Publications: Medicare
State Advocate To-Do List for 2013 outlines issues that advocates may want to address in 2013 in anticipation of the changing health care environment. 10 pp. (January 2013)
Welcome to the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for 2013 is an updated illustration that reflects improvements made by the Affordable Care Act that will lessen the amount enrollees will pay when they fall into the "doughnut hole." 1 p. (Updated October 2012)
What's Wrong with Premium Support in Medicare? lays out the problems with the Republican proposal that would end Medicare as we know it and turn it into a voucher program. 3 pp. (April 2012)
The Republican Budget Proposal: Ending Medicare As We Know It—Again explains that House Republicans would harm both current and future Medicare beneficiaries by replacing the program with a voucher system and making substantial benefit cuts. The report also provides state-level data on the prescription drug savings that enrollees would lose under this proposal. 12 pp. (April 2012)
Republicans Again Propose Slashing Funding for Medicaid, Medicare, and Other Health Programs details how the Republican proposal would affect the states. It provides state-level data on the federal funding each state would lose, the additional burden on taxpayers, and the rise in the number of uninsured residents. 18 pp. (April 2012)
Welcome to the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for 2012 is an updated illustration that reflects improvements made by the Affordable Care Act that will lessen the amount enrollees will pay when they fall into the "doughnut hole." 1 p. (Updated February 2012)
The Medicare Drug Benefit: How Much Will You Pay? presents tables that detail the basic benefit, as well as the low-income benefit for those who are and aren't enrolled in Medicaid. 4 pp. (Updated February 2012)
Making the Most of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs): What Advocates Need to Know provides an overview of ACOs; the promise they hold; and how they could change Medicare, Medicaid, and the health care landscape. It also identifies key challenges in their development and suggests how advocates can get involved in ways that benefit patients. 12 pp. (Updated February 2012)
Emphasizing Preventive Care and Wellness in Medicare
This series of fact sheets discusses how Medicare is taking an important step forward, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, to provide more preventive and wellness care to beneficiaries. Medicare is now providing free preventive care and a free annual wellness visit that will help beneficiaries prevent illness in the first place. These fact sheets discuss how beneficiaries can take advantage of these benefits and how advocates can answer questions and resolve problems. (Updated February 2012)
For consumers: Medicare's Preventive Care Benefit: What It Means for You (5 pp.) l Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit: What It Means for You (4 pp.)
For advocates: An Advocate's Guide to the Preventive Services Benefit in Medicare (6 pp.) l An Advocate's Guide to the Annual Wellness Visit Benefit in Medicare (4 pp.)
Putting the Accountability in Accountable Care Organizations: Payment and Quality Measurements examines some of the challenges that advocates will face when working with policy makers, insurers, and providers to develop mechanisms that ensure that beneficiaries receive high-quality care at a lower cost. 9 pp. | Determining Shared Savings or Losses 6 pp. (January 2012)
Designing Consumer-Friendly Beneficiary Assignment and Notification Processes for Accountable Care Organizations discusses the challenges advocates will face when developing these processes, and it recommends certain notification requirements and beneficiary protections. 8 pp. (January 2012)
Helping People with Medicare discusses how health reform will help make Medicare more affordable for seniors and people with disabilities, improve health care quality for enrollees, and make the program more financially secure. 5 pp. (Updated September 2011)
The Super Committee: Where They Stand on Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act provides a profile of each member's position on these key issues. It also includes each member’s stance on increasing revenues as an option for reducing the deficit. 10 pp. (August 2011)
Health Hazard: How the House Republican Budget Resolution Would Dramatically Change Medicare looks at the impact of the proposal, which would turn Medicare into a voucher program, re-open the "doughnut hole," and raise the eligibility age for Medicare. 10 pp. (May 2011)
A Guide for State Advocates: State Demonstrations to Integrate Medicare and Medicaid explains the requirements for demonstrations, discusses possible models of integration, and provides guidance to advocates on how to get involved in the planning process. 10 pp. (April 2011)
