Issues for Structuring Interim High-Risk Pools December 30, 2009 Issue Brief One of the first provisions that would be implemented under federal health reform bills in the House and the Senate would establish a national high-risk pool program to offer coverage to otherwise uninsurable individuals during the interim period between enactment and implementation of broader health care reforms. High-risk pools provide…
Low-Income Assistance Under the Medicare Drug Benefit December 12, 2009 Fact Sheet This fact sheet provides an overview of the Medicare drug benefit and the additional subsidies available to certain eligible low-income beneficiaries. Fact Sheet – December 2009 (.pdf)
Today’s Topics In Health Disparities: What Might Health Reform Mean for Women of Color? December 10, 2009 Event This December 16, 2009, Today’s Topics In Health Disparities webcast examined aspects of the current Senate and House health reform bills that particularly impact women of color. Women tend to be greater users of the health care system than men, have higher rates of some chronic illnesses, and have unique…
States Sustain and Expand Coverage For Low-Income Children and Families Despite Recession, But Gains Are Threatened By Impending End of Federal Assistance December 8, 2009 News Release New 50-State Survey Illustrates Key Role of CHIP Reauthorization and the Federal Stimulus Law in Safeguarding Coverage WASHINGTON – Despite the deep recession, most states have managed to safeguard and, in some cases, expand health coverage for children and parents in their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs in…
Town Hall With Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator December 4, 2009 Event The Kaiser Family Foundation hosts a town hall-style discussion with Ambassador Eric Goosby, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, about the latest developments in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Pulling it Together: A Holiday Reminder on the Economy and Health Care December 2, 2009 Perspective With so much of the focus on the political dynamics of the health reform debate and a few hot button issues, I wonder if we have lost track of what propelled health care to the top domestic issue in the first place—people’s concerns about paying for health care in the…
Medicare Part D 2010 Data Spotlight: Benefit Design and Cost Sharing November 30, 2009 Report The Medicare Modernization Act established a defined standard drug benefit for Part D stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans, while giving plans flexibility to offer alternative benefit designs. Only about one in 10 PDPs offer the standard benefit in 2010. Plan sponsors can offer…
Explaining Health Care Reform: How Do Health Care Costs Vary By Region? November 30, 2009 Issue Brief Although regional variations in health spending have been studied for decades, there is renewed focus on this issue because of the role of health care costs in health care reform and the potential source of funds if addressing cost variations can yield savings. This explainer examines what is known about…
Medicare Part D 2010 Data Spotlight: Premiums November 30, 2009 Report Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of outpatient prescription drugs for 27 million beneficiaries enrolled in private stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans. The majority of Part D enrollees pay a monthly premium for Medicare drug coverage. This data spotlight examines premiums for…
Kaiser Health Tracking Poll — December 2009 November 30, 2009 Poll Finding The December Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds a dip on several measures of public opinion on health care reform. The number of Americans who say they personally will be better off if reform passes fell to 35 percent in December, down from 42 percent last month. Meanwhile, 27 percent say…