Prescription Drugs: Medicare - Kaiser Family Foundation

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Prescription Drugs: Medicare

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.

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.

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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.

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 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.

Medicare Part D 2009 Data Spotlight: The Coverage Gap -- November 2008
This data spotlight examines the coverage gap, or "doughnut hole," in Medicare drug plans available in 2009. While in the gap in coverage, Part D enrollees (other than those receiving low-income subsidies) are required to pay 100 percent of total drug costs until they reach the catastrophic coverage level. The spotlight is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the Medicare Part D drug plans that will be available to beneficiaries in 2009.

Medicare Part D 2009 Data Spotlight: Low-Income Subsidy Plan Availability -- November 2008
This Medicare Part D Data Spotlight focuses on the availability of drug plans for beneficiaries receiving the Part D low-income subsidy in 2009 and changes since 2006. The spotlight is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the Medicare Part D drug plans that will be available to beneficiaries in 2009.

Medicare Now and in the Future -- October 2008
This 2008 election brief provides an overview of Medicare, the nation's federal health insurance program that covers nearly 45 million people and offers a series of possible questions about Medicare issues to help understand how presidential candidates Senators McCain and Obama would address these issues if elected.

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

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.

This data spotlight examines the coverage gap, or "doughnut hole," in Medicare drug plans available in 2009. While in the gap in coverage, Part D enrollees (other than those receiving low-income subsidies) are required to pay 100 percent of total drug costs until they reach the catastrophic coverage level. The spotlight is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the Medicare Part D drug plans that will be available to beneficiaries in 2009.

This Medicare Part D Data Spotlight focuses on the availability of drug plans for beneficiaries receiving the Part D low-income subsidy in 2009 and changes since 2006. The spotlight is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the Medicare Part D drug plans that will be available to beneficiaries in 2009.

This 2008 election brief provides an overview of Medicare, the nation's federal health insurance program that covers nearly 45 million people and offers a series of possible questions about Medicare issues to help understand how presidential candidates Senators McCain and Obama would address these issues if elected.

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Prescription Drugs: Medicare

Prescription drug use increases with age along with the prevalence of chronic and acute health problems. However, because Medicare does not cover outpatient prescription drugs, 38% of seniors and younger beneficiaries with disabilities had no drug coverage in the Fall of 1999. Rising drug costs pose challenges for Medicare beneficiaries, who tend to use more medications (averaging 23 per year in 1999) than do younger adults. The Congressional Budget Office projects that total drug spending for the Medicare population will grow from $95 billion in 2003 to $284 billion in 2013, increasing at an average annual rate of over 10% and totaling $1.8 trillion (2004-2013).