Dr. Kin is stuck on the weather. The bears. I'm not following for it. Not

following for it. All right. Okay. All right. Social socialized health care.

Socialized health. Here's, here's the reality. Because we've been talking about the Affordable

Care Act, which as Dr. Kin had earlier mentioned, this was a federal health care law that was passed

under the Obama administration, which is why you often hear the Affordable Care Act refer to

as Obamacare. It was passed in 2010. And y'all, I don't know, Dr. Kin, do you remember where you were

when this was passed? I mean, this was a huge deal. Well, not only was it a huge deal,

I think that was the first time we saw the divide between Republican and Democrat become racial.

You think so? Yep. You think this is where we really saw? Okay.

They kind of pushed, but they kind of said things in passing, but they never really

intimated. You know, they attacked his character. They attacked his intellect. They attacked his,

you know, whether, you know, his birthright, things like that. And it was, you know, normal,

you know, the partisan stuff. But when that passed somewhere in their mind, they thought that

black people were going to get it when we don't make up enough of the population to be the most

in anything. You know, I just don't understand. It was just like when the SNAP benefits

during the federal government shutdown. Say it, girl. Say it. Say it. I'm a whop, certain people.

Oh, we're good. They're always with their hand out anyway. And the majority, and this is not,

I promise you what I'm about to say is not a thought or a feeling. Right. The majority of people

who benefit in this country, the United States of America, for Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps,

social security benefits, social security are Caucasian, also known as white people. I really

need for some of us to understand that. Okay. So the Affordable Care Act,

it's sole purpose was to make health insurance more affordable, more accessible,

especially for working families, which by the way, again, the majority of working families in

this country are white. And people who were previously uninsured, those were the targeted

benefited beneficiaries. Now in real terms, this is what the ACA does. It creates, and I'm sure for

many of you that have enrolled or you'll get that letter right before November the 1st, which is

you know, the typical enrollment day, you'll see that envelope that has health insurance marketplace.

Okay. And that's where we as working families are working individuals will log in and we'll

shop for coverage. It'll give us a whole synopsis and list of in network. And it basically provides

tax credits and subsidies to lower monthly premiums for people who qualify as Dr. Kid Adventure.

Now it protects people with pre-existing conditions. So insurance companies cannot deny coverage

or charge more. Please stay with me. It also allows young adults to stay on their parents'

insurance until they're 26. Correct. Because it used to be where unless you were enrolled in a

institution of higher learning IEA student, you could not be on your parents' insurance. So now

under this act, you can until you're 26. It also gives preventative care, mental health services,

maternity care, prescription drugs. And the reason why I'm saying this with such conviction is

because I'm a beneficiary. And I'm telling you right now I'm not going to get into too many details

because number one, I'll just make me mad. Dr. Kid, if I disclose to you what I was paying for my

health care insurance and I'm well, like I'm identified as a, what's the term? I'm what they

consider someone who doesn't have, I'm a healthy person. Does that include your meals over Christmas

break? So even for people like me who don't need a lot of prescription drugs or you know definitely

I definitely don't need no maternity care. Okay, let that go. That'll never be. But you did. But in all

seriousness, Dr. Ken. So the reason why we're talking about this right now is because as Dr. Kid

had mentioned, some of these subsidies that made the Affordable Health Care Act or the Affordable

Care Act affordable, that's about to expire. And unless Congress acts, this is what's going to

happen. Number one, your monthly premium is going to rise significantly. Number two, many people

are going to be forced to drop coverage. And those are going to be the same people. They're going

to be in public places, coughing, sneezing, and I don't mean to sound insensitive, but I'm saying

like do not make this an isolated issue. And they're going to make people who have insurance sick as

well. That's what I'm saying. And they're in turn going to have to go to the doctor along with

the people that don't have insurance who go to the doctor. And what do you think that outcome will

be that pandemic? Hmm. It's not a game. This is the truth. I'm filtered Dr. Kylis, use the words

pandemic all over again. Because when you cannot sustain or control the exposure

of things that are beyond your immune system, that's what results in a pandemic. And if you don't

believe me, go back to March of 2020. Now, earlier you asked me, you know, about the social aspects of

this. Now, here's the thing. There are a number of countries that have what they call universal

health care. So that basically means that there are a lot of countries outside the US that pay

little to no money for health care. Dr. Ken, out of all the countries in the world, which country

do you think has the highest health care spending? America. Out of all the countries in the world,

which country do you think has the world, the highest number of uninsured or underinsured? America.

