Public Programs

Trends in Medigap Coverage and Enrollment, 2012

This report presents trends in enrollment in Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance coverage, using data on the number of policies in force as of December 2012 from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC dataset contains information on most Medigap policies in force in the U.S., representing approximately 10.2 million covered lives, with policies from 262 carriers.

AHIP Statement on Final 2014 Medicare Advantage Payment Rates

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni released the following statement in response to the final Medicare Advantage payment rates released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today.

New State-by-State Data on Impact of CMS’ Proposed Cut to Medicare Advantage

Seniors all across the country will experience higher premiums and reduced health care benefits if a new cut to the Medicare Advantage program takes effect next year as was recently proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that oversees the Medicare program

Medicaid Managed Care Plans Providing Higher Quality Care, Better Value for Taxpayers

As state Medicaid programs struggle to deal with rising medical costs and expanding populations, the targeted programs and services offered by Medicaid managed care plans are enhancing patients’ quality of life, improving health outcomes, and providing better value for taxpayers, according to a new report from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)

Medicare Advantage Cuts: Higher Costs and Reduced Benefits Infographic

AHIP has developed an infographic showing the impact of proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage on Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.

National Survey of Seniors Regarding Medicare Advantage Plans(2) - [PDF]

Medicare Advantage by the Numbers State Infographics

AHIP has released infographics outlining the impact of proposed cuts on Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in select states.

Proposed Changes to 2014 Medicare Advantage Payment Methodology and the Effect on Medicare Advantage Organizations and Beneficiaries - [PDF]

On February 15, 2013, CMS released its Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year 2014 Medicare Advantage (“MA”) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies.

AHIP Statement on New Survey Showing 90 Percent of Seniors Satisfied with Prescription Drug Coverage

America’s Health Insurance Plans’ (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni released the following statement in response to a new survey released today by Medicare Today and KRC Research which found that 90 percent of seniors are satisfied with their Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Seniors' Opinions About Medicare Rx: 7th Year Update - [PDF]

This annual survey conducted by KRC Research and Medicare Today tracks seniors' views toward the Medicare Part D program.

AHIP Testimony for House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on Medicare Advantage - [PDF]

AHIP Statement on Medicare Advantage

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni released the following statement on the announcement today by the Department of Health and Human Services that enrollment in Medicare Advantage is projected to increase by 11 percent in the next year and premiums will remain steady.

Health Literacy and America’s Health Insurance Plans: Laying the Foundation and Beyond - [PDF]

Increasingly, stakeholders across the health care system have recognized the important linkage between health literacy and health status. America’s Health Insurance Plans’ new publication summarizes the health literacy programs of 27 member companies and describes their commitment to providing consumers with information on their health and benefits that can be easily understood and used to good advantage.

AHIP Statement on Affordable Prescription Drug Coverage for Seniors

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni released the following statement today in reaction to the announcement by CMS that Medicare Part D premiums in 2013 will remain steady for the third straight year.

AHIP Medicaid Chartpack - [PDF]

Low-Income & Minority Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage Plans, 2010 - [PDF]

New data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) show that Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare’s private comprehensive health plans, continue to be a vital source of coverage for low-income and minority beneficiaries in 2010.

Hospital Readmission Rates in Medicare Advantage Plans - [PDF]

Based on a large sample of administrative claims data, this study measured 30-day readmission rate for hospitalized Medicare Advantage (MA) patients of 14.5% (per admission) in the 2006-2008 period.  After adjustments for readmission risk and disability entitlement status, the MA readmission rate was about 13% to 20% lower than that in Medicare’s traditional fee-for-service (FFS) program.  Benchmark measurements of readmission rates among MA patients can help provide an impetus for additional reductions in both MA and FFS Medicare.

New Study in AJMC Provides Further Evidence of the Effectiveness of MA Plans in Addressing One of the Most Pressing Problems in Health Care Today

As the nation continues to focus on the crucial patient safety implications of avoiding preventable hospital readmissions, a new study contributes fresh evidence to the mounting body of work indicating that hospital readmission rates are lower in Medicare Advantage (MA) than in Medicare fee-for-service (FFS). 

Medicare Advantage: Improving Health Care Quality - [PDF]

This analysis confirms that MA plans deliver effective and consistent care for a number of important procedures at higher rates compared to the traditional FFS program. Seniors and Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities, especially those with high-risk conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, and depression, can rest assured knowing that they can rely on their MA plan to successfully provide access to care and the services they need to live better lives.

