Medicare

A woman stands in the middle of a dark maze. Lights guide the way for her. It illustrates the concept of standing in front of a challenge and finding the right solution to move on.

Health & Safety

Mental health care is hard to find, especially for people with Medicare or Medicaid

4:20pm April 03, 2024

by Rhitu Chatterjee

A report from the Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general finds a dire shortage of mental health care providers in Medicaid and Medicare, which together serve some 40% of Americans.

People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid face maddening challenges accessing health care. The government spends $500 billion on this care, yet patients often can't get what they need.

Vulnerable Americans are stuck in a Medicare-Medicaid maze. Is a fix in sight?

12:50pm March 14, 2024

by Leslie Walker and Dan Gorenstein, Tradeoffs

A bipartisan Senate bill, dropping Thursday, promises better health care for some of the poorest, sickest Americans, who are known as "duals" because they qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

The $81,739.40 bill for her mother's air-ambulance ride arrived less than two weeks after she died, Alicia Wieberg said.

Health & Safety

Her air-ambulance ride wasn't covered by Medicare. It will cost her family $81,739

9:27am February 27, 2024

A frugal Tennessee resident opted out of Medicare Part B, which carries $175 monthly premiums. Now her heirs face a huge bill for an air-ambulance ride.

A House-passed bill would equalize what Medicare pays when certain infusions are given in a hospital with what it pays when they're given in other health care settings. The hospital lobby is fighting it ferociously in the Senate.

Hospitals are fighting a Medicare payment fix that would save tax dollars

5:00am February 13, 2024

Medicare pays hospitals about double what it pays other providers for the same services. The hospital lobby is fighting hard to make sure a switch to "site-neutral payments" doesn't become law.

Hospitals in rural America face a dire financial forecast. The government has an incentive plan to help them keep their emergency departments open, while shutting their inpatient services.

Health & Safety

Federal fix for rural hospitals gets few takers so far

5:00am January 10, 2024

Just 18 facilities were converted into Rural Emergency Hospitals so far. Advocates and lawmakers say tweaks to the law are needed to widen the reach and keep health care in rural communities.

Terminally ill hospice resident Evelyn Breuning, 91, right, sits with music therapist Jen Dunlap in her bed in August 2009 in Lakewood, Colo. The nonprofit hospice, the second oldest in the United States, accepts the terminally ill regardless of their ability to pay, although most residents are covered by Medicare.

Health & Safety

What is hospice care? 6 myths about this end-of-life option

1:52pm December 28, 2023

by Diba Mohtasham

Recently ex-President Jimmy Carter went into hospice, which often is for patients in the last stages of incurable diseases. Contrary to popular belief, starting hospice doesn't mean giving up on life.

Health & Safety

Medicare open enrollment ends today. Ignoring the deadline could cost you

1:40pm December 07, 2023

by Susan Jaffe

As the period for changing health plans ends, many seniors are tuning out. They could wind up with a surprise next year: higher costs and reduced access to health care providers.

People gathered at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. in July at a rally held by the Center for Medicare Advocacy. They protested denials and delays in private Medicare Advantage plans.

Health & Safety

Uncle Sam wants you to help stop insurers' bogus Medicare Advantage sales tactics

8:59am November 30, 2023

by Susan Jaffe

The Biden administration is cracking down on deceptive or misleading Medicare Advantage and drug plan sales tactics. And it's counting on beneficiaries to help catch offenders.

Open enrollment for Medicare begins Sunday and ads like this billboard inside California's John Wayne Airport are popping up. Marketing of Medicare plans is subject to new, stricter federal regulations this year.

Health & Safety

Medicare shoppers often face a barrage of unsolicited calls and aggressive ads

11:14am October 16, 2023

Medicare's annual open enrollment period began Oct. 15, allowing seniors to choose new plans. New rules this year are supposed to crack down on misleading marketing but buyers should still beware.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House event on August 29 where they announced the list of the first 10 medicines targeted for Medicare negotiations.

Health & Safety

All in: Drugmakers say yes, they'll negotiate with Medicare on price, so reluctantly

5:00am October 04, 2023

by Sydney Lupkin

Despite at least nine lawsuits against the government, all companies whose drugs are up for Medicare price negotiation will come to the bargaining table.