House Republicans Propose to Slash Funding for Medicaid, Medicare, and Other Health Coverage Programs takes a closer look at how the recent budget proposal would harm seniors, children, and state economies, including state-specific numbers. 19 pp. (April 2011)
What the House Budget Resolution Means for America's Seniors and People with Disabilities is A Q & A on the possible consequences of the House budget resolution for two groups that would be disproportionately affected by Medicare and Medicaid cuts. 4 pp. (April 2011)
States Are Benefitting from Provisions of the Affordable Care Act lists the number of people in each state who are already benefiting from each of five provisions. The provisions include measures that are helping small businesses provide coverage to their workers, helping seniors get free preventive care, and protecting children with pre-existing conditions. 3 pp. | Table (March 2011)
An Advocate's Guide to the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program is a troubleshooting guide for advocates who assist beneficiaries with navigating the new program, including answers to frequently asked questions. 6 pp. (December 2010)
Help in the Doughnut Hole: the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program discusses the basics of this program, including the 2010 rebate checks, the 2011 discounts, changes in drug availability, and dispute resolution. 4 pp. (December 2010)
Welcome to the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for 2011 is an updated illustration that reflects improvements made by the Affordable Care Act that will lessen the amount enrollees will pay when they fall into the "doughnut hole." (November 2010)
The Medicare Drug Benefit: How Much Will You Pay? presents tables that detail the basic benefit, as well as the low-income benefit for those who are and aren't enrolled in Medicaid. 4 pp. (Updated November 2010)
In Perspective: Better Safety and Quality for Seniors and People with Disabilities discusses the Elder Justice Act, the Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act, and the Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act, three sections in the Affordable Care Act that will bring historic improvements to the quality and safety of long-term care and result in the most comprehensive federal effort ever to fight elder abuse. 3 pp. (October 2010)
In Perspective: Lower Costs, Better Care: Medicare Cost Savings in the Affordable Care Act discusses how the Affordable Care Act will make Medicare work more efficiently by improving the way providers deliver care, modernizing how Medicare pays for services, and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in the system. These changes will also reduce costs, make the program more sustainable, and allow for better benefits for those who depend on Medicare. 10 pp. | Talking Points (September 2010)
A Summary of the New Health Reform Law describes the major changes in health coverage that health reform will bring, including Medicaid and CHIP coverage, the affordability provisions, the exchanges, individual and employer responsibility requirements, improvements in private market coverage, and changes to Medicare and long-term services. 21 pp. (April 2010)
What Will the New Health Reform Law Do in the First Year? discusses how health reform will help people with pre-existing conditions, young adults, people on Medicare, small businesses, community health centers, and others in its first year. 3 pp. (April 2010)
Help Is on the Way: 12 Reasons to Embrace Health Reform discusses key improvements in the new health reform law, including clamping down on insurance company abuses, offering tax credits to small businesses, expanding Medicaid, and improving Medicare. 8 pp. (March 2010)
Making the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) Work: How States Can Help People with Medicare examines how this legislation improves the Medicare Savings Programs and the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, making Medicare more affordable for low-income beneficiaries. It includes tips for advocates. 12 pp. (February 2010)
Medicare Advantage: Senate Bill Makes Necessary Changes discusses several long-overdue changes that the Senate health reform bill would make, including rolling back the billions of dollars in overpayments that go to these plans. 2 pp. Print copies free (December 2009)
Help for People with Medicare discusses how the health reform legislation that is before Congress will help make Medicare more affordable for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as help make the program more financially secure. 3 pp. Print copies free (August 2009)
Setting the Record Straight on Medicare dispels several myths about health reform and explains how health reform will help Medicare beneficiaries and strengthen the program. 1 p. Print copies free (August 2009) l Large Print