AHIP Statement on More Affordable Prescription Drug Coverage for Seniors

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni released the following statement today in reaction to the announcement by CMS that Medicare Part D premiums for 2012 have declined slightly from 2011.

Capitol Hill Briefing on Access and Quality in Medicaid Managed Care

AHIP hosted a Capitol Hill briefing on how Medicaid health plans improve access and quality of care for beneficiaries while providing cost savings to states. The briefing featured presentations from four Medicaid health plan executives.

Medicaid Health Plan Enrollment and Participation Trends, May 2011

This report by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) analyzes enrollment and participation trends in Medicaid managed care plans. Of the 50.5 million Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide, 23.9 million were enrolled in a Medicaid health plan as of June 30, 2009, an increase of 2.4 million since 2008.

USA Today: States turn to private insurance companies for managed care

Kaiser Health News/USA Today examine how states are turning to Medicaid managed care plans to provide care for long-term care patients.

Low-Income & Minority Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage Plans, 2008 - [PDF]

New data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) show that Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare’s private comprehensive health plans, were a vital source of coverage for low-income and minority beneficiaries in 2008.

AHIP Statement on Medicare Advantage

Reductions in Medicare Advantage Payments: The Impact on Seniors by Region - [PDF]

Heritage Foundation backgrounder on the impact of new Medicare Advantage cuts included in the ACA, which states that these cuts “will restrict senior citizens and the disabled to fewer and worse health care choices, reducing their access to quality health care.”

Medicare Advantage is Reducing Preventable Hospital Readmissions for Seniors

A new analysis of federal and state government data provides further evidence that seniors in Medicare Advantage have lower risk-adjusted hospital readmission rates than patients in Medicare’s traditional fee-for-service (FFS) program, according to a report released today by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).

Estimated Financial Effects of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” as Amended - [PDF]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services Chief Actuary Rick Foster released an analysis of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which concluded that cuts to Medicare Advantage would “result in less generous benefit packages” and that MA enrollment would be 50 percent lower than previous projections.

Comparison of Projected Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Plans - [PDF]

The Congressional Budget Office released its latest projections on the impact new cuts to Medicare Advantage will have on the millions of seniors enrolled in the program. CBO is projecting MA enrollment will decline from 11.7 million enrollees in 2011 to 7.5 million in 2018.

AHIP Statement on Health Care Reform Legislation

Previous Medicare Advantage cuts caused seniors to lose their coverage

Following the Medicare Advantage cuts in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, millions of seniors across the country saw higher premiums, a reduction in benefits, and loss of coverage.

AHIP Statement on House Passage of H.R. 3962

Washington, DC - Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), released the following statement today on House passage of H.R. 3962.

AHIP Statement on Today's CMS Announcement

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni released the following statement today regarding the announcement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Medicare Advantage plans.

Seniors in Medicare Advantage Receive Higher Quality Care, New Reports Show

Seniors in Medicare Advantage spent fewer days in a hospital, were subject to fewer hospital re-admissions, and were less likely to have “potentially avoidable” admissions, for common conditions ranging from uncontrolled diabetes to dehydration, according to a new analysis of publicly available AHRQ data released today by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).

A New Government-Run Plan Would Impose Significant Financial Losses on California Hospitals

Washington, DC - Many California hospitals would face substantial net losses if there were a large scale shift of individuals with private coverage to a government-run plan that reimburses providers at Medicare rates or Medicare rates plus 10 percent, according to a new hospital-by-hospital analysis released today by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), based on data from California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).

Final AHIP Study -Medicaid Managed Care Cost Savings - [PDF]

In 2004, America’s Health Insurance Plans engaged The Lewin Group to synthesize existing research on the savings achieved when states have implemented Medicaid managed care programs. This report is an update of the 2004 report, and includes both studies from the previous report and studies that have been released since 2004.
 

Medicaid Health Plans: Adding Value for Beneficiaries and States - [PDF]

This synthesis of research by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) demonstrates that Medicaid health plans provide high quality accessible care to beneficiaries and value to states.

AHIP Statement on White House Health Care Summit

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, issued the following statement today on the White House Health Care Summit.

AHIP Statement on the President's Budget

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, issued the following statement today in response to the President’s budget.

