Tricia Neuman

On August 15, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs selected under Medicare's

Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek Meredith Freed , Anthony Damico, and Tricia Neuman Published:

Nancy Ochieng Juliette Cubanski Meredith Freed , and Tricia Neuman Published:

National health spending totaled $4.5 trillion in 2022 —17% of gross domestic product (GDP)—and is projected to grow faster than GDP through

Many pandemic-era flexibilities around Medicare coverage of telehealth are due to expire in December 2024. There is bipartisan support for proposed legislation to extend these provisions for another two years, and Congress is weighing the potential benefits, risks, and costs of permanently expanding Medicare coverage of telehealth services. These FAQs provide answers to key questions about the current scope of Medicare telehealth coverage, including both temporary and permanent changes adopted through legislation and regulation, and policy considerations that lie ahead.

On October 8, 2024, Vice President Harris has proposed to expand Medicare to provide home care to help families who are struggling with the costs of long-term care. If enacted, this would be the first major expansion of Medicare since the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 that added a prescription drug benefit to the program.

On October 8, 2024, Vice President Harris proposed to expand Medicare to provide home care to help families who are struggling with the costs of long-term care.

A review of the 2025 Medicare Advantage plans available for individual enrollment shows that the total number of plans declined by 7% (from 3,959 to 3,699). The average Medicare beneficiary will have the option of 34 Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans in 2025, just 2 fewer than the 36 options available in 2024. Since 2018, the number of plans available to the average beneficiary has doubled.

This brief presents facts about Medigap, including the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries with a Medigap policy, variation in Medigap enrollment by state, and Medigap premiums.

This issue brief analyzes federal and state guaranteed issue rules and how they impact beneficiaries’ access to Medigap, including the implications for Medicare beneficiaries with pre-existing conditions and those under age 65 with long-term disabilities. This brief also explores a recently finalized rule: Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities regarding Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act that may have implications for the Medigap market.