Today, the Medicare Trustees issued their annual report on Medicare's financial status. According to this year's report, the Part A (Hospital Insurance) Trust Fund has sufficient reserves to fully pay Medicare benefits until 2026 … [Read more...] about Good News: Trustees Project Longer Medicare Solvency
Fact and Fiction
Debunking Medicare Myths: Drug Rebates for Dual Eligibles
In the midst of ongoing budget discussions, policymakers are considering a wide array of approaches for cutting spending and saving federal dollars. The Center for Medicare Advocacy recently wrote of ways to strengthen the Medicare program while … [Read more...] about Debunking Medicare Myths: Drug Rebates for Dual Eligibles
Medicare Advantage “Cuts?” Don’t Believe it.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is beginning to rein in Medicare Advantage (MA) overpayments by bringing MA payment more in line with what traditional Medicare spends on a given beneficiary. The insurance industry is not only fighting this … [Read more...] about Medicare Advantage “Cuts?” Don’t Believe it.
Protect Medicare: Reject Paul Ryan’s Budget Proposal
Statement of Judith Stein, Executive Director, Center for Medicare AdvocacyNothing new. Paul Ryan’s “new” budget proposal recycles ideas that will harm older people, people with disabilities, families and Medicare. It is a plan … [Read more...] about Protect Medicare: Reject Paul Ryan’s Budget Proposal
Study Shows High Cost-Sharing Significantly Harms Family Health and Finances
A new study out this month in the Annals of Family Medicine highlights the reality facing many people with health insurance and Medicare and their families: high out-of-pocket costs and cost-sharing. These costs have a considerable effect on … [Read more...] about Study Shows High Cost-Sharing Significantly Harms Family Health and Finances
Medicare Facts and Fiction: Costs and Spending Edition
In the past few weeks, the media spotlight on the country's fiscal issues has led to a flurry of attacks on Medicare.[1] Pundits and some policymakers decry Medicare spending as "the largest driver of the federal debt" and argue that … [Read more...] about Medicare Facts and Fiction: Costs and Spending Edition
Annual Medicare Payment Limits for Home Health – Even Worse Than Co-Pays for Beneficiaries
The Center for Medicare Advocacy has represented Medicare beneficiaries since 1986. As one of the few advocacy organizations in the nation solely serving Medicare beneficiaries, we strongly oppose home health episodic payment caps or any other such … [Read more...] about Annual Medicare Payment Limits for Home Health – Even Worse Than Co-Pays for Beneficiaries
We Don’t Need the Ryan Plan − Medicare Is Not Going Broke
According to researchers from the Urban Institute, writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, Medicare's purported dire financial condition isn’t actually all that dire. Given the aging of our population, increases in enrollment … [Read more...] about We Don’t Need the Ryan Plan − Medicare Is Not Going Broke
The $700 Billion Medicare Myth
Medicare has been front and center in the media and on the campaign trails this week. As part of our Medicare Truth Squad efforts to debunk myths and claims about the Medicare program, today we focus our attention on a pervasive myth that keeps going … [Read more...] about The $700 Billion Medicare Myth
Fact vs. Fiction: Medicare is Not Going “Bankrupt”
Medicare Trustees issued their annual report on Medicare's financial status on April 23, 2012. According to this year's report, the Hospital Insurance (Part A) Trust Fund has sufficient reserves to pay out the full amount of Medicare … [Read more...] about Fact vs. Fiction: Medicare is Not Going “Bankrupt”