AHIP Praises Enactment of SCHIP Reauthorization

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), today issued the following statement on enactment of legislation to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

AHIP Congratulates Senate on Passage of SCHIP

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), today issued the following statement commending the U.S. Senate for voting to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

AHIP Congratulates House on Passage of SCHIP

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), today issued the following statement commending the U.S. House of Representatives for voting to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Consumers and Employers Paying Almost $90 Billion Due to Under-Payments to Hospitals and Physicians by Medicare and Medicaid

Low Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals and physicians lead to significantly higher health insurance costs for consumers and employers, according to a study released today by Milliman Inc.

Health Plans Offer Comprehensive Reform Proposal

Health plans today offered a comprehensive health care reform proposal to achieve universal coverage, reduce the growth of health care costs, and improve the quality of medical care.

Health Plans Propose Guaranteed Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions and Individual Coverage Mandate

Health plans today proposed guaranteed coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions in conjunction with an enforceable individual coverage mandate.

AHIP Statement on New CMS Guidelines for Agent and Broker Commissions in Medicare Advantage

Washington, DC - Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), today issued the following statement on new guidelines announced by CMS on agent and broker compensation for Medicare Advantage plans.

AHIP: Low-Income and Minority Seniors Depend on Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage is an important coverage option for minority and low-income seniors, according to the latest data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS).

AHIP Statement on New CBO Report Showing that Senate Legislation will Cut Medicare Advantage Enrollment by 2.3 Million

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that Medicare legislation currently being considered in the U.S. Senate (H.R. 6331) would decrease enrollment in Medicare Advantage by about 2.3 million individuals over the next five years. Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) issued the following statement.

Seniors Mobilizing Against Medicare Advantage Cuts

Washington, DC - As Congress continues to pursue a solution to the Medicare physician payment issue, seniors from across the country are mobilizing over the July 4th recess to urge Congress to preserve their Medicare Advantage benefits. The Coalition for Medicare Choices, which consists of 400,000 seniors, has mobilized thousands of seniors across the country to call, write, email, and visit their representatives during the July 4th recess to express their opposition to cutting Medicare Advantage benefits.

AHIP Statement on House Passage of H.R. 6331

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives passage of H.R. 6331.

Seniors Oppose Cutting Medicare Advantage to Fund Physician Payment Fix

Washington, DC - Most seniors - regardless of whether they are enrolled in traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage - oppose cutting the Medicare Advantage program to fund the Medicare physician payment fix and believe cuts to Medicare Advantage will have a negative effect on seniors, a new survey finds. Conducted jointly by Ayres, McHenry & Associates and the Feldman Group on behalf of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the poll found that seniors in traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage generally agree about how to approach the physician payment issue.

AHIP Statement on CMS Proposed Medicare Marketing Regulations

In March, AHIP's Board of Directors advocated for stronger federal regulation and oversight of the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan marketing activities.Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued its new regulations.

Health Plans Highlight Value of Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans; Urge Congress to Extend Program

At a briefing today on Capitol Hill hosted by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), health plans showcased the value Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNP) provide to the most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries.  AHIP is urging Congress to extend the SNP program beyond 2009 and remove the existing moratorium on new SNPs and service areas to ensure beneficiaries with special needs have access to plans that are specifically tailored to address their issues.

Insurers Support Strengthened Federal Regulation and Oversight for Marketing to Medicare Beneficiaries

Yesterday, the Board of Directors of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) issued a call for additional federal regulation and oversight of the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan marketing activities. In adopting this statement, the AHIP Board has indicated its strong commitment to serving seniors in Medicare and to advocate that more be done through this process to advance consumer protections.

GAO Confirms That Medicare Advantage Yields Savings for Seniors

Medicare Advantage plans continue to provide high-value health care coverage to millions of seniors according to estimates and projections released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Innovations in Medicaid Managed Care

Health insurance plans are implementing a multitude of creative programs to improve quality and efficiency in Medicaid.

AHIP Report: Medicaid Managed Care Cost Savings - A Synthesis of Fourteen Studies - [PDF]

According to the Lewin Group's review of 14 studies, Medicaid managed care has saved states up to 19% compared with fee-for-service Medicaid.

Innovations in Medicaid Managed Care: Highlights of Health Plans’ Programs to Improve the Health and Well-Being of Medicaid Beneficiaries

In this report—an update to AHIP’s 2005 Innovations in Medicaid Managed Care book—we provide details about 17 health plan initiatives dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Medicaid beneficiaries.