Medicare - Health Policy, Public Opinion & Research

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Medicare in Health Reform
The Kaiser Family Foundation has prepared comparisons to the Medicare provisions in the key health reform legislation now working through Congress. Other issue briefs examine the implications of an independent Medicare rate-setting commission and provide historical context for the legislation's proposed Medicare savings.

Resources on the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
A collection of reports, fact sheets, surveys, and other research and background material on the Medicare program's new drug benefit and other provisions of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.

Recent Documents: (515 results)

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The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit - An Updated Fact Sheet -- November 2009
This updated fact sheet includes the latest information and data about the Medicare Drug Benefit, including a breakdown of the standard benefit, enrollment data and an update on additional low-income assistance.

Medicare Advantage Fact Sheet -- November 2009
This updated fact sheet provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage program, describes program changes made by the new drug law in plan participation and beneficiary enrollment, presents data on benefits and premiums, and explains changes in Medicare payments to participating plans.

Medicare Part D Spotlight: Part D Plan Availability in 2010 and Key Changes Since 2006 -- November 2009
This initial analysis examines the stand-alone Medicare drug plan options that will be available to beneficiaries in 2010, including the number of available, premiums for those plans, and benefit designs.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Key Medicare Provisions in 2009 Health Reform Legislation -- November 2009
This brief describes the major Medicare provisions relating to benefit changes, Medicare Advantage, the Medicare prescription drug benefit, physician and other provider payment reforms, and other health system reforms in the Senate Finance proposal and the House Tri-Committee bill.

Setting Medicare Payment Policy: Is There a Role for an Independent Entity? -- October 2009
This issue brief considers questions associated with the establishment of a new entity to set Medicare payment policy and the implications for beneficiaries, other stakeholders, and program spending. The idea is being considered as part of health form as a way to improve Medicare's efficiency and control health care costs.

The Social Security COLA and Medicare Part B Premium: Questions, Answers, and Issues -- October 2009
This brief explains how the lack of a cost-of-living increase for Social Security recipients in 2010, and no or low increases through 2012, will affect beneficiaries' monthly premiums for Medicare Part B, as well as the implications for the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll—October 2009 -- October 2009
The October Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds public support for health reform unchanged since last month, with more in favor than opposed.
Survey also shows about half of the public believes that if reform passes, help for the uninsured and changes in insurance market rules would arrive within the first year, years ahead of the timetables contemplated in the legislation.

Medicare Savings in Perspective: A Comparison of 2009 Health Reform Legislation and Other Laws in the Last 15 Years -- October 2009
The policy brief examines the changes in Medicare spending included in the health reform proposals under consideration in the House and Senate with earlier laws enacted over the past 15 years, providing context for the scope of the changes.

Explaining Health Care Reform: What is Comparative Effectiveness Research? -- October 2009
The brief examines current funding for comparative effectiveness research, the provisions included in the current health reform legislation, and issues related to which treatments that might be studied, whether and how to weigh costs of care, and how such findings will be used and shared with health-care practitioners and the public.

Medicare Health and Prescription Drug Plans Monthly Tracking Report —September 2009 -- September 2009
This brief presents current monthly data on Medicare Advantage plan participation, enrollment and penetration.

This updated fact sheet includes the latest information and data about the Medicare Drug Benefit, including a breakdown of the standard benefit, enrollment data and an update on additional low-income assistance.

This updated fact sheet provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage program, describes program changes made by the new drug law in plan participation and beneficiary enrollment, presents data on benefits and premiums, and explains changes in Medicare payments to participating plans.

This initial analysis examines the stand-alone Medicare drug plan options that will be available to beneficiaries in 2010, including the number of available, premiums for those plans, and benefit designs.

This brief describes the major Medicare provisions relating to benefit changes, Medicare Advantage, the Medicare prescription drug benefit, physician and other provider payment reforms, and other health system reforms in the Senate Finance proposal and the House Tri-Committee bill.

This issue brief considers questions associated with the establishment of a new entity to set Medicare payment policy and the implications for beneficiaries, other stakeholders, and program spending. The idea is being considered as part of health form as a way to improve Medicare's efficiency and control health care costs.

This brief explains how the lack of a cost-of-living increase for Social Security recipients in 2010, and no or low increases through 2012, will affect beneficiaries' monthly premiums for Medicare Part B, as well as the implications for the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The October Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds public support for health reform unchanged since last month, with more in favor than opposed.
Survey also shows about half of the public believes that if reform passes, help for the uninsured and changes in insurance market rules would arrive within the first year, years ahead of the timetables contemplated in the legislation.

The policy brief examines the changes in Medicare spending included in the health reform proposals under consideration in the House and Senate with earlier laws enacted over the past 15 years, providing context for the scope of the changes.

The brief examines current funding for comparative effectiveness research, the provisions included in the current health reform legislation, and issues related to which treatments that might be studied, whether and how to weigh costs of care, and how such findings will be used and shared with health-care practitioners and the public.

This brief presents current monthly data on Medicare Advantage plan participation, enrollment and penetration.

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Medicare

Medicare, the federal health insurance program that covers 45 million Americans, has played a central role in the U.S. health system since it was established in 1965. Medicare serves all eligible beneficiaries without regard to income or medical history. Most individuals ages 65 and over are automatically entitled to Medicare Part A (the Hospital Insurance Program) if they or their spouse are eligible for Social Security payments. People under 65 who receive Social Security cash payments due to a disability generally become eligible for Medicare after a two-year waiting period. People with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease) are entitled to Part A regardless of their age. Part B (the Supplementary Medical Insurance Program) is voluntary, but covers 95% of all Part A beneficiaries.