This comprehensive survey of seniors about the Medicare drug benefit finds that many seniors remain uncertain about how the new benefit will affect them and unsure about whether they will enroll. Seniors who say they understand the benefit well are more likely to report favorable views than those who do not.

The survey examines in depth what seniors know and understand about the new benefit and what they think about its potential helpfulness. It was conducted and analyzed by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. Fieldwork was done by telephone by ICR/International Communications Research between October 13 and October 31, 2005, among a nationally representative sample of 802 respondents 65 years of age and older.

This survey is part of an ongoing effort to track seniors’ views on the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which has included three earlier comprehensive surveys about Medicare and five tracking polls which included questions about the benefit.

News Release

Chartpack

Toplines

The survey was released at a November 10, 2005 briefing:

Agenda (.pdf)

Speaker Biographies (.pdf)

This chartpack highlights key results and trends from a comprehensive survey of seniors on their understanding of and views toward the Medicare drug benefit. The survey of 802 seniors was conducted in late October 2005, prior to the start of the benefit’s open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 15, 2005 to May 15, 2006. This survey is part of an ongoing effort to track seniors’ views on the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which has included three earlier comprehensive surveys about Medicare and five tracking polls which included questions about the benefit.

The survey was conducted and analyzed by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. It is part of an ongoing effort to track seniors’ views on the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which has included three earlier comprehensive surveys about Medicare and five tracking polls which included questions about the benefit.

Chartpack (.pdf)

Asset Transfer and Nursing Home Use

This issue brief examines asset transfer data of elderly nursing home residents and finds that for those who qualify for Medicaid, their average asset transfer are small, sufficient to cover about one month of private nursing home care.

Issue Brief (.pdf)

The study, Sex on TV 4, examined a representative sample of more than 1,000 hours of programming including all genres other than daily newscasts, sports events, and children’s shows. All sexual content was measured, including talk about sex and sexual behavior.

Full Report (.pdf)

Introduction (.pdf)

Methodology (.pdf)

Findings (.pdf)

Conclusion and References (.pdf)

Appendices (.pdf)

Funding for Global HIV/AIDS By Major Donor Governments – An Overview (November/December 2005)

Global AIDS Link article (.pdf)

Sex on TV 4, Executive Summary

The study, Sex on TV 4, examined a representative sample of more than 1,000 hours of programming including all genres other than daily newscasts, sports events, and children’s shows. All sexual content was measured, including talk about sex and sexual behavior.

Executive Summary (.pdf)

How to Link to the Medicaid Benefits Online Database

The Kaiser Family Foundation encourages non-profit organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, and other organizations to link to its online information. To link to the timeline, please use the following graphic, title and url.

Title:Medicaid Benefits: Online Database, Kaiser Family FoundationURL:http://www.kff.org/medicaidbenefits/Graphic:

(right click on the graphic and select “Save Picture As” to save it to your computer)

Thank you for your interest. Please let us know when you have posted the link. Email kcmu@kff.org when the link is live or if you have any questions.

Financing Health Coverage: The Fiscal Relief Experience

This paper provides an overview of the context which prompted federal fiscal relief to the states in 2003 and discusses the implications of this experiment in federal intervention for financing the Medicaid program.

Policy Brief (.pdf)

This chartbook provides 2004 data on health insurance coverage, with special attention to the uninsured. It includes trends and major shifts in coverage and a profile of the uninsured population.

Report (.pdf)

Federal Spending on the Health Care Safety Net from 2001-2004: Has Spending Kept Pace with the Growth in the Uninsured?

This report examines federal spending on the health care safety net and finds that it has not kept pace with the growth in the uninsured from 2001 to 2004.

Report (.pdf)

Executive Summary (.pdf)