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  • The Latest on Geographic Variation in Medicare Spending: A Demographic Divide Persists But Variation Has Narrowed

    Report

    This report uses the most current data available to analyze Medicare per beneficiary spending, by county, in 2013; the growth in Medicare per beneficiary spending between 2007 and 2013, by county; and the extent to which geographic variation in Medicare per beneficiary spending has increased or decreased over time. The analysis finds that beneficiaries living in counties with relatively high Medicare per beneficiary spending tend to be sicker and poorer than beneficiaries living in lower-spending…

  • Medicare Part D at Ten Years: The 2015 Marketplace and Key Trends, 2006-2015

    Report

    Since 2006, Medicare beneficiaries have had access through Medicare Part D to prescription drug coverage offered by private plans, either stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MA-PD plans). Now in its tenth year, Part D has evolved due to changes in the private plan marketplace and the laws and regulations that govern the program. This report presents findings from an analysis of the Medicare Part D marketplace in 2015 and…

  • Dual Eligible Demonstrations: The Beneficiary Perspective

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief provides insights about initial implementation of the financial alignment demonstrations from the perspective of dual eligible beneficiaries in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Virginia, based on 12 individual interviews conducted in early 2015. Profiles of six beneficiaries are presented to illustrate representative program experiences, along with key findings from across all of the interviews.

  • Visualizing Health Policy: Medicaid and Medicare at 50: Trends and Challenges

    Other Post

    These Visualizing Health Policy infographics commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Medicaid and Medicare programs. This infographic provides details about the reach and demographics of the programs, as well as the Federal and total US health-care spending associated with them. This infographic illustrates trends and challenges going forward. Together, Medicaid and Medicare provide health insurance coverage for more than 3 in 10 Americans. Medicaid serves a notable share of children, nursing home residents, and Americans younger than 65…

  • To Switch or Be Switched: Examining Changes in Drug Plan Enrollment among Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy Enrollees

    Report

    During the Medicare Part D annual enrollment period, people on Medicare can review and compare stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans and switch plans if they choose. Low-income beneficiaries who receive premium and cost-sharing assistance through the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program have a subset of premium-free PDPs (benchmark plans) available to them, but can also choose to enroll in a non-benchmark plan and pay a premium. This analysis examines plan…

  • What is Medicare’s Role in End-of-Life Care?

    News Release

    Medicare plays an integral role in end-of-life care, an issue that is emotionally-charged and easily politicized.  About three-quarters of the 2.5 million Americans who die each year are ages 65 and older, and covered by Medicare at the time of their death, yet policy issues related to Medicare and end-of-life care are often poorly understood. As policymakers consider whether and how Medicare should pay physicians and other health care professionals for talking to Medicare beneficiaries…

  • KFF Articles in the Journal Generations: Medicare at 50

    Report

    Published in a special Summer 2015 edition of the journal Generations on Medicare's 50th anniversary, these six articles by KFF staff reflect on Medicare’s history, evolution and future, including a look at lessons and challenges, the Medicare and Medicaid partnership, coverage, the role of private plans, Medicare's role for women, and the public opinion about the program.

  • Medicare’s Income-Related Premiums: A Data Note

    Issue Brief

    This data note presents new information to help set a context for understanding the implications of recent changes to Medicare's income-related premiums incorporated in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), a new law to repeal and replace Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula for physician payments. It describes current requirements with respect to the income-related premiums under Medicare Part B and Part D, including the number and share of Medicare beneficiaries…