How Much ‘Skin In The Game’ Do Medicare Beneficiaries Have? The Increasing Financial Burden of Health Care Spending, 1997-2003 October 30, 2007 Issue Brief This study evaluated the changes in Medicare beneficiaries’ health care spending between 1997 and 2003, and found beneficiaries spent a growing share of their income on health care. The results showed that median out-of-pocket health spending increased from 11.9% of income in 1997 to 15.5% in 2003, and about four…
Benefit improvements for low-income Medicare beneficiaries September 1, 2007 Report Benefit Improvements for Low-Income Medicare BeneficiariesThe Kaiser Family Foundation has prepared a summary showing how the House-passed Children’s Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act legislation would change current law regarding assistance for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The summary describes proposed changes to current programs that provide assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries,…
The Burden of Out-of-Pocket Health Spending Among Older Versus Younger Adults: Analysis from the Consumer Expenditure Survey, 1998-2003 August 30, 2007 Issue Brief UPDATED: 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. While…
Findings from the Kaiser/Commonwealth/Tufts-New England Medical Center 2006 National Survey of Seniors and Prescription Drugs – Chartpack August 1, 2007 Report This chartpack contains key data from the Kaiser/Commonwealth/Tufts-New England Medical Center 2006 National Survey of Seniors and Prescription Drugs. Findings of the survey were published in a Health Affairs Web Exclusive on Aug. 21, 2007. Chartpack (.pdf)
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Progress Report: Findings From A 2006 National Survey of Seniors August 1, 2007 Event The share of seniors without drug coverage dropped significantly under Medicare’s new drug benefit, according to this August 2007 Health Affairs Web Exclusive article based on a Kaiser Family Foundation, Commonwealth Fund and Tufts-New England Medical Center survey of more than 16,000 seniors. Seniors with drug coverage from any source…
Learning From History: Deinstitutionalization of People with Mental Illness As Precursor to Long-Term Care Reform July 31, 2007 Report This report examines what policy lessons can be learned from the deinstitutionalization of people with mental illnesses and applied to potential long-term care reform for the elderly or those with significant disabilities. The study assesses the reforms that took place under deinstitutionalization, their impact and what mistakes were made. It…
The Role of State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs in Serving Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Following the Implementation of Medicare Part D July 2, 2007 Issue Brief The Role of State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs in Serving Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Following the Implementation of Medicare Part DPrior to January 1, 2006, State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs helped to fill a critical gap in coverage for Medicare beneficiaries without prescription drug coverage, targeting resources to beneficiaries with relatively low incomes.…
Medicare Advantage: Key Issues and Implications for Beneficiaries June 1, 2007 Report On June 28, 2007, Foundation Vice President Tricia Neuman testified before the House Budget Committee about Medicare Advantage plans and their implications for beneficiaries. Testimony (.pdf)
Private Fee-For-Service Plans In Medicare: Rapid Growth and Future Implications May 1, 2007 Event Kaiser Family Foundation Vice President Patricia Neuman, Ph.D., testified May 2007 before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health on the rapid growth of private fee-for-service plans in the Medicare program and its implications for seniors and people with disabilities. Dr. Neuman is director of the Foundation’s Medicare Policy…
Perspectives on Medicare Part D and Dual Eligibles: Key Informants’ Views From Three States April 30, 2007 Report In 2006, low-income individuals receiving health coverage through both the Medicaid and Medicare programs, “dual eligibles,” experienced a change in their prescription drug benefit when their Medicaid prescription coverage was replaced by the Medicare prescription drug program known as Medicare Part D. This study provides information on the ongoing successes…