Medicare

On May 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of February 2024, over 67 million people are enrolled in Medicare; more than 33.3 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, and over 33.7 million are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or other health plans. Over 83.3 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP. More than 76.2 million individuals have Medicaid, and nearly 7.1 million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

On February 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of November 2023, over 66.7 million people are enrolled in Medicare; more than 34.1 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, and over 32.6 million are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or other health plans. Over 85.8 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP. More than 78.7 million individuals have Medicaid and over 7.1 million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

The AARP Public Policy Institute's latest report in their Rx Price Watch series highlights the impact of prescription drug price increases on consumers, employers, private insurers, and taxpayers, affecting programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The report presents annual and 15-year cumulative price changes, until the end of 2020, for a comprehensive set of 943 prescription drugs widely used by older adults, emphasizing the potential long-term consequences on health care coverage costs, taxes, and public programs.

AARP recently released a report using qualitative and quantitative data to depict sandwich generation caregivers who are caring for Medicare beneficiaries. The combined dynamics of Americans delaying having children and younger generations taking on caregiving for older adults are leading to a new picture of what it means to be sandwiched between two generations who need daily care. Early research has shown the negative impact the compounded responsibility of caring for an older adult while still caring for young children can have on caregivers’ physical health, well-being, and financial welfare....

On January 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of October 2023, over 66.6 million people are enrolled in Medicare; more than 34 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, and close to 32.6 million are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or other health plans. Over 87.2 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP. More than 80.2 million individuals have Medicaid and over 7 million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

On Tuesday, October 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of July 2023, over 66.2 million people are enrolled in Medicare; nearly 34 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and more than 32.2 million have a Medicare Advantage plan. Over 91.5 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP. More than 84.5 million individuals have Medicaid and over seven million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

KFF recently released an issue brief that describes the findings from the organization’s nationally representative survey on Medicare beneficiary satisfaction. The brief, “Overall Satisfaction with Medicare is High, But Beneficiaries Under Age 65 With Disabilities Experience More Insurance Problems Than Older Beneficiaries” presents findings from KFF’s 2023 Survey of Consumer Experiences with Health Insurance. Based on the survey, Medicare beneficiaries, overall, are more satisfied with their health insurance coverage than adults with other types of insurance; however, those Medicare beneficiaries under age 65 with disabilities are less likely than those age 65 or older to give positive ratings to the overall performance...

On Friday, September 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of June 2023, over 66 million people are enrolled in Medicare; more than 33.9 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and more than 32 million have a Medicare Advantage plan. Over 92.6 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP; more than 85.6 million individuals have Medicaid and nearly seven million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

On Thursday, August 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of May 2023, over 65.9 million people are enrolled in Medicare; more than 33.9 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and more than 32 million have a Medicare Advantage plan. Over 93.8 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP; more than 86.8 million individuals have Medicaid and over seven million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

AARP recently released an article exploring the evolving landscape of telehealth within Medicare, spotlighting its transformation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With telehealth adoption soaring to 40% among Medicare beneficiaries in 2020, the article accentuates the significance of audio-only visits and the imminent legislative choice regarding post-2024 coverage. AARP also discusses the importance of these virtual services in ensuring comprehensive healthcare access while addressing potential challenges like accessibility, cost implications, and concerns of misuse.