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This comprehensive survey of people on Medicare, conducted in June and July 2004, assesses their attitudes toward the new Medicare drug law. This chartpack, issued in September 2004, presents additional analysis on the survey data, looking at key findings broken down by income group. Chartpack (.pdf)
This report projects the impact of the new Medicare drug benefit on out-of-pocket spending for people who enroll in 2006. The analysis is based on a model developed by the Actuarial Research Corporation for the Kaiser Family Foundation. The model generally conforms to the Congressional Budget Office’s assumptions and projections about Medicare drug benefit spending and participation rates for the new benefit and for the low-income subsidy. The report was released at a briefing in…
This table highlights changes in the appeal and grievance procedures included in the proposed and final regulations implementing the drug benefit. It was prepared for the Foundation by Sara Rosenbaum, J.D., of the George Washington University School of Public Health. Issue Brief (.pdf)
This issue brief describes how Medicare beneficiaries navigate the Medicare Part D exceptions, appeals, and grievances processes to get access to medically necessary prescriptions not covered under their Medicare prescription drug plans. It identifies and describes policy issues that may make it difficult for beneficiaries to utilize the processes. Issue Brief (.pdf)
These toplines provide the complete results from a comprehensive survey of seniors on their understanding of and views toward the Medicare drug benefit. The survey of 802 seniors was conducted in late October 2005, prior to the start of the benefit's open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 15, 2005 to May 15, 2006. The survey was conducted and analyzed by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. It…
Summary Report This report, : Summary Report, produced jointly by the bipartisan team of Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies and Geoff Garin of Peter D. Hart Research Associates, presents key findings from a series of eight focus groups on the Medicare program and the current debate over prescription drug coverage and Medicare reform. These groups, conducted in four cities with both elderly and non-elderly participants in June 2001, explored attitudes about Medicare and how…
This policy brief describes the financing of Illinois' new Medicaid prescription drug waiver. Policy Brief Also see The New Medicaid and CHIP Waiver Initiatives
This chartpack provides a snapshot of racial/ethnic differences in Medicare beneficiaries? prescription drug coverage, use, and spending. It examines patterns separately for beneficiaries under age 65 and 65+. The summary discusses the relevance of the key findings to the current policy debates about prescription drug coverage. Chartpack (.pdf)
The Medicare Chartbook includes data and background information critical to understanding the Medicare program and the challenges it faces in keeping up with the rising costs of health care and in ensuring the program s future financial security.
This report presents findings from a study of large private-sector employers conducted by researchers at Hewitt Associates and the Kaiser Family Foundation between July and September of 2002. The study is based on survey responses of 435 large private-sector firms (1,000+ employees) that currently offer retiree health benefits, and includes 36% of all Fortune 100 companies and 28% of all Fortune 500 companies. Information was collected on a variety of topics including costs, premiums, retiree…
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