April 3 Virtual Event – Primary Care Check Up: Why It Can Be Hard to Get an Appointment and How to Fix It March 25, 2024 Event Primary care has historically served as the backbone of our nation’s health care system, with patients often maintaining a relationship with a primary-care provider to guide their care over a period of years. Yet, the U.S. emphasizes primary care less than other high-income countries. And a shortage of primary-care providers…
A Closer Look at the Remaining Uninsured Population Eligible for Medicaid and CHIP March 15, 2024 Issue Brief This issue brief examines the characteristics of the remaining uninsured population who are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP using 2022 national survey data. Despite improvements in coverage, 25.6 million nonelderly people remained uninsured in 2022.
A Closer Look at Medicaid Expansion Efforts in Mississippi March 12, 2024 Blog This policy watch examines Mississippi’s recent Medicaid expansion activity, what expansion could mean for residents and the economy, and key developments to watch.
Access to Adult Dental Care Gets Renewed Focus in ACA Marketplace Proposal March 8, 2024 Blog Adult dental care can lead to high out of pocket costs for consumers, especially for those with private insurance coverage. This post analyzes a proposed provision in the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025, and possible implications for consumers who have Marketplace coverage.
Americans’ Challenges with Health Care Costs March 1, 2024 Issue Brief This data note reviews our recent polling data that finds that Americans struggle to afford many aspects of health care, including disproportionate shares of uninsured adults, Black and Hispanic adults and those with lower incomes.
Three Questions About Medicaid Unwinding: What We Know and What to Expect February 28, 2024 Blog Ten months into the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision, states have conducted renewals for roughly half of all enrollees in the program. This policy watch examines three key questions to monitor as unwinding continues.
Preventive Services Covered by Private Health Plans under the Affordable Care Act February 28, 2024 Fact Sheet Note: This content was updated on February 28, 2024 to incorporate new FAQs from CMS. Tables 1 and 2 were also updated to include updated recommendations. It has been more than ten years since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) required private insurance plans to cover recommended preventive services without any…
The Health Wonk Shop: Prior Authorization in Health Insurance: A Needed Tool to Contain Costs or an Excessive Barrier to Needed Care? February 22, 2024 Event Nearly 1 in 5 consumers with health insurance say their insurer delayed or denied care in the past year due to its requirements for prior authorization, a process through which insurers can require patients to obtain approval in advance before they will agree to cover specific services. Insurers…
The Shifting Sands for State Medicaid Programs Lurking in Our Data February 12, 2024 Perspective KFF President and CEO Drew Altman examines the coming squeeze on state budgets and state Medicaid programs, stemming from declining federal matching funds, weakening state revenues, and competing state priorities, and the challenges it poses for states seeking to strengthen their programs and try innovative new approaches.
10 Reasons Why Medicare Advantage Enrollment is Growing and Why It Matters January 30, 2024 Issue Brief This issue briefs lays out 10 reasons why Medicare Advantage enrollment has been growing and why we can expect more growth in the years to come.