What’s in Store for Medicare’s Part B Premiums and Deductible in 2016, and Why? November 11, 2015 Issue Brief As a result of the recently-enacted Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, the Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $121.80 in 2016 according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an increase of 16 percent over the 2015 amount for 30 percent of beneficiaries —far lower than the 52 percent increase initially projected by the Medicare actuaries. This Issue Brief reviews how Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles are affected by the recent budget deal (including the premium surcharge that covers the costs) and explains the connection between the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), Medicare premiums, and the “hold harmless” provision that will keep premiums flat for 70 percent of beneficiaries in 2016.
One Year Later, Where Does the U.S. Response to Ebola Stand? November 9, 2015 Event The Ebola outbreak of 2014 was a global wake-up call regarding the ongoing threat of emerging infectious diseases. The U.S. government’s response included dispatching the military and Congress appropriating $5.4 billion in emergency funding, the majority of which was for international activities. Still, Ebola cases continue to occur in the…
Donor Government International Funding for Family Planning Increased By 9 Percent In 2014 November 12, 2015 News Release A new Kaiser Family Foundation report finds that donor governments provided US$1.4 billion in bilateral funding for family planning programs in low- and middle-income countries in 2014 – a 9 percent increase from 2013 and a 32 percent increase from 2012. The U.S. was the largest donor, providing US$637 million, nearly…
New KFF Resources Provide the Latest Information on Public and Private Coverage of Contraceptives July 9, 2015 News Release Public programs and private health insurance now pay for the vast majority of contraceptive services and supplies for women. However, complex and shifting regulations shaped by state and federal policy, legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive coverage provision, and other factors affect the scope of coverage. New resources…
To Switch or Be Switched: Examining Changes in Drug Plan Enrollment among Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy Enrollees July 17, 2015 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 changes among LIS enrollees in PDPs between 2006 and 2010.
Amid Merger Talk, a Look at Health Insurers’ Medicare Business July 1, 2015 News Release With recent news about possible health insurance company mergers, Drew Altman looks beyond the impact on Wall Street to how mergers could affect Medicare beneficiaries in his latest column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank. All previous columns by Drew Altman are available.
Amid Merger Talk, a Look at Health Insurers’ Medicare Business July 1, 2015 Perspective With recent news about possible health insurance company mergers, Drew Altman looks beyond the impact on Wall Street to how mergers could affect Medicare beneficiaries in this column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank.
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Continues to Climb, but Financial Protections for Enrollees Are Eroding June 30, 2015 News Release Enrollment in Medicare Advantage continues to climb steadily as spending reductions enacted in the Affordable Care Act reduce historical overpayments to the private plans, according to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. But limits on out-of-pocket spending for Medicare-covered services are rising, providing less protection for enrollees with…
