The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
KFF’s policy research provides facts and analysis on a wide range of policy issues and public programs.
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.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the organization’s core operating programs.
State Health Facts is a KFF project that provides free, up-to-date, and easy-to-use health data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States. It offers data on specific types of health insurance coverage, including employer-sponsored, Medicaid, Medicare, as well as people who are uninsured by demographic characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, work status, gender, and income. There are also data on health insurance status for a state's population overall and broken down by age, gender, and income.
This policy brief provides data and analysis of coverage and access to oral health care for low-income nonelderly adults. Lack of resources to pay for dental services, either through dental insurance or out-of-pocket, is a major barrier to oral health care for many low-income Americans. The problem is particularly acute for low-income adults, who are more likely to be uninsured than low-income children. Issue Brief (.pdf)
This brochure provides key facts about the uninsured population in American today, and the difference having health insurance makes in access to health services and to a family's financial security. Report Report
Managed Care Plan Liability: An Analysis Of Texas And Missouri Legislation Patricia A. Butler, JD, DrPH November 1997 Background As increasing numbers of Americans receive health care coverage through managed care plans, public attention has been focused on some of the problems consumers have with such plans. Although most consumers report satisfaction with their plans, some express concern that plans' financial incentives limit access to needed services. For example, some consumers are not referred to…
New Survey Offers Insight Into Experiences of Managed Care Consumers Majority of Sacramento Managed Care Consumers Report No Difficulty with Their Plan, But Over a Quarter Had Problems For Immediate Release:Wednesday, November 19, 1997 Contacts:Heather Balas,Kaiser Family Foundation, (650) 854-9400 Katie Salvas,Sierra Health Foundation, (916) 922-4755 Magdalena Beltran-del Omo,The California Wellness Foundation, (818) 589-6600 Lauren Schaefer,Health Rights Hotline, (916) 551-2147 Medicaid Beneficiaries Report Highest Rate of Difficulty Sacramento, California -- Much national attention is currently…
Medicare Restructuring: The FEHBP Model Executive Summary As policymakers consider measures to assure the long-range solvency of Medicare, one option that has received increasing attention is a "premium support" system. Under such a system beneficiaries would choose between the original Medicare fee-for-service program and a variety of competing health plans. They would receive a fixed government contribution toward the plan of their choice and would pay any remaining costs themselves. Proponents of a premium support…
Medicare's Role for Latinos - (Spanish version) Note: This publication is no longer in circulation. However, a few copies may still exist in the Foundation's internal library that could be xeroxed. Please email order@kff.org if you would like to pursue this option
Native Americans and Medicaid:Coverage and Financing Issues Prepared by Andy Schneider and JoAnn Martinez, The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for The Kaiser Commission on the Future of Medicaid December 1997 Table 1: Medicaid Eligibility Thresholds Pregnant Women, Infants and Children (Effective October 1997) Other Eligibility Categories State Pregnant Women and Infants Children Under Age Six Children Ages Six and Older Upper Age Limit Asset Test Required Supplemental Security Income, 1996 Max. AFDC Payments…
How Well Does the Employment-Based Health Insurance System Work for Low-Income Families? September 1998 Most Americans receive health insurance coverage through the workplace. Unfortunately, however, many workers are left out, especially low-wage workers and their families. Being a low paid worker does not mean just that wages are low. It also means a lower likelihood of receiving health insurance protection on the job. Low-wage workers have never been as likely as the better paid to…
In order to ensure access to care for limited English proficient residents, there are a number of federal and state laws and policies that compel publicly funded health care programs and activities to provide language access. This report focuses on the language access responsibilities of health care and coverage providers pursuant to federal civil rights laws. Report (.pdf)
, Issue Brief An issue brief examining the legal and historical roots of health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States. Issue Brief (.pdf)
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