Medicare: Part D / Prescription Drugs - Kaiser Family Foundation

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Medicare: Part D / Prescription Drugs

Choosing a Medicare Part D Plan: Are Medicare Beneficiaries Choosing Low-Cost Plans?
This study finds that most Part D enrollees did not choose one of the lowest-cost drug plans offered in their area in the program's first year. The analysis models the approach seniors were advised to follow in choosing a plan based on their current medication regimen.

2009 Medicare Part D Data Spotlights
The Kaiser Family Foundation has three data spotlightrs focusing on key aspects of the drug plans available to Medicare beneficiaries in 2009 and examining relevant trends since the Medicare drug benefit took effect in 2006: premiums, gap coverage, and low-income subsidy plan availability.

Recent Documents: (202 results)

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The Obama Administration's 2010 Call Letter for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans: Implications for Beneficiaries -- May 2009
The policy brief examines key provisions and proposed changes in plan requirements for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans as outlined in the Obama Administration's call letter for 2010 issued this spring.

Medicare Advantage Fact Sheet -- May 2009
This updated fact sheet provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage program, describes program changes made by the new drug law in plan participation and beneficiary enrollment, presents data on benefits and premiums, and explains changes in Medicare payments to participating plans.

Choosing a Medicare Part D Plan: Are Medicare Beneficiaries Choosing Low-Cost Plans? -- March 2009
This study finds that most Part D enrollees did not choose one of the lowest-cost drug plans offered in their area in 2006. The analysis models the approach seniors were advised to follow in choosing a plan based on their current medication regimen.

The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit - An Updated Fact Sheet -- March 2009
This updated fact sheet includes the latest information and data about the Medicare Drug Benefit, including a breakdown of the standard benefit, enrollment data and an update on additional low-income assistance.

The Emerging Role of Group Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans -- December 2008
This brief examines the recent boom in Medicare Advantage enrollment attributable to employers contracting with private fee-for-service plans to serve their retirees.

Medicare: A Primer -- December 2008
This primer provides an overview of the Medicare program, how it is structured, who it serves, and how it works.

Medicare at a Glance - Fact Sheet -- November 2008
This fact sheet provides a basic overview of the Medicare program, including how it is financed, who is eligible and what benefits are covered under the program. In addition, it describes supplemental health insurance, benefits provided by the new drug law and data on Medicare expenditures and financing.

Medicare Health & Prescription Drug Plan Tracker -- November 2008
The interactive resource provides local, regional and national information about Medicare Advantage plans, as well as current information on stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans. The tool allows users to graph or map comparative and trend data about enrollment, plan participation and other key information.

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Availability in 2009 -- November 2008
This fact sheet contains 2009 state-specific summary data about available Medicare drug benefit options, including the number of stand-alone plans with gap coverage in the "doughnut hole," and the number of plans available at no cost to qualifying beneficiaries.

Medicare Part D 2009 Data Spotlight: Premiums -- November 2008
This spotlight analyzes the premiums charged by the 1,689 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans that will be offered in markets across the country in 2009. It is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the Medicare Part D drug plans that will be available to beneficiaries in 2009.

The policy brief examines key provisions and proposed changes in plan requirements for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans as outlined in the Obama Administration's call letter for 2010 issued this spring.

This updated fact sheet provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage program, describes program changes made by the new drug law in plan participation and beneficiary enrollment, presents data on benefits and premiums, and explains changes in Medicare payments to participating plans.

This study finds that most Part D enrollees did not choose one of the lowest-cost drug plans offered in their area in 2006. The analysis models the approach seniors were advised to follow in choosing a plan based on their current medication regimen.

This updated fact sheet includes the latest information and data about the Medicare Drug Benefit, including a breakdown of the standard benefit, enrollment data and an update on additional low-income assistance.

This brief examines the recent boom in Medicare Advantage enrollment attributable to employers contracting with private fee-for-service plans to serve their retirees.

This primer provides an overview of the Medicare program, how it is structured, who it serves, and how it works.

This fact sheet provides a basic overview of the Medicare program, including how it is financed, who is eligible and what benefits are covered under the program. In addition, it describes supplemental health insurance, benefits provided by the new drug law and data on Medicare expenditures and financing.

The interactive resource provides local, regional and national information about Medicare Advantage plans, as well as current information on stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans. The tool allows users to graph or map comparative and trend data about enrollment, plan participation and other key information.

This fact sheet contains 2009 state-specific summary data about available Medicare drug benefit options, including the number of stand-alone plans with gap coverage in the "doughnut hole," and the number of plans available at no cost to qualifying beneficiaries.

This spotlight analyzes the premiums charged by the 1,689 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans that will be offered in markets across the country in 2009. It is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the Medicare Part D drug plans that will be available to beneficiaries in 2009.

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Part D / Prescription Drugs: Medicare

Prescription drug use increases with age, along with the prevalence of chronic and acute health problems. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 established Medicare Part D, an outpatient prescription drug benefit that took effect in 2006. Through Part D, Medicare beneficiaries have access to prescription drug coverage offered by private health plans, either stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans, such as HMOs or PPOs. Part D plans are required to provide a “standard” benefit or one that is actuarially equivalent, and may offer more generous benefits. In general, individuals who sign up for a Part D plan pay a monthly premium, along with cost-sharing amounts for each prescription. Currently, 90 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries have prescription drug coverage, with 26 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Part D plan and another 10 million receiving drug coverage from an employer or union plan.