10 Reasons to Support the Health Care Reform Bills provides a quick rundown of the most exciting provisions in the health reform bills pending in Congress, including provisions that will help middle-class and low-income families, small businesses, and seniors and people with disabilities. 7 pp. Print copies free (July 2009)
Key Priorities to Help Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries discusses three actions Congress should take to improve the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) and the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) as part of health reform. 1 page. Print copies free. (May 2009)
Medicare: Helping Low-Income Seniors and People with Disabilities examines the high out-of-pocket costs Medicare beneficiaries face and how health reform should improve existing programs that help them afford these costs. 2 pp. Print copies free. (May 2009)
The Medicare Drug Benefit: How Much Will You Pay? These tables can help you estimate what you'll pay for prescription drugs under the Medicare drug benefit, including those enrolled in Medicaid. (updated April 2009)
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008: Addressing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities discusses how the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) addresses health disparities within the Medicare population. MIPPA provisions to address these issues include: improved data collection for measuring and evaluating health disparities, outreach to the previously uninsured, and compliance with cultural competency standards. 6 pp. Print copies $2 (November 2008)
Congress Delivers Help to People with Medicare: An Overview of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act discusses the positive changes the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) makes to Medicare. These changes include the improvement of Medicare health care benefits, the creation of policies that reduce racial and ethnic disparities among beneficiaries, and the reining in of inefficient private Medicare Advantage Plans. 8 pp. Print copies $2 (October 2008)
Buyer Beware: Higher Costs, More Confusion for the 2008 Part D Enrollment Season discusses several reasons why Part D enrollees, especially those with low incomes, should carefully examine their plans to see if the plans will continue to suit their needs. These reasons include rising premiums, the widening "doughnut hole," and other changes in coverage. 4 pp. Free (November 2007)
The CHAMP Act's Medicare Provisions Offer Real Help to Seniors and People with Disabilities discusses how this bill, passed by the House of Representatives on August 1, would level the playing field between traditional Medicare and private Medicare Advantage plans, improve benefits for beneficiaries, particularly for those with low incomes, and protect Medicare consumers. 4 pp. Free (September 2007)
Whose Advantage? Billions in Windfall Payments Go to Private Medicare Plans Medicare's private plans, now called Medicare Advantage plans, were supposed to save taxpayers money and provide better health care for beneficiaries. In reality, they are paid billions more than traditional Medicare while providing little, if anything, in the way of improved care. 12 pp. Print copies $2 (June 2007)
Medicare Part D Drug Prices Are Climbing Quickly explains that private insurance plans have not been able to negotiate lower drug prices in the Medicare Part D drug program, creating a growing burden for seniors and taxpayers. 4 pp. Free (April 2007)
Rhetoric versus Reality: Comparing Medicare Part D Prices to VA Prices rebuts the main arguments against comparing drug prices under Medicare Part D and those obtained by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 4 pp. Free (April 2007)
Medicare's Phony Problem: The 45 Percent Threshold examines the fundamental flaws inherent in the 45 percent threshold and discusses why correcting this nonexistent problem could do serious harm to beneficiaries and to Medicare itself. 5 pp. Free (March 2007)
No Bargain: Medicare Drug Plans Deliver High Prices presents an analysis of drug prices that Part D plans charge for the 20 drugs most frequently prescribed to seniors for each of the plans offered by the five largest Part D insurers compared to the prices secured by the VA. We found that VA prices are substantially lower than the lowest prices charged by the largest Part D insurers for all of these 20 drugs. We also found that the seven largest U.S. pharmaceutical companies spent more than twice as much on marketing, advertising, and administration as they did on R&D. 23 pp. Print copies $15.00 (January 2007)
Stop Bad Ideas—Private Gain and Public Pain in Medicare discusses how the push to privatize Medicare has resulted in landmark profits for the drug and insurance industries at the expense of taxpayers and Medicare beneficiaries. 4 pp. Free (December 2006)
Picking a Part D Plan: Déjà Vu All Over Again? discusses why beneficiaries, advocates, and health care providers should be aware of changes in Part D plans that will affect coverage in 2007. It also urges all beneficiaries to examine premiums, drug costs, formularies, and drug restrictions to find the best Medicare drug plan. 4 pp. Free (November 2006)
