International Comparison of Health Systems May 28, 2024 Page This Health Policy 101 chapter explores the performance of the U.S. health system on a number of cost, outcomes, and quality measures by comparing it with those in similarly large and wealthy OECD nations. It highlights that despite significant spending, Americans have shorter life expectancies and encounter more barriers to health care, influenced by both the health system’s structure and broader socioeconomic factors.
What to Know About Medicare Part D Premiums August 1, 2024 Issue Brief Changes to the Medicare Part D benefit in the Inflation Reduction Act will mean lower out-of-pocket costs for Part D enrollees but higher costs for Part D plans overall, leading to concerns about possible premium increases. These FAQs provide context for understanding Part D premiums in 2025 and changes in recent years, and describe actions the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking to mitigate potential premium increases.
What Drives Health Spending in the U.S. Compared to Other Countries August 2, 2024 Issue Brief An updated issue brief looks at the drivers of health spending in the U.S. and key differences between the U.S. and other large, wealthy nations. The analysis finds that people in the U.S. spent $5,683 more per person on health care compared to those in similarly large and wealthy countries.…
While Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Don’t Apply to Private Insurance, 3.4 Million People with Employer Coverage Take at Least One of the Selected Drugs August 14, 2024 News Release Among the 167 million people with employer-sponsored insurance in 2022, 3.4 million used at least one of the first 10 drugs identified for Medicare price negotiations.
How many people with employer-sponsored insurance use the drugs slated for Medicare price negotiations August 14, 2024 Issue Brief A new KFF analysis examines the number of enrollees in the employer-sponsored insurance market who use one or more of the ten drugs selected for Medicare Part D price negotiations. Among the 167 million people with employer-sponsored insurance in 2022, 3.4 million used at least one of the 10 drugs.…
The First-Ever Government Negotiation Process for Drugs Has Finished, But the Politics Are Ongoing August 19, 2024 Perspective This post for Health Affairs Forefront examines how the results of the first-ever Medicare drug price negotiations will generate savings for the government and for Medicare beneficiaries, and how candidates’ views on the issue could play a role in the upcoming elections and in the future of government negotiation.
FAQs about the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program August 20, 2024 Issue Brief The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently concluded the first round of negotiation for the new Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which was established by the Inflation Reduction Act. These FAQs address several questions related to Medicare’s drug price negotiation program and CMS’s implementation of the new program, with a focus on the details that apply for 2026, the first year that negotiated prices will be available under this new program.
Compare the Candidates on Health Care Policy August 5, 2024 Page The side-by-side comparison tool provides a quick overview of former President Trump’s and Vice President Harris’ records, positions, public statements, and proposed policies on a range of key health care topics.
Harris is Reframing Health as an Economic Issue August 21, 2024 From Drew Altman In his latest column, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman describes how Vice President Harris has reframed health as a pocketbook economic issue, which aligns with voters’ concern about health care costs.
Insurer Strategies to Control Costs Associated with Weight Loss Drugs June 12, 2024 Issue Brief Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans rarely cover GLP-1 drugs approved solely for obesity treatment, according to a an analysis of 2024 federal plan data. Wegovy, a drug that is approved for weight loss, is covered by just 1% of Marketplace prescription drug plans, compared to 82% of Marketplace prescription…