Data Note: Public Worries About And Experience With Surprise Medical Bills
This data note captures February 2020 poll findings on the public's worries about and experiences with unexpected and surprise medical bills.
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Update on COVID-19 Funding for Hospitals and Other Providers
Policy WatchThis blog is an overview of the outstanding questions related to the $100 billion for hospitals and other providers in the CARES Act and whether there will be meaningful protections for the uninsured and people with private coverage who could face surprise bills.
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Quick Look: Antiretroviral Price Increases in Medicare Part D
Issue BriefDrug price concerns in the U.S., including for antiretrovirals, the mainstay of HIV treatment and, increasingly prevention, have prompted the introduction of several policy proposals. One proposal would require manufacturers to provide a rebate to the federal government if prices increase faster than inflation. We assessed list price changes for ARVs under Part D, which is required to cover all or substantially all ARVs.
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I am covered by Medicare, but I don’t take any medications. Do I need to sign up for a drug plan?
FAQsEven if you aren’t taking any medications right now, it makes sense to enroll in a drug plan so that you have coverage in case your needs change in the future. If you don’t have coverage and the Medicare Open Enrollment period has ended, you won’t be able to sign up for coverage until the next Medicare Open Enrollment period begins, and your coverage wouldn’t take effect until January 1 of the following year. This…
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Food Insecurity and Health: Addressing Food Needs for Medicaid Enrollees as Part of COVID-19 Response Efforts
Issue BriefThis brief provides an overview of food insecurity among Medicaid enrollees during the COVID-19 pandemic, examines participation in federal nutrition assistance programs by Medicaid enrollees, and identifies potential actions to address food insecurity among Medicaid enrollees as needs grow in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Why it Matters: Tennessee’s Medicaid Block Grant Waiver Proposal
Issue BriefOn November 20, 2019, Tennessee submitted an amendment to its longstanding Section 1115 Waiver that would make major financing and administrative changes to its Medicaid program. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) certified the waiver as complete and opened a federal public comment period through December 27, 2019. Most significantly, Tennessee is requesting to receive federal funds in the form of a “modified block grant” and to retain half of any federal “savings”…
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KFF Health Tracking Poll – October 2019: Health Care In The Democratic Debates, Congress, And The Courts
FeatureThis poll examines health care issues in the Democratic presidential primary , government negotiation of prescription drug prices, party trust on health care, Medicare-for-all, and the pending Texas v. US lawsuit affecting the Affordable Care Act and pre-existing condition protections.
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State Budgets for Fiscal Year 2020 Include Total Medicaid Spending Growth of 6.2 Percent on Average, Even As Enrollment Remains Essentially Flat
News ReleaseStates budgeted for total Medicaid spending to increase at a faster pace than enrollment in fiscal year 2020, driven in part by rising costs for prescription drugs, provider rate increases and higher costs associated with caring for the elderly and disabled, according to KFF’s new 50-state Medicaid budget survey. The 19th annual survey of state Medicaid directors finds that officials expect total Medicaid spending to climb 6.2 percent while enrollment remains virtually flat, up 0.8…
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If I switch drug plans during the Medicare Open Enrollment period, do I need to notify anyone of the change?
FAQsEnrolling in a new drug plan during the Medicare Open Enrollment period will disenroll you from your previous plan, so you don’t need to contact the previous plan to drop that coverage. You should notify the pharmacy where you fill your prescriptions so they can update their records with your new plan information.
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Poll: Democrats Say They Are Hearing Enough From Presidential Candidates About Medicare-for-All and Expanding Coverage, But Want Them to Talk More about Health Costs and Women’s Health Care
News ReleaseHeading into tonight’s Democratic primary debate, most Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say the candidates are spending the right amount or too much time talking about ways to provide coverage to more Americans and Medicare-for-all, two topics that have dominated health care discussions in the past three rounds of Democratic debates, the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll finds. In contrast, large shares of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say that the presidential candidates are spending too little…