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The fourth in a series of fact sheets on topics related to children, media and health pulls together the key facts on the prevalence of violence on television, and the results of scientific studies of the effects on children. The fact sheet also discusses the conclusions of the public health community as well as opposing viewpoints.
This fact sheet summarizes the issues surrounding premiums and cost-sharing in public coverage programs and discusses the impact of these mechanisms on participation and health outcomes, particularly for low-income populations.
Fact Sheet (.pdf)
This background report analyzes 2001 U.S. Census Bureau data on health coverage to determine the trends that led to 1.4 million people losing health coverage from 2000 to 2001.
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured co-sponsored a policy briefing today to discuss the dynamics of the uninsured population in America. In 2001, the uninsured population grew by 1.4 million people. To increase understanding of who these people are and answer the question of whether the uninsured problem was shifting to higher-income Americans, findings from two new KCMU reports were presented. You may also view background materials on the uninsured and a webcast of the policy briefing.
This issue paper discusses and answers the question are the newly uninsured in 2001 predominantly from the middle-class. The paper examines U.S. Census Bureau s data and concludes that most of the increase in the uninsured (1.3 million people) was among low-income people with incomes less than 200% of the poverty level.
This article, which appears in the Food and Drug Law Journal, vol. 57, no. 3, 2002, pp. 423-444 was based on a report written by F.B. Palumbo and C.D. Mullins at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Center on Drugs and Public Policy and funded by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The article provides an historical overview and current U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation of advertising prescription drugs directly to consumers. The article also describes direct-to-consumer advertising in other countries and the perspectives of stakeholders such as the pharmaceutical industry, managed care, physicians, pharmacists, and consumers.
Private Long-Term Care Insurance: Who Should Buy It and What Should They Buy?
Despite the growing interest in private long-term care insurance (LTCI), there has been little independent examination of how much protection LTCI policies provide consumers or whether LTCI policies are a worthwhile purchase for people of average means. This report draws on data from the 1998 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) and the 1996 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS) to explore the feasibility of LTCI for working families and older adults. Specifically, the report looks at how many working-age families can afford LTCI, whether it is a sensible investment for people who are decades away from requiring long-term care, and how LTCI policies can be made more flexible, to keep pace with changes in long-term care delivery and financing. The report also examines the affordability of LTCI for older people, what kind of policies make sense for seniors, and whether there are less costly products that might reach more buyers and still provide some meaningful protection.
Regulation of Private Long-Term Care Insurance: Implementation Experience and Key Issues
While private long-term care insurance (LTCI) has been available since the mid-1970s, its popularity has grown rapidly in recent years, and Congress is considering proposals that would further encourage LTCI purchase through expanded tax subsidies. Yet there has been little research on how well LTCI works and how much security it really provides. This report focuses on consumer protections for individuals buying LTCI in the current market. It begins with a brief description of how LTCI works and how it is regulated. It then examines how well existing federal and state regulatory mechanisms address issues, including suitability in choosing a policy, policy replacement, benefit triggers and other coverage issues, and post-claims underwriting.
This fact sheet reviews abortion in the U.S. About half (49%) of the approximately 5.4 million pregnancies occurring in the United States each year are unintended. Fifty-four percent (54%), or approximately 1.4 million, of these unintended pregnancies ended in abortion in 1996. While abortion remains one of the most common surgical procedures in this country, abortion rates have declined.
Health Insurance Coverage in America: 2001 Data Update
This chartbook provides year 2001 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.