Prospects for Retiree Health Benefits as Medicare Drug Coverage Begins November 29, 2005 Poll Finding Findings from the Kaiser/Hewitt 2005 Survey on Retiree Health BenefitsThe 2005 Kaiser/Hewitt survey of large businesses that provide retiree health benefits to their workers assesses their responses to the new Medicare drug benefit in 2006, their plans for the future, and the way these changes affect retirees. It also looks…
A Profile of African Americans, Latinos, and Whites with Medicare: October 31, 2005 Report This chartpack highlights demographic data about African Americans, Hispanics and whites with Medicare to highlight potential implications for outreach efforts under the new Medicare drug benefit. The information is being used in a series of November 2005 briefings at the start of the first open-enrollment period for the new benefit.…
Hispanics and the New Medicare Drug Benefit October 31, 2005 Poll Finding In a few short weeks, Medicare will undergo big changes that will have a major impact on more than 3 million Hispanic seniors and younger people with permanent disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health coverage. More than one in three Hispanics with Medicare lack coverage for their prescription…
The Medicare Drug Benefit: Beneficiary Perspectives Just Before Implementation – Toplines October 31, 2005 Poll Finding These toplines provide the complete results from a comprehensive survey of seniors on their understanding of and views toward the Medicare drug benefit. The survey of 802 seniors was conducted in late October 2005, prior to the start of the benefit’s open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 15, 2005…
African Americans and the New Medicare Drug Benefit October 31, 2005 Poll Finding In a few short weeks, Medicare will undergo big changes that will have a major impact on nearly 4 million African American seniors and younger people with permanent disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health coverage. More than four in ten African Americans with Medicare lack coverage for their…
The Medicare Drug Benefit: Beneficiary Perspectives Just Before Implementation- Chartpack October 31, 2005 Poll Finding This chartpack highlights key results and trends from a comprehensive survey of seniors on their understanding of and views toward the Medicare drug benefit. The survey of 802 seniors was conducted in late October 2005, prior to the start of the benefit’s open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 15,…
The Medicare Drug Benefit: Beneficiary Perspectives Just Before Implementation October 31, 2005 Poll Finding This comprehensive survey of seniors about the Medicare drug benefit finds that many seniors remain uncertain about how the new benefit will affect them and unsure about whether they will enroll. Seniors who say they understand the benefit well are more likely to report favorable views than those who do…
Displaced by Hurricane Katrina: Issues and Options for Medicare Beneficiaries October 31, 2005 Issue Brief An estimated 200,000 Medicare beneficiaries were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Medicare played a key role in meeting the health care needs of the elderly and disabled beneficiaries who were displaced by the hurricane. Many of these beneficiaries face new challenges as a direct result of the hurricane. This issue brief…
State Financing of the Medicare Drug Benefit: New Data on the “Clawback” October 31, 2005 Issue Brief State Financing of the Medicare Drug Benefit: New Data on the “Clawback”Beginning in 2006, states will be obligated to finance part of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit via a monthly “clawback” payment to the federal government. This issue update analyzes the latest data and provides an overview of the…
The Exceptions and Appeals Process: Issues and Concerns in Obtaining Coverage Under the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit October 30, 2005 Issue Brief This issue brief describes how Medicare beneficiaries navigate the Medicare Part D exceptions, appeals, and grievances processes to get access to medically necessary prescriptions not covered under their Medicare prescription drug plans. It identifies and describes policy issues that may make it difficult for beneficiaries to utilize the processes.Issue Brief…