The $174 Billion Question: How to Reduce Diabetes and Obesity July 23, 2010 Event Diabetes and obesity have evolved from a national public health concern to a problem of epidemic proportions — a very costly problem. The direct medical costs and the indirect costs of diabetes are estimated at $174 billion yearly. This briefing, sponsored by the Alliance for Health Reform and the United…
Aging Out of Medicaid: What is the Risk of Becoming Uninsured? March 19, 2010 Issue Brief This policy brief uses the most recent available data to examine the patterns of health coverage for young adults after they turn 19 and typically are no longer eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicaid is a key source of coverage for children in the U.S.,…
Medicare Advantage 2010 Data Spotlight: Benefits and Cost-Sharing January 30, 2010 Issue Brief This data spotlight examines trends in benefits and cost-sharing for Medicare Advantage plans in 2010, including the wide variations found across plans and the rapid increase in cost sharing requirements for some benefits, including stays in skilled nursing facilities. It also examines the annual limits on out-of-pocket spending set by…
Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds January 20, 2010 Event A national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that with technology allowing nearly 24-hour media access as children and teens go about their daily lives, the amount of time young people spend with entertainment media has risen dramatically, especially among minority youth. Today, 8-18 year-olds devote an average of…
Survey of Detroit Area Residents — Summary Brief December 30, 2009 Poll Finding The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University Survey of Detroit Area Residents reveals a population that is facing some of the worst effects of the current economic recession. Home of the nation’s domestic auto industry, Detroit’s residents have been at the forefront of the country’s economic woes. The survey illuminates the…
Survey of Detroit Area Residents January 6, 2010 Poll Finding The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University Survey of Detroit Area Residents reveals a population that is facing some of the worst effects of the current economic recession. Home of the nation’s domestic auto industry, Detroit’s residents have been at the forefront of the country’s economic woes. The survey illuminates the…
Medicare Part D 2010 Data Spotlight: A Comparison of PDPs Offering Basic and Enhanced Benefits November 30, 2009 Report This Part D Data Spotlight examines key differences between basic and enhanced Medicare stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs), including monthly premiums, cost sharing, and gap coverage. It also examines plan names to assess whether they convey meaningful differences between basic and enhanced PDPs. Companies that sponsor Medicare Part D prescription…
A Foundation for Health Reform: Findings of An Annual 50-State Survey of Eligibility Rules, Enrollment and Renewal Procedures and Cost-Sharing Practices in Medicaid and CHIP for Children and Parents During 2009 November 29, 2009 Report In 2009, despite the bleakest economic picture in years, states managed to safeguard and in some cases expand health coverage for children and parents in their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s annual 50-state survey of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility rules, enrollment and renewal…
Briefing – A Foundation for Health Reform: Findings of An Annual 50-State Survey of Eligibility Rules, Enrollment and Renewal Procedures and Cost-Sharing Practices in Medicaid and CHIP for Children and Parents During 2009 November 29, 2009 Report In 2009, despite the bleakest economic picture in years, states managed to safeguard and in some cases expand health coverage for children and parents in their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s annual 50-state survey of Medicaid and CHIP eligibility rules, enrollment and renewal…
The Role of Health Coverage for Communities of Color October 31, 2009 Issue Brief The current health reform debate in this country focuses heavily on providing access to affordable health coverage for the millions of people who are uninsured. Any effort to expand coverage, alter current public programs, and/or create new public programs will have important consequences for the health of communities of color,…