Because it's a business out of all the countries in the world. Which country do you think has the

highest number of chronic disease, maternal mortality and mental health crises? America.

And last but most certainly not least, despite the high cost of health care,

which country and out of all of planet earth has the highest number of failed health outcomes?

America. But I can tell you why too. I'm listening because we live in a democracy and many of those

other countries control what you eat, where you work, what foods are made available, what drinks are

made available, how much you can consume. So they have very, very strict laws in terms of your

outside. It's like that when we talked about, when we talked diversity about getting a kidney

and all the stuff you have to do in order just to be eligible to be on the list, that people,

many people can't or don't do, it's the same for health care there. Here, we live in a democracy.

Hey, I get to do what I want, when I want, I get to go where I want, eat what I want, live what,

well, that's fine. But when it has negative ramifications, we still pay for it. In other countries

they're like, hey, you did it to yourself. Hey, you're eating stuff, you're not supposed to eat.

Therefore, we told you not to. Now you did it. So you may not get health care.

Here, you're kind of open. You kind of, you know, if I want to get health care, I'll get health care.

If I don't want to get health care, I don't have to get it. Like part, I think part of the

law, and I don't remember whether it passed or not with the Affordable Care Act, is you had to

have insurance or you had to be on a CA and people, and that's what people walked about. Like,

wait a minute, you can't make me take insurance and then make me overpay. And that's when they

put it in the subsidy. And so now we have the subsidy. So unless they're going to really change

that and make it easy for people to get insurance and not have it be so expensive,

we're just, we're just, I hate to say it, I think we're doomed. And there's a, we're

we're doomed. And there's a there's a movement by medical doctors to stop, you know,

physician assistants who are right beneath a medical doctor from being able to come together

and, and start their own practice because they're undercutting doctors. When I can go to a physician

assistant who is in a medical doctor who can pass certain prescriptions and do all sorts of things,

then why wouldn't I choose to go there? And if I pay cash, it's cheaper. And so now the medical

profession is pushing to, you know, well, you got to get more training or you got to get the,

they're trying to throw all these roadblocks in so they can be the only ones getting paid. Well,

you started a business, you went into a business, you could call healthcare whatever you want.

We're not going to talk about healthcare businesses that actually, that actually like run as a

not for profit, but yet are making hundreds of millions of dollars. That's a, that's another issue.

But at some point the whole system needs to be revamped. If we keep doing this little cookie

cutter thing and some of its socialists, some of its ACA, it's, it's going to continue to hurt the

people that it's supposed to help. I, I do want to say this because earlier I had mentioned that

there were some things that you said that I, that I disagree with or there was something that you

said that I disagree with. And I, I want to make sure that I elaborate on that doctor can

because. Okay. This is a feeling. It's not a fact. But I, I do not agree with healthcare.

And, and the way that you said it, I understand what you meant, but the way that it, it impacted me

when you said it. Healthcare is not a right. But is it a privilege? To me, absolutely not. And,

and let me just share why I, I'm saying that because. To go to work full, like whether,

part time full time, I know there are a number of people that are listening to this show right now

who work every day full time and still cannot afford health insurance. And that ain't right.

I know people who literally are making a decision because the first of the month is right around

the corner. That's why you talk about laws. I wish they would like eliminate all bills in the month

of December. And they're like, five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year. I'm like, let's do

more get just do. Yeah. And so right now there are people who are skipping their prescription drug

that they know they need just to be healthy and be able to function so they can pay their rent.

That is true. And let me be clear. I've been there because I had kids that need it. See,

y'all gonna get y'all gonna get me started. And I have literally thought about, I'm gonna now

have two. Remember it used to have those, well, I shouldn't say used to. I remember I don't

know if they still have it. But when I worked in corporate America, they would give you an option

to sign up for a health savings account. And that's where even if even having healthcare coverage,

you may have a situation where you need to have that health savings account. Some employers might

match it. They may say, okay, we'll contribute this amount for every amount. Like I used to have to do

that because it was just still even with benefits. It was just, it was too expensive. And with kids,

you can't delay that. Yeah. And I'm sure there's a lot of people who are. And that's not right.

It's not about a privilege. It's about the fact that I need to know that as a tax paying law

buying citizen, that I have access to healthcare. And I've been to a number of our listeners have

literally skipped going to the doctor because of how much it costs. Even though they knew they needed

to go. And that's just not right. And that's often what what impacts the black and brown community.

