Podcasts · The Clark Howard Podcast
08.31.26 Shopping Healthcare / Dealing With Debt Collection
· 50 min
Episode 08.31.26 Shopping Healthcare / Dealing With Debt Collection
The American healthcare and financial systems can feel deeply broken, but you are not powerless. With healthcare costs skyrocketing and deductibles growing larger every year, many people feel trapped when facing a medical procedure. Clark shares an instructive real-world story from The Washington Post, explaining how price transparency (and lack thereof) impacts your wallet and why price-shopping non-emergency medical procedures is essential for protecting your savings.
Clark also addresses the growing wave of financial stress facing millions of households now. As inflation strains budgets and credit card default rates rise, debt collectors are taking consumers to court in record numbers. If you or a loved one are dealing with aggressive debt collectors, Clark walks through your legal rights, how to stop harassing calls, and why getting every agreement in writing is non-negotiable.
Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the August 31, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark.
• Compare Medical Procedure Costs: Segment 1 • Ask Clark: Segment 2 • Debt Collection Help: Segment 3 • Ask Clark: Segment 4
Mentioned on the show:
• [WPost] His surgery was $23,000. After shopping around, he paid less than $5,000. • Americans seeking affordable doctors and medicines abroad — The Conversation • Is Medical Tourism Right for You? - Clark Howard • 10 Ways To Save Money on Health Care - Clark Howard • Remove my private info from Google Search / Results about you • Is the Privacy App Permission Slip Worth It? A Review • 4 Rules Every Consumer Needs to Know to Fight Back Against Debt Collectors • NYT: Debt Collection Suits Rise Sharply. Help for Consumers. • How To Send a 'Drop Dead' Letter to a Collection Agency • 6 Things To Know Before Contacting the National Foundation for Credit Counseling • How To Find and Choose a Financial Advisor - Clark Howard • What Is Umbrella Insurance and Do You Need It? - Clark Howard • Best Free Password Managers: 10 Top Picks - Clark Howard • How To Create and Use Passkeys - Clark Howard
Clark.com resources:
• Episode transcripts • Community.Clark.com / Ask Clark • Clark.com daily money newsletter • Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Links in the notes 20
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/07/29/his-surgery-was-23000-after-shopping-around-he-paid-less-than-5000/
- https://www.npr.org/2026/07/29/nx-s1-5896065/personal-bankruptcy-rates-rising?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20260802&utm_term=10892191&utm_campaign=news&utm_id=58043327&orgid=652&uniquet=FAQJYNZI3HY7CXeZJg-C_Q&utm_att1=
- https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2026/07/16/debt-collection-lawsuits-continue-to-flood-state-and-local-courts
- https://clark.com/ask
- https://theconversation.com/why-americans-seeking-affordable-doctor-visits-and-medicines-abroad-may-misjudge-healthcare-quality-282515
- https://clark.com/health-health-care/medical-tourism/
- https://clark.com/health-health-care/save-money-health-care/
- https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/9673730?hl=en
- https://myactivity.google.com/results-about-you
- https://clark.com/privacy/permission-slip-privacy-app-review/
- https://clark.com/debt/rules-to-fight-back-against-debt-collectors/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/business/credit-card-debt-collection-lawsuits.html
- https://clark.com/consumer-issues-id-theft/heres-how-to-send-a-drop-dead-letter-to-a-collection-agency/
- https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/national-foundation-for-credit-counseling-contact/
- https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/investing-retirement/how-to-find-a-financial-advisor/
- https://clark.com/insurance/umbrella-insurance/
- https://clark.com/save-money/free-password-managers/
- https://clark.com/privacy/how-to-create-and-use-passkeys/
- https://clark.com/
- https://app.podscribe.ai/series/3743
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