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Without Medicaid, many Medicare enrollees—especially those with limited income—would struggle to afford care, risking their health or having to choose between medical care and housing, food and other essentials. Cutting Medicaid would directly harm millions of Medicare enrollees and increase costs for the Medicare program and state budgets.
Medicare guarantees access to health care for older adults and people with disabilities. Together with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid, Medicare builds health security and well-being for New Yorkers of all ages. Any changes to these programs, whether at the state or federal level, must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less.
This report features the top helpline trends and highlights the most commonly sought helpline and Medicare Interactive answers, providing a glimpse into the various questions and needs of Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and the professionals assisting them in the community in 2023.
This case study focuses on how automatic enrollment in Medicare Savings Programs can remove many individuals’ barriers when enrolling. Simplifying the enrollment process is essential to increasing participation and ensuring that more people can benefit from these vital programs.
Medicare Savings Program recertification varies widely nationwide. This case study compares two experiences—one with automatic recertification and one with a more complex process—to illustrate the need for nationwide Medicare Savings Program recertification improvements.
Renewing Aged, Blind, and Disabled Medicaid is necessary to maintain benefits. This case study contrasts a complicated renewal process with one eased by COVID-19 public health emergency flexibilities, arguing for lasting reforms in Medicaid renewal procedures.
Coordinating benefits and services for dually eligible individuals is often complex and disjointed. This study examines the challenges of poorly integrated care and offers recommendations for improving integration at both state and federal levels.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 made key changes in Medicare law and coverage to improve prescription drug affordability for older adults and people with disabilities. Since its passage, some stakeholders and lawmakers have targeted IRA policies for revision or repeal, especially the law’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. Depending on the provisions targeted, this would increase beneficiary costs and increase Medicare spending.
Some policies would give Medicare providers the right to charge beneficiaries more for care than is currently allowed through balance billing or private contracting arrangements. Under Medicare private contracting, providers could charge their Medicare patients more than they currently pay or require them to negotiate a contract for the cost of their care.
A core component of Medicare is its universality. Some policy ideas would undermine that promise by limiting certain benefits to people with lower incomes or requiring those with higher incomes to pay more for care. Means testing any portion of Medicare would add administrative complexity and access barriers.