Coverage through the "Doughnut Hole" Grows Scarcer in 2007 examines what will happen next year to stand-alone drug plans that provide meaningful doughnut hole coverage—plans that provide doughnut hole coverage of both the generic and non-generic drugs that most seniors need. 12 pp. Print copies $2 (November 2006)
Medicare Privatization: Windfall for the Special Interests examines how several decisions by Congress to promote privatized Medicare are costing taxpayers billions of dollars and bringing windfall profits to the insurance and drug industries. The report focuses on 1) overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, 2) special funding for Medicare regional PPOs, and 3) prices obtained by Part D drug plans. 16 pp. Print copies $2 (October 2006)
Big Dollars, Little Sense: Rising Medicare Prescription Drug Prices asks two key questions: 1) What has happened to Part D prices for the most frequently prescribed drugs from November 2005 to April 2006?; and 2) How do Part D drug prices now compare to the prices secured by the VA? The answers are both clear and disappointing: 1) Virtually all of the Part D plans raised their prices for the majority of the top 20 drugs in this study. 2) For all of the top 20 drugs prescribed to seniors, VA prices in April were lower than the lowest prices charged by Part D plans. 25 pp. Print copies $15.00 (June 2006)
Medicare Drug Program Fails to Reach Low-Income Seniors documents the slow pace of enrollment in Medicare Part D and, particularly, the program's failure to reach those most in need—the low-income seniors and people with disabilities who are entitled to special subsidies. 11 pp. Print copies $2 (May 2006)
April Fools for Medicare Part D Beneficiaries? Transitional Benefits End April 1 On April 1, 2006, Medicare beneficiaries lose the protection of extended transition benefits. This memo explains what this means for beneficiaries and what they can do about it. 4 pp. Free (March 29, 2006)
President Bush's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget: Analysis of Key Health Care Provisions Includes discussion and commentary on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Medicaid, and Medicare. 13 pp. Print copies $2 (February 22, 2006)
Expectations Shrinking for Medicare Part D Enrollment assesses the first two months of enrollment in the new drug benefit. The report shows that: 1) enrollment so far is lagging well behind last year's projections; 2) most of those counted as covered already had drug coverage; and 3) low-income beneficiaries are being left behind. 6 pp. Print copies $2 (February 2006)
Falling Short: Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Offer Meager Savings evaluates how well Medicare prescription drug plans (PDPs) did in giving seniors low drug prices. This report compares the base drug prices reported by Medicare drug plans with the prices negotiated through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 19 pp. Free (December 2005)
Getting the Best Price: Lessons Learned from the Medicare Discount Card Program Families USA examined how well the Medicare discount card program did in negotiating lower drug prices for those in Medicare. We found that, for the 50 drugs most frequently prescribed to seniors, the lowest Medicare discount card price was almost always much higher than the lowest price negotiated by one large government purchaser, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 27 pp. $15.00 (September 2005)
Gearing Up Series--The Holes in Part D: Gaps in the New Medicare Drug Benefit (Part 1 of 2)
This brief discusses the three major kinds of gaps associated with the Part D benefit: 1) the financial gap beneficiaries will face; 2) the drug coverage gap; and 3) the enrollment gap. 15 pp. Free (July 2005)
Gearing Up Series--Filling the Holes in Part D: The Essential Role of State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (Part 2 of 2)
This brief examines the key decisions states will have to make when determining how their Pharmacy Assistance Programs can provide wraparound coverage and explains the special role of these programs under the Medicare drug law. It also discusses how these programs can help with enrollment. (July 2005)
Trouble Brewing? New Medicare Drug Law Puts Low-Income People at Risk
The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) was touted as a program that would help all Medicare enrollees, particularly the neediest, obtain prescription drug coverage. Now there is evidence that a flaw in the MMA will cause serious harm to many of the most vulnerable elderly and people with disabilities. 8 pp. Free (July 2005)
Medicare Drug Law Materials for Advocates and Consumers: Click here for a collection of materials produced by Families USA covering diferent aspects of the new law.
