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Dr. Jessica Edwards is a board-certified family medicine physician, health policy fellow, and the founder of Zahra Medical—a telehealth-focused practice committed to making quality healthcare more accessible. With a background in public health advocacy and lived experience as both a provider and parent, Dr. Edwards is a fierce voice for healthcare reform rooted in equity, practicality, and compassion.

In this eye-opening segment of The Humanity of Fame, host Kali and guest Dr. Jessica Edwards challenge one of the most accepted norms in the American healthcare system: that good insurance is tied to employment. Dr. Edwards discusses how this outdated model creates unequal access to healthcare—particularly for lower-income workers, gig laborers, and families working outside traditional corporate jobs.

Drawing from her health policy fellowship and referencing the book Healing America by T.R. Reid, Dr. Edwards compares the U.S. system to countries like Germany, where universal basic coverage is guaranteed to all, and upgrades (like concierge services or elective surgery) can be paid for separately. The takeaway is clear: healthcare in America doesn’t have to be this broken—there are better models out there.

Key Takeaways:

• The flaw in tying health insurance to full-time, white-collar employment
• Why equal access to basic healthcare benefits everyone—regardless of job title
• How countries like Germany successfully provide universal healthcare with optional add-ons
• The economic and ethical downsides of America’s “good job = good coverage” culture
• A reminder that better systems already exist, and we can learn from them

Guest Contact:
🌐ZahraMedical.com
Follow Dr. Edwards for real-talk insights on health equity, patient empowerment, and policy solutions.

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Find out more about Kali and the show HERE: https://humanityoffame.com/