Prescription Drugs - Research and Data from KFF

Key Facts About Medicare Part D Enrollment and Costs in 2023

Jul 26, 2023

Issue Brief

The Medicare Part D program provides an outpatient prescription drug benefit to older adults and people with long-term disabilities in Medicare who enroll in private plans. This brief analyzes Medicare Part D enrollment and costs in 2023 and trends over time. The analysis highlights the substantial growth of Medicare Advantage drug plans in the marketplace for Part D drug coverage, where enrollment overall is concentrated in a handful of large plan sponsors.

A Small Number of Drugs Account for a Large Share of Medicare Part D Spending

Jul 12, 2023

Issue Brief

The Inflation Reduction Act requires the federal government to negotiate the price of certain high-spending drugs covered by Medicare. This analysis provides context for understanding the potential impact of negotiating prices for a limited number of Medicare-covered drugs by identifying the 10 top-selling Part D drugs in 2021, measuring the share of total Part D drug spending accounted for by top-selling drugs that year, and examining changes in spending and use of these drugs since 2018.

What to Watch in 2024: The Latest Health Cost and Affordability Issues and Trends

Jan 24, 2024

News Release

While issues of health care costs and affordability may not be at the forefront of this year’s election issues, they remain a major concern among the public.

Year in Review: 10 Health Policy Issues for 2023

Dec 22, 2023

Fact Sheet

This fact sheet offers a look back at 10 issues that KFF tracked closely during 2023 in its polling, policy analysis and journalism, including summaries of major findings and news stories.

KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Issues Emerge as Important Topics on 2024 Campaign Trail, Plus Concerns Loom Large Around Medicaid Unwinding

Dec 1, 2023

Feature

The future of the Affordable Care Act, once a key issue for Republican voters, is now of higher importance to Democratic voters. This KFF Health Tracking Poll also explores other important issues for candidates to discuss according to voters, Medicaid unwinding, Medicare drug-price provisions, and abortion as a voting issue.

Benchmark Survey: Annual Family Premiums for Employer Coverage Rise 7% to Nearly $24,000 in 2023; Workers Contribute $6,575 on Average Now, But Potentially More Soon

Oct 18, 2023

News Release

Amid rising inflation, annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance climbed 7% on average this year to reach $23,968, a sharp departure from virtually no growth in premiums last year, the 2023 benchmark KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey finds.

Recent Trends in Medicaid Outpatient Prescription Drugs and Spending

Oct 11, 2024

Issue Brief

This issue brief describes recent trends in the number of Medicaid outpatient prescriptions and the spending on those drugs and examines how the pandemic and pandemic-era policies may have impacted those trends.

Annual Family Premiums for Employer Coverage Rise 7% to Average $25,572 in 2024, Benchmark Survey Finds, After Also Rising 7% Last Year

Oct 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%.

Why is There So Much Attention on Obesity Drugs?

Sep 24, 2024

Quick Take

High U.S. prices and demand for Ozempic and Wegovy have implications for insurance premiums, public program costs, and affordability.

KFF Health Tracking Poll September 2024: Support for Reducing Prescription Drug Prices Remains High, Even As Awareness of IRA Provisions Lags

Sep 13, 2024

Feature

More than two years ago President Biden signed into law Medicare drug pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. KFF's September Health Tracking Poll examines voter's views on these provisions and finds that large majorities of voters are unaware of the provisions despite reporting support for them.

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