Medicare
Health Policy 101: Medicare
Medicare provides health insurance coverage to 66 million people. It covers a comprehensive set of health care services, including hospitalizations, physician visits, and prescription drugs, along with post-acute care, skilled nursing facility care, home health care, hospice, and preventive services.VP Harris’ Proposal for Medicare Coverage of Home Care
KFF estimates that 14.7 million Medicare beneficiaries would potentially be eligible for the new Medicare home care benefit proposed by Vice President Kamala Harris, based on eligibility criteria used in similar, previous proposals.Key Facts About Medigap
Key facts about Medigap, including the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries with a Medigap policy, variation in Medigap enrollment by state, and Medigap premiums. In 2022, 12.5 million, or four in 10 (42%) people in traditional Medicare had a Medigap policy.Medigap May Be Elusive for Beneficiaries with Pre-Existing Conditions
Medigap can protect Medicare beneficiaries from unpredictable medical expenses, but some may be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
Data Visualization
The Facts About Medicare Spending
This interactive provides the facts on Medicare spending. Medicare, which serves 67 million people and accounts for 12 percent of the federal budget and 21 percent of national health spending, is often the focus of discussions about health expenditures, health care affordability and the sustainability of federal health programs.
Explore data on enrollment growth, Medicare spending trends overall and per person, growth in Medicare spending relative to private insurance, spending on benefits and Medicare Advantage, Part A trust fund solvency challenges, and growth in out-of-pocket spending by beneficiaries.
Related: FAQs on Medicare Financing and Trust Fund Solvency
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Latest News
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KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Less Than Two Weeks To Go
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Beneficiarios de Medicare gastarán menos en medicamentos en 2025
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Medicare Drug Plans Are Getting Better Next Year. Some Will Also Cost More.
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Patients Are Relying on Lyft, Uber To Travel Far Distances to Medical Care
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KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Yet Another Promise for Long-Term Care Coverage
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KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The Health of the Campaign