Public Health Expert Explains Why Insurers Deny Care with Marcus Hopkins

What happens when the care you need is denied and navigating the appeal feels harder than understanding your diagnosis? Marcus J. Hopkins explains why he believes insurance incentives and barriers to health literacy leave patients struggling to access care. About the guest and episode In this episode of Building the Noise, Matt Toresco speaks with Marcus J. Hopkins, public health policy expert and founder and executive director of the Appalachian Learning Initiative. They explore health insurance denials, patient advocacy, and the connections between education, poverty, geography, and healthcare access. Drawing on his public health work and personal experience living with HIV, Marcus discusses why understanding healthcare information is only part of the challenge. Patients also need support, clear communication, and the confidence to ask questions. Key takeaways • Marcus’s perspective on how profit incentives shape insurance coverage decisions. • Why denied care and the appeals process deserve greater attention. • How literacy, internet access, and geographic isolation affect healthcare access. • Why providers need to make room for patients to say, “I don’t understand.” • How lived experience can inform stronger advocacy and better communication. Why this matters A treatment recommendation means little if patients cannot access it or understand what comes next. This conversation explores the barriers patients face—and why trusted advocates and accessible education matter. Learn more about Marcus | Website and resources Explore Marcus’s work through the Appalachian Learning Initiative: https://appli.org The organization focuses on adult literacy, numeracy, public health, and the social determinants of health and learning across Appalachia. Its website includes public health data and a directory of confirmed adult education providers organized by state and county. Join the conversation What do you think needs to change most about how insurers handle care denials? Share your perspective below. Subscribe to Building the Noise, like this video, and watch another episode on the channel for more conversations about patient advocacy and healthcare access. #HealthInsurance #PatientAdvocacy #HealthcareAccess #BuildingTheNoise #MarcusJHopkins #HealthLiteracy #PublicHealth #AppalachianLearningInitiative