Gearing Up: States Face the New Medicare Law Is Your State Ready for 2006?
An Introduction to What the New Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Means for Medicaid -- The new Medicare law will require big changes in state Medicaid and prescription drug assistance programs. This piece describes the new Medicare drug benefit and outlines some of the major issues state policy makers and advocates need to consider as they plan to implement the new law. 15 pp. Free (September 2004)
The Health Care Crisis in America addresses Medicare changes, rising prescription drug costs, the growing number of uninsured, and increasingly unaffordable health care costs. 8 pp. (July 2004)
Sticker Shock: Rising Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors
This updated study examines price changes for the top 30 brand-name drugs prescribed for seniors. The survey found that the prices of these drugs have increased by nearly 22 percent over the past three years. 21 pp. $15.00 (June 2004)
The new Medicare prescription drug legislation creates a temporary drug discount card program that is projected to start in June 2004 and end by January 1, 2006, when a new, permanent drug benefit would begin. The New Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card: A Very Flawed Program discusses the flaws in the program and how they are likely to affect Medicare beneficiaries. (December 19, 2003)
FEHBP Rates Increase as Much as $4,572.12 a Year: Is This Really A Model for Medicare?
Is the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), a model used by the House Medicare prescription drug bill, a good model for the seniors and people with disabilities that Medicare serves. 4 pp. Free (September 30, 2003)
The House Medicare Drug Bill's Doughnut Hole: A Chasm for Low-Income Beneficiaries?discusses the large gap in drug coverage low-income Medicare beneficiaries would experience under the House Medicare drug bill. 2 pp. Free (September 26, 2003)
Private Plans: A Bad Choice for Medicare
A discussion of the role of private plans in Medicare up to this point. According to the piece, the evidence so far indicates that, for seniors and people with disabilities, particularly those living in rural areas, the traditional Medicare program works better than private plans. 2 pp. Free (September 26, 2003)
Prescription Drug Cost-Sharing and Low-Income People: Five Good Reasons to Keep It Minimal
Prescription drugs aren't the only health expenses Medicare beneficiaries must pay for out of pocket. It goes on to assert that any final Medicare prescription drug bill should not raise cost-sharing amounts above the limits in the current Senate and House bills. 2 pp. Free (September 12, 2003)
More Red Tape for the Poor? Dual Eligibles in the Medicare Rx Bill
The potential problems that the Senate's Medicare prescription drug bill, which would not cover dual eligibles (low-income people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid), could create for such beneficiaries and for Medicare and state Medicaid programs. 4 pp. Free (September 3, 2003)
What's in the House and Senate Medicare Prescription Drug Bills? provides a side-by-side comparison of the two bills, examining basic drug benefits, premiums, out-of-pocket spending, and gaps in coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. 4 pp. (July 17, 2003)
A large percent of those enrolled in Medicare are considered low-income. Who Are Medicare's Low-Income Beneficiaries? examines the group’s demographics and their ability to obtain affordable health services. (July 14, 2003)
Tax-Free Savings Accounts for Medical Expenses: A Tax Cut Masquerading as Help to the Uninsured:This Issue Brief discusses Health Savings Accounts and Health Savings Security Accounts, two kinds of personal savings accounts that were created by a bill attached to the House Republican Medicare prescription drug legislation. 4 pp. Free (July 2003)
Out of Bounds: Rising Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors documents the price increases for the top 50 prescription drugs sold to seniors. The report examines the price increases that occurred from January 2002 to January 2003 for each of these 50 drugs. On average, those prices rose almost three-and-one-half times the rate of inflation. 23 pp. $15.00 (July 2003)
