Transcript Slide 1

Why Does the Government Produce
Health Insurance?
• In the Medicare and Medicaid programs,
the government acts as a producer of
health insurance
– For certain segments of the U.S. society
• Elderly people, some disadvantaged groups, and
people with certain disabilities
– As a producer, the government:
• Collects the tax and/or premium revenues
• Bears some residual risk
• Establishes the reimbursement paid to health care
providers
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The Medicare Program
• Objective
– Improve access to medical care for elderly
people by underwriting a portion of their
medical expenditures
• Eligibility
– Age 65 and older
– Individuals with end stage renal disease
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The Medicare Program
• Four distinct components:
– Part A, Hospital insurance program
• Covers inpatient hospital services, some types of
post-hospital care, hospice care
– Part B, Supplementary Medical Insurance
(SMI) program
• Provides benefits for physician services, outpatient
medical services, emergency room services and a
variety of other services
• Voluntary and requires a monthly premium to
participate
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distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.
The Medicare Program
– Part C, Medicare Advantage (MA) program,
• Gives individuals the opportunity to participate in
private health insurance plans
– Part D
• Voluntary for most individuals
• For dually eligible Medicaid/Medicare individuals it
is mandatory
• Offers Medicare beneficiaries prescription drug
benefits for a heavily subsidized monthly premium
(c) 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.
The Financing and Cost of
Medicare
• Financed
– By the federal government
– Sources of fund:
• Payroll tax
• Interest income emanating from the Federal
Hospital Insurance Trust Fund
• Rise in Medicare expenses through the
years can be attributed to an:
– Increase in the number of enrollees
– Increase in reimbursement per enrollee
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distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.
Figure 10.1 - Receipts for the
Hospital Insurance Program, 2006
Taxation
of benefits
6%
Interest 8%
Other
2%
Payroll tax,
84%
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Social
Security Administration. Annual Statistical Supplement, 2011.
(c) 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.
The Financing and Cost of
Medicare
• Medicare Part A
– Intent is to provide insurance coverage for
short-term hospital stays
– Enrollment is compulsory
• Part B, SMI
– Enrollment is voluntary
– Heavily subsidized premium
• Monthly premium is set below the expected
benefits
– Modest annual deductible
– 20 percent coinsurance rate
(c) 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.
Figure 10.2 - Receipts for the Supplementary
Medical Insurance Program, 2010
Interest &
Other 3%
Premiums
21%
Government
Contributions
76%
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Social
Security Administration. Annual Statistical Supplement, 2011.
(c) 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.
Medicare Program Reforms
• MMA of 2003 established Part D of
Medicare
– Medicare beneficiaries have two options to
obtain prescription drug coverage
• Remain in the traditional Medicare program under
Part A and purchase a private stand-alone
prescription drug plan
• Join an MA plan that offers medical and
prescription drug coverage
(c) 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.
Figure 10.3 - Coinsurance Rate for the Standard
Benefit Package Under Part D of Medicare for 2008
100%
Percentage of
drug
expenditures
paid by
beneficiary
Doughnut
hole
Catastrophic
coverage
Deductible
25%
5%
$320
$2,930
$6,657.50
Total drug expenditures
(c) 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.