"The next-largest source of coverage among people under age 65 is Medicaid. In CBO and JCT’s estimates, a monthly average of 62 million noninstitutionalized people receive full Medicaid benefits in 2019.4 That number is unchanged from the number in 2018."By 2029, the number of people under age 65 receiving full Medicaid benefits is projected to grow to a monthly average of 64 million people, comprising:"• 7 million people with disabilities,"• 30 million children,"• 14 million adults made eligible for Medicaid through the ACA’s expansion of Medicaid coverage at states’ option, and"• 13 million adults otherwise eligible for Medicaid."CBO and JCT’s…
Projections of Employment-Based Health Insurance Coverage in the US from 2019-2019
"The most common source of health insurance for the noninstitutionalized civilian population under age 65 is a current or former employer—either one’s own or a family member’s. In CBO and JCT’s estimates, a monthly average of about 159 million people (or about 58 percent of the population under age 65) have employment-based coverage in 2019—a decrease from 2018, when an estimated 160 million people had employment-based coverage. The agencies estimate that the decline largely stems from the elimination of the penalty associated with the individual mandate.3 (For a discussion of the various ways in which repealing the individual mandate penalty…
Medicare Eligibility
"Medicare is the federal health insurance program created in 1965 for people ages 65 and over, regardless of income, medical history, or health status. The program was expanded in 1972 to cover certain people under age 65 who have a long-term disability. Today, Medicare plays a key role in providing health and financial security to 60 million older people and younger people with disabilities. The program helps to pay for many medical care services, including hospitalizations, physician visits, prescription drugs, preventive services, skilled nursing facility and home health care, and hospice care. In 2017, Medicare spending accounted for 15 percent…
Characteristics of People on Medicare
"Many people on Medicare live with health problems, including multiple chronic conditions and limitations in their activities of daily living, and many beneficiaries live on modest incomes. In 2016, nearly one third (32%) had a functional impairment; one quarter (25%) reported being in fair or poor health; and more than one in five (22%) had five or more chronic conditions, (Figure 1). More than one in seven beneficiaries (15%) were under age 65 and living with a long-term disability, and 12 percent were ages 85 and over. Nearly two million beneficiaries (3%) lived in a long-term care facility. In 2016,…
Medicare Part A
"Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility (SNF) stays, some home health visits, and hospice care. Part A benefits are subject to a deductible ($1,364 per benefit period in 2019). Part A also requires coinsurance for extended inpatient hospital and SNF stays." Source: Issue Brief: An Overview of Medicare. Kaiser Family Foundation. February 2019. http://files.kff.org/attachment/issue-brief-an-overview-of-medicare
Medicare Part B
"Part B covers physician visits, outpatient services, preventive services, and some home health visits. Many Part B benefits are subject to a deductible ($185 in 2019), and, typically, coinsurance of 20 percent. No coinsurance or deductible is charged for an annual wellness visit or for preventive services that are rated ‘A’ or ‘B’ by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, such as mammography or prostate cancer screenings." Source: Issue Brief: An Overview of Medicare. Kaiser Family Foundation. February 2019. http://files.kff.org/attachment/issue-brief-an-overview-of-medicare
Medicare Part C
"Part C refers to the Medicare Advantage program, through which beneficiaries can enroll in a private health plan, such as a health maintenance organization (HMO) or preferred provider organization (PPO), and receive all Medicare-covered Part A and Part B benefits and typically also Part D benefits. Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans has grown over time, with more than 20 million beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage in 2018, or 34 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries (Figure 3)."
Medicare Part D
"Part D covers outpatient prescription drugs through private plans that contract with Medicare, including stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage (MA-PDs). In 2019, beneficiaries have a choice of 27 PDPs and 21 MA-PDs, on average. The Part D benefit helps pay for enrollees' drug costs and provides coverage for very high drug costs. Additional financial assistance is available for beneficiaries with low incomes and modest assets. Enrollees pay monthly premiums and cost sharing for prescriptions, with costs varying by plan. Enrollment in Part D is voluntary; in 2018, 43 million people on Medicare…
Medicare Premiums and Other Costs
"Most persons aged 65 or older are automatically entitled to premium-free Part A because they or their spouses paid Medicare payroll taxes for at least 10 years. Persons under the age of 65 who receive cash disability benefits from Social Security for at least 24 months and individuals of any age with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are also entitled to Medicare Part A. Eligible individuals who are not entitled to premium-free Part A may obtain coverage by paying a monthly premium."All persons entitled to Part A may enroll in Part B by paying a monthly premium ($135.50 in 2019). Some…
Total Medicare Spending
"Medicare spending is driven by a variety of factors, such as the level of enrollment, the complexity of medical services provided, health care inflation, and life expectancy. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that total Medicare spending in 2019 will be about $772 billion; of this amount, about $749 billion will be spent on benefits."CBO estimates that the federal portion of Medicare spending (after deduction of beneficiary premiums and other offsetting receipts) will be close to $637 billion in 2019, accounting for about 14% of total federal spending and 3% of GDP. Over the next 10 years, Medicare spending is…