Top Dollar: CEO Compensation in Medicare's Private Insurance Plans documents the lavish salaries and compensation offered to the top executives in the leading health care plans currently serving Medicare enrollees. The report compares the annual compensation packages for the highest-paid executives in 11 publicly traded, private health insurance companies. 35pp. $15 (June 2003)
Private Plans: A Bad Choice for Medicare 2 pp. Free (June 2003)
Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Are Most in Need of Prescription Drug Coverage 2 pp. Free (June 17, 2003)
Managed Care Plans Offer No Real Choice for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries 4 pp. Free (May 2003)
Issue Brief: WHY FEHBP Isn't a Good Option For Medicare - The Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) has frequently been pointed to as a model for Medicare. An FEHBP-style overhaul is favored by many, but before it is seen as a panacea for Medicare, it is worth considering how well its basic structure fits Medicare--a fit that is not the best. 9 pp. Free. (March 2003)
The Bush Administration's Fiscal Year 2004 Budget: Analysis of Key Health Care Provisions 4 pp. Free. (February 7, 2003)
Bitter Pill: The Rising Prices of Prescription Drugs for Older Americans Prices for the top 50 drugs used by senior citizens continue to outstrip inflation. From 2001 to 2002, prices for these drugs grew by 7.8 percent: Name-brand drugs increased by 8.1 percent, while lower-priced generics grew by only 1.8 percent. 18 pp. $15.00. (June 2002)
Failing America's Seniors: Private Health Plans Provide Inadequate Rx Drug Coverage. A Special Report. 8 pp. Free. (May 2002)
Assessing the Bush Administration's Proposed Medicare Drug Discount Card Program. A Special Report. 4 pp. Free. (March 2002)
President Bush's Medicare Drug Proposals introduces the President’s plans to create a prescription drug discount card program, encourage states to seek federal Medicaid waivers, and establish the Medicare Low-Income Drug Assistance Program. (February 13, 2002)
Consumer Health Assistance Programs: Report on a National Survey
Consumer health assistance programs come in many shapes and sizes. Some serve Medicare beneficiaries, for example; some serve people in long-term care facilities or those who are privately insured. Families USA conducted a nationwide survey of these programs, and the findings are summarized in this report. 48 pp. $15.00 (July 2001)
Designing a Consumer Health Assistance Program
As health care becomes more complex, many states and localities are developing consumer health assistance programs to meet the needs of consumers within their jurisdictions. This guide reviews some key considerations to keep in mind when designing such programs. 24 pp. $15.00. (June 2001)
Enough to Make You Sick: Prescription Drug Prices for the Elderly For the millions of older Americans who do not have prescription drug coverage, and for millions of others who have very limited coverage, increases in drug prices have a profound impact. As this report demonstrates, these prices are increasing at rates that far exceed inflation. 17 pp. $15.00. (June 2001)
Bush Budget Speeds Medicare Insolvency by 15 Years A Special Report. 4 pp. $2.00. (March 2001)
Cost Overdose: Growth in Drug Spending for the Elderly, 1992-2010 America's seniors face prescription drug costs that are projected to more than double in the next 10 years. This report tracks the rise in drug spending from 1992 through 2000 and projects increases through 2010. 24 pp. $15.00 (July 2000)
Still Rising: Drug Price Increases for Seniors 1999-2000
America's senior citizens are falling farther and farther behind in their struggles to pay for prescription drugs as the prices for those drugs increase faster than inflation. This update of Hard to Swallow looks at the rising costs of the 50 drugs most commonly prescribed for senior citizens. 13 pp. $5.00. (April 2000)
"Key Features of President Clinton's Medicare Reform Bill"
2 pp. Free. Print only. (March 2000)
"The Breaux-Frist Bill: Look Before You Leap,"
The Future of Medicare: #1. 2 pp. Free. Print only. (March 2000)
"Turbulence Ahead for Seniors Under the Breaux-Frist Plan,"
The Future of Medicare: #2. 2 pp. Free. Print only. (March 2000)
"The Breaux-Frist Proposal Will Jeopardize the Traditional Medicare Program,"
The Future of Medicare: #3. 2 pp. Free. Print only. (March 2000)
"The Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan Not a Model for Medicare,"
