People with Medical Debt are Much More Likely to Experience Other Forms of Financial Stress February 12, 2024 News Release People with medical debt are much more likely than those without such debt to show other signs of financial vulnerability, like having no “rainy day” fund, overdrawing a checking account, or relying on costly loans, according to a new KFF analysis of national survey data. Medical debt remains a significant…
Explaining the Prescription Drug Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act January 24, 2023 Issue Brief The Inflation Reduction Act includes several provisions that will lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare and reduce drug spending by the federal government. This brief summarizes these provisions and discusses the expected effects on people, program spending, and drug prices and innovation.
Charges for Emails with Doctors and other Healthcare Providers March 6, 2024 Issue Brief Patient-provider email messaging accelerated early in the COVID-19 pandemic as more patients sought medical care remotely, and the addition of billing codes for digital health services and subsequent changes in insurers’ payment policies have enabled providers to bill insurers and patients for messaging. This analysis examines the typical cost of…
3 Charts: Medicare Drug Price Negotiations January 31, 2024 News Release Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the federal government for the first time will negotiate directly with drug companies to determine the prices that Medicare will pay for certain high expenditure drugs covered under Medicare Part D (starting in 2026) and Part B (starting in 2028). Part D covers retail prescription…
What to Know About Medicare Part D Premiums August 1, 2024 Issue Brief Changes to the Medicare Part D benefit in the Inflation Reduction Act will mean lower out-of-pocket costs for Part D enrollees but higher costs for Part D plans overall, leading to concerns about possible premium increases. These FAQs provide context for understanding Part D premiums in 2025 and changes in recent years, and describe actions the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking to mitigate potential premium increases.
In 2024, A Majority of States Offer Medicare Advantage Plans to Their State Retirees, with 13 Offering Medicare Advantage Exclusively July 2, 2024 Issue Brief This analysis examines the extent to which states are providing health benefits to their Medicare-eligible retirees through Medicare Advantage arrangements. In 2024, a majority of states offer Medicare Advantage plans to their state retirees, with 13 offering Medicare Advantage exclusively.
The Facts About the $35 Insulin Copay Cap in Medicare June 12, 2024 Blog This brief describes the facts about actions taken under both the Trump and Biden Administrations related to capping insulin copayments for people with Medicare and explains the differences between their approaches.
Annual Family Premiums for Employer Coverage Rise 7% to Average $25,572 in 2024, Benchmark Survey Finds, After Also Rising 7% Last Year October 9, 2024 News Release Family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 7% this year to reach an average of $25,572 annually, KFF’s 2024 benchmark Employer Health Survey finds. On average, workers contribute $6,296 annually to the cost of family coverage. This marks the second year in a row that premiums are up 7%.…
Employer Health Benefits Annual Survey Archives January 1, 2024 Report KFF has conducted this annual survey since 1999.