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KFF designs, conducts and analyzes original public opinion and survey research on Americans’ attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with the health care system to help amplify the public’s voice in major national debates.
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This infographic examines public opinion on surprise medical billing in the United States as part of the Visualizing Health Policy infographic series, produced in partnership with the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
This Visualizing Health Policy infographic looks at the experience of unexpected or “surprise” medical bills in the United States. Out-of-network charges typically expose individuals to higher cost-sharing when they use services, and may lead to balance billing – in which providers bill patients directly, and often unexpectedly, at a higher rate. In the past two years, one in five insured adults had an unexpected medical bill from an out-of-network provider. Overall, two-thirds of adults are…
The June 2018 KFF Tracking Poll examines the top issues voters want to hear candidates talk about during their 2018 congressional campaigns, including the importance of specific health care positions such as continuing protections for people with pre-existing conditions. The Kaiser poll also examines the public’s views and experiences with prescription drug advertisements and pricing.
More people have health insurance than ever before under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which emphasizes preventive care, including no-cost HIV and STI counseling and screening for recommended populations. This fact sheet examines trends and disparities in STI prevalence, reviews the STI screening and preventive care coverage policies for private insurance and public programs, and discusses coverage gaps and confidentiality concerns in the provision of these services.
On January 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance inviting states to apply for new Section 1115 demonstrations known as the “Healthy Adult Opportunity” (HAO). These demonstrations would permit states “extensive flexibility” to use Medicaid funds to cover Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion adults and other nonelderly adults covered at state option who do not qualify on the basis of disability, without being bound by many federal standards related to…
Most employer plans and all Marketplace plans must cover at least one form of all FDA-approved, granted, or cleared birth control (“contraceptive”) services and supplies for women, without cost sharing. This includes sterilization services, insertion and removal of long-acting reversible birth control methods, and follow-up services. While some birth control methods are available over the counter without a prescription, plans typically require a prescription to trigger coverage. Though it is up to an insurer’s discretion,…
A short fact sheet provides information about short-term health insurance policies and how they differ from ACA-compliant plans.
A record 3,148 Medicare Advantage plans will be available across the country as alternatives to traditional Medicare, a new KFF analysis finds. That’s up 15% from last year’s 2,734 plans and results in a typical beneficiary having 28 plans available to them in their local market for the 2020 Medicare open enrollment period, which began Oct. 15 and runs until Dec. 7. About 22 million Medicare beneficiaries - a third of all beneficiaries - are…
Emergency contraception is one of the FDA-approved methods for women that must be covered by most health plans, including those sold on the Marketplace, but it has to be prescribed by a health care provider in order for most insurance plans to cover it. If you don’t have a prescription, you will likely have to pay the full cost out-of-pocket. However, you can ask your provider (or pharmacist if your state allows it) for a prescription…
Even 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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