The Future of Medicare: #4. 2 pp. Free. Print only. (March 2000)
"The Breaux-Frist Bill Puts Rural Residents at Risk,"
The Future of Medicare: #5. 2 pp. Free. Print only. (March 2000)
"Medicare Beneficiaries Need Drug Coverage Breaux-Frist Proposal Fails the Test,"
The Future of Medicare: #6. 2 pp. Free. Print only. (March 2000)
Hard To Swallow: Rising Drug Prices for America's Seniors A look at the skyrocketing costs of the 50 drugs most used by older Americans. Every year for the last five years, the prices of these drugs have increased faster than the rate of inflation, with increases in 1998, on average, four times the rate of inflation. 16 pp. $15.00. (November 1999)
Rural Neglect: Medicare HMOs Ignore Rural Communities
A look at the availability of Medicare HMOs in non-metropolitan counties in the U.S., which finds that 73 percent of rural Medicare beneficiaries have no access to any Medicare HMO. Concludes that Medicare reform should not be predicated on HMOs. 19 pp. $15.00. (September 1999)
The Impact of Medicare Reform on Low-Income Beneficiaries
An 11-page report on what should be done to make sure low-income Medicare beneficiaries are helped, not hurt, by Medicare reform. $5.00. (March 1999)
Shortchanged: Billions Withheld from Medicare Beneficiaries
Four million low-income Medicare beneficiaries are entitled to, but not receiving, subsidies to help cover their Medicare premiums and, for some, their deductibles and co-payments. This 29-page report provides the state-by-state numbers of low-income elderly or disabled persons who should be receiving QMB, SLMB, or QI-1 benefits and the dollar amounts they have lost, with recommendations for government action. 29 pp. $15.00. (July 1998)
Monitoring Medicare HMOs: A Guide to Collecting and Interpreting Available Data
Aimed at groups working with Medicare beneficiaries, this 86-page guide provides step-by-step instructions for gathering and making sense of Medicare HMO data from federal agencies, state governments, and other sources. Parts of the guide will be useful to those interested in Medicaid and/or commercial HMOs. 86 pp. $15.00. (May 1998)
Comparing Medicare HMOs: Do They Keep Their Members?
This 44-page report looks at Medicare HMOs to see how many beneficiaries quit, or disenroll. Includes state-by-state and plan-by-plan data on the overall disenrollment rates as well as "rapid" disenrollment rates. The report finds that the lowest disenrollment rates, indicating that beneficiaries are generally satisfied, are in nonprofit plans with a long history of serving Medicare beneficiaries. $15.00. (December 1997)
The Crushing Costs of Medicare Supplemental Policies.
A Special Report This special report presents findings of a Families USA study of dramatic increases in the premiums charged for Medigap insurance. 31 pp. $5.00 Print only. (October 1996)
Medicare Beneficiaries With Low and Modest Incomes Hurt by Proposed Cuts. A Special Report 8 pp. Free. Print only. (September 1995)
Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Need Federal Protection. A Special Report
4 pp. Free. Print only. (August 1995)
Worthless Promises: Drug Companies Keep Boosting Prices
A look at price increases in the 20 top selling brand name prescription drugs used by all Americans, and in 20 top selling drugs used by older Americans from 1989 to 1994. Compares median profits of pharmaceutical manufacturers to those of Fortune 500 companies. 19 pp. $5.00. Print only. (March 1995)
The Medicare Buy-in: A Promise Unfulfilled
A description of the Medicare buy-in benefits, the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) and Specified Low-income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and the failure of federal and state governments to provide Medicare buy-in benefits to almost half of those eligible; contains state-by-state estimates. 26 pp. $5.00. Print only.(March 1993)
Crossing to Mexico: Priced Out of American Health Care
A survey of Mexican doctors and American consumers about the reasons Americans go to Mexico for routine medical care. Includes price comparisons and physician visits. 20 pp. $5.00. Print only. (November 1992)
Making Them Wait for Social Security Benefits
16 pp. $5.00. Print only. (October 1992)
The Health Cost Squeeze on Older Americans
23 pp. $5.00. Print only. (February 1992)
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