Medicare: Part D / Prescription Drugs - Kaiser Family Foundation

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Medicare: Part D / Prescription Drugs

Chartbook Examines Medicare's Current Fiscal Challenges
Incorporating data from the 2009 Medicare Trustees' Report, this chartpack examine the fiscal challenges facing the Medicare program as well as the public's views on confronting them.

2009 Medicare Part D Data Spotlights
The Kaiser Family Foundation has issued a series of six data spotlights, including a summary of findings, examining key aspects of the drug plans available to Medicare beneficiaries in 2009 and relevant trends since the Medicare drug benefit took effect in 2006.

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Tutorial: Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit -- June 2009

This tutorial provides an overview of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, which was added to Medicare through the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and implemented in 2006.

Tutorial: Medicare 101 -- June 2009

This tutorial provides a basic overview of the Medicare program.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in 2009 and Key Changes Since 2006: Summary of Findings -- June 2009
This report summarizes findings from a series of Medicare Part D 2009 Data Spotlights documenting changes in drug coverage and costs since 2006 and finds, in many ways, beneficiaries over time are paying more for less generous benefits.

Medicare Part D 2009 Data Spotlight: Ten Most Common Brand-Name Drugs -- June 2009
This Data Spotlight focuses on Part D plan coverage of the ten brand-name drugs that were most commonly prescribed for Medicare beneficiaries in 2006 and lack generic equivalents in 2009.

Medicare Part D 2009 Data Spotlight: Specialty Tiers -- June 2009
This Data Spotlight examines use of the specialty tier in Medicare Part D drug plans, including the numbers and kinds of drugs included on specialty tiers and what beneficiaries pay for those drugs.

Medicare Spending and Financing Fact Sheet -- May 2009
This updated fact sheet provides an overview of spending on the Medicare program, how the program is financed, and Medicare’s future financial outlook. It includes the latest available data on Medicare financing.

The Obama Administration's 2010 Call Letter for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans: Implications for Beneficiaries -- May 2009
The policy brief examines key provisions and proposed changes in plan requirements for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans as outlined in the Obama Administration's call letter for 2010 issued this spring.

Medicare Advantage Fact Sheet -- May 2009
This updated fact sheet provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage program, describes program changes made by the new drug law in plan participation and beneficiary enrollment, presents data on benefits and premiums, and explains changes in Medicare payments to participating plans.

Choosing a Medicare Part D Plan: Are Medicare Beneficiaries Choosing Low-Cost Plans? -- March 2009
This study finds that most Part D enrollees did not choose one of the lowest-cost drug plans offered in their area in 2006. The analysis models the approach seniors were advised to follow in choosing a plan based on their current medication regimen.

The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit - An Updated Fact Sheet -- March 2009
This updated fact sheet includes the latest information and data about the Medicare Drug Benefit, including a breakdown of the standard benefit, enrollment data and an update on additional low-income assistance.

This tutorial provides an overview of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, which was added to Medicare through the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and implemented in 2006.

This tutorial provides a basic overview of the Medicare program.

This report summarizes findings from a series of Medicare Part D 2009 Data Spotlights documenting changes in drug coverage and costs since 2006 and finds, in many ways, beneficiaries over time are paying more for less generous benefits.

This Data Spotlight focuses on Part D plan coverage of the ten brand-name drugs that were most commonly prescribed for Medicare beneficiaries in 2006 and lack generic equivalents in 2009.

This Data Spotlight examines use of the specialty tier in Medicare Part D drug plans, including the numbers and kinds of drugs included on specialty tiers and what beneficiaries pay for those drugs.

This updated fact sheet provides an overview of spending on the Medicare program, how the program is financed, and Medicare’s future financial outlook. It includes the latest available data on Medicare financing.

The policy brief examines key provisions and proposed changes in plan requirements for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans as outlined in the Obama Administration's call letter for 2010 issued this spring.

This updated fact sheet provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage program, describes program changes made by the new drug law in plan participation and beneficiary enrollment, presents data on benefits and premiums, and explains changes in Medicare payments to participating plans.

This study finds that most Part D enrollees did not choose one of the lowest-cost drug plans offered in their area in 2006. The analysis models the approach seniors were advised to follow in choosing a plan based on their current medication regimen.

This updated fact sheet includes the latest information and data about the Medicare Drug Benefit, including a breakdown of the standard benefit, enrollment data and an update on additional low-income assistance.

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Part D / Prescription Drugs: Medicare

Prescription drug use increases with age, along with the prevalence of chronic and acute health problems. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 established Medicare Part D, an outpatient prescription drug benefit that took effect in 2006. Through Part D, Medicare beneficiaries have access to prescription drug coverage offered by private health plans, either stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans, such as HMOs or PPOs. Part D plans are required to provide a “standard” benefit or one that is actuarially equivalent, and may offer more generous benefits. In general, individuals who sign up for a Part D plan pay a monthly premium, along with cost-sharing amounts for each prescription. Currently, 90 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries have prescription drug coverage, with 26 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Part D plan and another 10 million receiving drug coverage from an employer or union plan.