Congress is in the midst of putting together an historic legislative package that would expand and strengthen our country’s safety net in a number of ways, including broad changes to health coverage. This could include adding dental, hearing and … [Read more...] about Medicare is at a Crossroads – Time to Dispel Myths Hindering an Historic Expansion of Benefits
Medicare Advantage
Report Examines High Spending on Medicare Advantage Plans
This week, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released a report entitled “Higher and Faster Growing Spending Per Medicare Advantage Enrollee Adds to Medicare's Solvency and Affordability Challenges” (August 2021). As noted in the … [Read more...] about Report Examines High Spending on Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage Costs and Coverage Concerns
On August 11, 2021, Axios published an article by reporter Bob Herman entitled “Medicare has become more of a private marketplace — and it's costly”. The article is available here. Herman’s article opens as follows: Medicare's open … [Read more...] about Medicare Advantage Costs and Coverage Concerns
Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently compared costs faced by Medicare Advantage (MA) plan enrollees to those in traditional Medicare in a report entitled “Cost-Related Problems Are Less Common Among Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare Than … [Read more...] about Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
Reminder: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period Ends March 31st
People who began 2021 enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan have an additional opportunity to switch MA plans or disenroll from an MA plan and enroll in traditional Medicare with a Part D plan during the first 3 months of the calendar year, … [Read more...] about Reminder: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period Ends March 31st
Policy-Makers Should Review Overpayments to Medicare Advantage when Considering Medicare Fiscal Solvency
In the past, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) annual release of proposed Medicare Advantage (MA) payment rates triggered a yearly ritual on Capitol Hill – the insurance industry rounded up support from lawmakers, getting … [Read more...] about Policy-Makers Should Review Overpayments to Medicare Advantage when Considering Medicare Fiscal Solvency
Medicare and the Dilemma of “Choice”
On March 1, 2021, the New York Times published a column by Paul Krugman titled “Too Much Choice is Hurting America”. Mr. Krugman discusses how “Economics 101 and conservative ideology say that more choice is always a good thing.” He … [Read more...] about Medicare and the Dilemma of “Choice”
Final 2022 Rule for Medicare Parts C and D Released By Trump Administration
I. Overview On February 18, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2021 and 2022 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, … [Read more...] about Final 2022 Rule for Medicare Parts C and D Released By Trump Administration
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Season Enters Final Weeks: Few People Compare Options, and the Means of Comparison are Often Flawed
Overview The Medicare Annual Coordinated Election Period (AEP) – the period during which individuals with Medicare can make coverage choices for the coming year – lasts until December 7th. During this time, people can enroll in, switch, or … [Read more...] about Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Season Enters Final Weeks: Few People Compare Options, and the Means of Comparison are Often Flawed
MA Plans Allowed to Report Less Data about Appeals Outcomes
CMS rolls back beneficiary protection in the name of reducing “MA plan burden” and making things “easy to read” for eligible beneficiaries The most urgent and frequent type of call we receive at the Center for Medicare Advocacy is from a Medicare … [Read more...] about MA Plans Allowed to Report Less Data about Appeals Outcomes