Long-Term Care Financing

As the United States population ages, a larger proportion of individuals will likely need and use long-term services and supports (LTSS). Much of this support is provided by informal (i.e., unpaid) caregivers. For those that need paid LTSS, most Americans pay out-of-pocket. Some may do so until their personal resources are exhausted, and then rely on the Medicaid safety net.

This Brief presents information about the risk of needing care and associated costs to provide content for policymakers and others considering long-term care financing proposals. It revises a brief that was written in October 2020.

Medicare served nearly 63 million beneficiaries in 2019. 62 percent were enrolled in Part A or Part B, and the rest (37 percent) were in Medicare Advantage (Part C). 74 percent were enrolled in Part D drug coverage, 13 percent had private drug coverage, and nearly 9 percent had no drug coverage. Demographic characteristics and health status varied across these groups.

More than 5 million Medicare beneficiaries struggle to afford prescription medications. Among adults 65 and older, Black and Latino beneficiaries are most likely to experience affordability problems. Medicare beneficiaries with lower incomes and those under age 65 also had above-average rates of not taking needed medications due to cost.

President Biden’s Executive Order 14036, “Promoting Competition in the American Economy” (the Competition Executive Order), identifies a lack of competition as a key driver for problems across economic sectors.

Over the past 20 years, Medicare and many private payers have transitioned to policies known collectively as value based purchasing (VBP). The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on health, health care, the economy, and our daily lives over the past 15 months.

Advance Care Planning Among Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries and Practitioners: Research Brief Fang He, PhD; Angela Gasdaska, BS; Hannah Friedman, BA; Brendan Wedehase, BS; Alexis Kirk, PhD; Ila Broyles, PhD; Sarita L.

ADVANCE CARE PLANNING AMONG MEDICARE FEE-FOR-SERVICE BENEFICIARIES AND PRACTITIONERS: FINAL REPORT Fang He, PhD, Angela Gasdaska, BS, Hannah Friedman, BA, Brendan Wedehas, BS, Alexis Kirk, PhD, Ila Broyles, PhD, and SaritaL.

Beginning in mid-March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on health care utilization. The impact on patients, their families and the health care system was significant.

ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT CAREGIVERS: FINAL REPORT Stipica Mudrazija and Richard W. Johnson Urban Institute January 2020 Printer Friendly Version in PDF Format (68 PDF pages)