Well, why don't you just go to the doctor? I can't afford to. There I mean, it's a generational

curse too. It's remember that joke when you when you tell your grandma you sick, go put some

robot testing on it. It's funny, but it's not because basically grandma was saying, if you go to

urgent care, just from walking in the door, that's that's $500. So you better go back in there

in the bathroom and look behind that medicine cabinet and get you some robot testing and start

praying. There you go. Sighting unlimited WTMJ talking text line is a five five six one six one six

twenty when we come back. We've got Al from Sherman Park. We've got X. We've got YouTube chat

and we've got you. I'm Dr. Ken Harris. She is Denise Thomas the effective communication coach

when we come back more on the affordable care act. Welcome back to the truth unfiltered.

You're listening. The truth unfiltered on your host, Dr. Ken Harris a five five six one six one six

twenty is V number out from Sherman Park. How are you? Hey, how are you doing, Dr. Ken and Denise?

Listen to you listening to the conversation. I don't think our issue really is the insurance

of premiums. We got to get down to the service level cost. I was shocked because I was supposed to

go for a MRI. This was back in November. I had an MRI and they wanted to do a CT. But luckily they

canceled the MRI because it would have been like duplicating images that they could have seen on the

CT. But when I got the estimate, it was eighteen thousand dollars for the MRI. My insurance

discount was going to be sixteen thousand dollars. I think I was going to have to pay like four hundred

something. Now you know they have places where you can go pay cash and get an MRI and get the exact

same thing and have it sent to your doctor significantly cheaper. Because I worked for one of

the most large healthcare groups that our insurance requires us to use that healthcare group.

The only reason I don't think that that doesn't sound that doesn't even sound legal.

Trust me when they are paying for your insurance and they're the healthcare group, they

know, but I'm saying you go outside. It may not be because there are places who will do it for cash

significantly cheaper. I've actually done it and have the information sent to my doctor.

I'm just telling you that's what I know about my organization that I worked for. I work for

someone else. I remember when I first joined my organization, I think I was going to go to my

old doctor and say, oh no, they don't allow you to use insurance with us. You have to pay out

a packet. I was like, oh no, that's not how I go. My healthcare group that I worked for.

We have to get to price transparency. We have to figure out. We've got laws that say it's

supposed to be transparent. People just don't ask. It's transparent because you have to call the

billing department and get an estimate. It's not like some big spreadsheet out on the line.

Your doctor has to give it to you. If you go in and your doctor says you need a procedure

something has to happen, you can ask them. Federal law says you say, how much is that?

What is the actual price and what is the cash price? You can ask and they, by law, have to tell you.

I'm telling you this, Dr. Cannon, I work in the field. Well, then they're jerking you around.

The billing department. I don't go to the medical doctor. The billing department gives you

that estimate. Your doctor doesn't allow the prices for all the procedures. They have to get it

for you. I literally do it every time I go to the doctor. I mean, I'm not trying to argue with you

and I give it, but anyway, we only got about a minute. Go ahead.

Anyway, so no, we have to, because this whole thing with the premium is constantly increasing

and you can't have what a separate group or separate costs for people with pre-existing.

Correct. In economics, you would think that the more people you cover the lower the cost would

be, but there's a point at which you're covering too much and administrative costs

and the cost of the service through the roof. So rather than keep having the government reduce

ever-expanding premiums, we need to really get a handle on the cost at the service level.

We don't want to system where you're waiting in line like Canada. There was one woman who needed

MRI because she had a brain tumor and spine tumor, but she couldn't get an MRI for another

15 months. That's terrible. That is true. That is terrible. We don't want that.

And that happens here in the United States of America. It's called, I can't afford it.

So it happens here as well. This sure does. This sure does. Well, thank you for your call, Al.

I've heard so many stories. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. There are a lot of them.

But at some point, it is up to you as an individual to take control of your medical doctor.

They work for you. Is Al still out from showing part because he's still on?

No, I want to ask him a question. No, we got about 30 seconds. So yeah.

Oh, before we go, okay, so we have some other callers.

It's at some point. People have to take control over the money they spend and tell people

and come up with alternatives. And you're going to have to force it. We're going to have to go

after the medical field. That's just me. We have to go. We do have other callers.

They're right? Not at this point. We got about 10 seconds before we got to go to go to go stop.

I'm just messing with you. I'm just messing with you, brother. Yeah.

When we come back, you're going to hear directly from Dr. Kahn Harris

and your girl, DT, the top 10 moments, the good, the bad, the ugly year in review for 2025,

and hopefully it'll give us some perspective on where we're going. Stay locked in. This is the truth

unfiltered with DT and Dr. Kahn Harris.