Health Care on a Budget: An Analysis of Spending by Medicare Households
This report examines Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket health care costs, which comprise a significant share of their household expenses.
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Proposed Changes to Medicare in the “Path to Prosperity”: Overview and Key Questions
Issue BriefThis brief examines key Medicare provisions included in "The Path to Prosperity: Restoring America's Promise," a long-term budget proposal released by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan on April 5, 2011, which outlines a strategy for reducing federal spending and reducing the national debt over time.
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The Budget Control Act of 2011: Implications for Medicare
Issue BriefBeginning January 2013, Medicare spending will be subject to automatic, across-the-board reductions, known as “sequestration,” which is slated to reduce Medicare payments to plans and providers by up to 2 percent.
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How Popular Is The Idea Of Changing Medicare To A Defined Contribution Plan?
Poll FindingIn March 2011, House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan released his "Path to Prosperity" budget plan, which included a proposal to change Medicare from a defined benefit program into one in which the government pays a specific amount towards the cost of private health insurance for each enrollee.
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Medicare’s Role for Dual Eligible Beneficiaries
Issue BriefAbout 9 million low-income seniors and younger people with disabilities in the United States are covered by both Medicare and Medicaid. This brief examines the role of Medicare in providing health coverage for these beneficiaries.
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Explaining Health Care Reform: How Do Health Care Costs Vary By Region?
Issue BriefAlthough 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.
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Medicare Part D Update: Lessons Learned and Unfinished Business
ReportEnacted in 2003, Medicare’s Part D prescription drug benefit reflected an unprecedented and controversial new approach for Medicare, relying exclusively on private plans to provide health coverage and including an unusual gap in coverage. This analysis by Kaiser researchers examines in detail how the new model has worked since its launch almost four years ago.
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Medicare Chart Book 2005
Other PostThis updated resource features more than 80 charts and tables with detailed information about the Medicare program and the 42 million seniors and younger people with disabilities who rely on the program for health insurance coverage. It covers a wide range of relevant data, including state-by-state information when available.
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The Burden of Out-of-Pocket Health Spending Among Older Versus Younger Adults: Analysis from the Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1998-2003
Issue BriefUPDATED: An updated version of this analysis is now available online. Recent policy debate has focused on the issue of rising health care costs and whether it might be possible to control costs by requiring consumers to pay a larger share of their health care costs out of pocket.
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Medicare Prescription Drug Plans In 2010 and Key Changes Over Five Years
Issue BriefThis brief summarizes key findings from the full collection of 2010 Part D Data Spotlights examining key trends in the private stand-alone drug plans available to Medicare beneficiaries. The spotlight is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the Medicare Part D drug plans that will be available to beneficiaries in 2010.