Most Medicare Beneficiaries Don’t Shop Around for Coverage October 21, 2021 Slide About 7 in 10 beneficiaries say they did not compare plans during a recent open enrollment period, and some groups were even less likely to do so. Those groups include some who could be most affected by plan changes from year to year.
Medicaid Enrollment & Spending Growth: FY 2021 & 2022 October 27, 2021 Issue Brief This issue brief provides an overview of Medicaid spending and enrollment growth with a focus on state fiscal years 2021 and 2022. Findings are based on data provided by state Medicaid directors as part of the 21st annual survey of Medicaid directors in states and the District of Columbia conducted by KFF and Health Management Associates (HMA). Findings examine changes in overall enrollment and spending growth.
7 in 10 Medicare Beneficiaries Report That They Did Not Compare Their Coverage Options During a Recent Open Enrollment Period October 13, 2021 News Release With the Medicare open enrollment period set to begin October 15, a new KFF analysis finds that 7 in 10 beneficiaries (71%) say that they didn’t compare their coverage options during a recent open enrollment season. Twenty-nine percent said they did compare Medicare plans. But not shopping around can have…
In Focus Groups, Direct Care Workers and Unpaid Caregivers Describe Low-Wage, Physically-Challenging Work That is Often Mentally Overwhelming and Marked By Uncertainty October 8, 2021 News Release In recent focus group interviews, 32 paid direct care workers and unpaid caregivers who assist seniors and people with disabilities with self-care and household activities describe daily work defined by low pay, physical demands and mental stress that has been made worse by the pandemic. KFF conducted the four focus…
Voices of Paid and Family Caregivers for Medicaid Enrollees Receiving HCBS October 8, 2021 Issue Brief To help inform the ongoing debate, KFF conducted four focus groups in July and August 2021 with direct care workers and unpaid caregivers who provide HCBS, assisting seniors and people with disabilities with daily self-care and household activities. These focus groups are not necessarily generalizable to all caregivers, but can provide insight into their experiences to help inform current policy debates.
Drug Price Negotiation Doesn’t Mean the Government Will Restrict Access to Medicines October 7, 2021 Blog This policy watch evaluates the pharmaceutical industry’s claims that allowing the federal government to negotiate drug prices would restrict access to medications in Medicare. It explains what the current proposal to allow drug price negotiation would and wouldn’t do.
Recent Efforts to Extend Medicaid Postpartum Coverage and What to Watch Looking Ahead October 6, 2021 Blog This policy watch examines recent state and federal efforts to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage beyond 60 days.
Analysis Examines Insurance Coverage, Affordability and Access to Home and Community-Based Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs October 4, 2021 News Release A new KFF analysis examines key characteristics of children with special health care needs, the affordability and adequacy of their health coverage, and the implications for such children of potential new federal Medicaid money to assist families in caring for them. Medicaid is a significant source of coverage for medical,…
Children with Special Health Care Needs: Coverage, Affordability, and HCBS Access October 4, 2021 Issue Brief This issue brief provides context for ongoing policy discussions by describing key characteristics of children with special health care needs, comparing insurance affordability and access to key benefits among those covered by Medicaid/CHIP and those with private insurance, and considering the implications of additional Medicaid HCBS funding for children with special health care needs.
Why The California Recall Is Not a Harbinger of What Is to Come on COVID As a Campaign Issue September 28, 2021 Perspective In this Axios column, Drew Altman examines the lessons for COVID-19 as a political issue from Governor Gavin Newsom’s resounding win in California’s recall election.