Health Coverage for the Hispanic Population Today and Under the Affordable Care Act April 9, 2013 Report The more than 50 million Hispanics living in the United States make up 17 percent of the total population and are the nation’s fastest growing racial or ethnic group. Many Hispanics continue to face disparities in health coverage and care, and they have the highest uninsured rate among racial/ethnic groups, with nearly one in three lacking coverage. This brief provides an overview of the Hispanic population in the U.S., their health coverage today and the potential impact of the ACA coverage expansions.
Medigap: Spotlight on Enrollment, Premiums and Recent Trends April 1, 2013 Report Medicare supplemental insurance, also known as “Medigap,” is an important source of supplemental coverage for nearly one in four people on Medicare. Traditional Medicare has cost-sharing requirements and significant gaps in coverage; Medigap helps make health care costs more predictable and stable for beneficiaries by covering some or all Medicare…
Updating the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program For A New Era: Key Issues and Questions for the Future April 1, 2013 Report The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is a more than two-decade old federal effort that provides care and services to more than half a million people with and affected by HIV each year. With its current authorization set to expire in September, policymakers are weighing the program’s future at a time…
How is the Affordable Care Act Leading to Changes in Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Today? State Adoption of Six LTSS Options April 1, 2013 Issue Brief Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), states are afforded a number of new and expanded opportunities, including enhanced federal financing, to improve access to and delivery of Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS). This policy brief provides an overview of six key Medicaid LTSS options created or enhanced by the…
Medicare Health Plans and Dually Eligible Beneficiaries: Industry Perspectives on the Current and Future Market March 27, 2013 Report As federal and state governments advance efforts to better coordinate care and reduce costs for people dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits, this brief examines how insurers now serving these markets view the opportunities and challenges, including a look at Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans.
Global Health Diplomacy: Advancing Foreign Policy and Global Health Interests March 26, 2013 Issue Brief This article examines the growing attention to global health diplomacy and its future outlook as donor nations continue to face tight budgetary conditions. Authored by Joshua Michaud and Jennifer Kates of the Kaiser Family Foundation, the article was published in the inaugural issue of the Global Health: Science and Practice journal in…
The Affordable Care Act: Three Years Post-Enactment March 26, 2013 Issue Brief On March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law. Although the date for full implementation of most provisions of the law is January 1, 2014, the ACA has already led to progress toward expanded coverage of the uninsured; improved access and better care delivery models; broader…
Questions for 2014 March 22, 2013 Perspective Today’s discussion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is focused on immediate implementation milestones leading up to 2014 when the law’s major provisions are set to kick in. This is a critical period when the foundation for the ACA is being established and key building blocks such as the state…
The Flip Side of Higher Premiums: Better Coverage March 21, 2013 Perspective Time Magazine’s recent cover story on health care – “Bitter Pill” by Steven Brill – has focused attention on hospital prices, especially for people paying out of their own pockets. This is not a new issue, but certainly one that deserves attention. However, what has been lost in the ensuing…