Download or read book Savings Medicare Beneficiaries Need for Health Expenses written by Paul Fronstin and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 9 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper examines the amount of savings Medicare beneficiaries are projected to need to cover program deductibles, premiums and other health expenses in retirement. For the purposes of this study, health expenses include premiums for Medicare Parts B and D, premiums for Medigap Plan F, and out-of-pocket spending for outpatient prescription drugs. Data come from a variety of sources and are used in a Monte Carlo simulation model that simulates 100,000 observations, allowing for the uncertainty related to individual mortality and rates of return on assets in retirement. In 2016, a 65-year-old man would need $72,000 in savings and a 65-year-old woman would need $93,000 if each had a goal of having a 50 percent chance of having enough savings to cover health care expenses in retirement. If they wanted a 90 percent chance of having enough savings, the man would need $127,000 and the woman would need $143,000. A couple with median prescription drug expenses would need $165,000 if they had a goal of having a 50 percent chance of having enough savings to cover health care expenses in retirement. If they wanted a 90 percent chance of having enough savings, they would need $265,000. For a couple with drug expenses at the 90th percentile throughout retirement who wanted a 90 percent chance of having enough money saved for health care expenses in retirement by age 65, targeted savings would be $349,000 in 2016. From 2015 to 2016, projected savings targets increased between 0 percent and 6 percent. In contrast, savings targets declined between 2011 and 2014, but then they increased from 2014 to 2015 as well. Despite the increase in savings targets since 2014, the 2016 savings targets continue to be lower than they were in 2012 almost across the board. It is important to note that many individuals are likely to need more than the amounts cited in this report. This analysis does not factor in the savings needed to cover long-term care expenses and other expenses not covered by Medicare, nor does it take into account the fact that many individuals retire prior to becoming eligible for Medicare. However, some workers will need to save less than what is reported if they choose to work past age 65, thereby postponing enrollment in Medicare Parts B and D if they receive health benefits as active workers.
Download or read book Amount of Savings Needed for Health Expenses for People Eligible for Medicare written by Paul Fronstin and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper updates previous estimates by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) on savings needed to cover health insurance premiums and health care expenses in retirement. This report discusses the model used to estimate the amount of savings needed, the savings targets, and reasons for the recent increase in savings targets. This analysis does not factor in the savings needed to cover long-term care expenses. Medicare beneficiaries pay a share of their health expenses out-of-pocket because of program deductibles and other cost sharing. In 2015, a 65-year-old man needs $68,000 in savings and a 65-year-old woman needs $89,000 if each has a goal of having a 50 percent chance of having enough money saved to cover health care expenses in retirement. If either instead wants a 90 percent chance of having enough savings, $124,000 is needed for a man and $140,000 is needed for a woman. Savings targets increased from 6-21 percent between 2014 and 2015. For a married couple both with drug expenses at the 90th percentile throughout retirement who want a 90 percent chance of having enough money saved for health care expenses in retirement by age 65, targeted savings increased from $326,000 in 2014 to $392,000 in 2015. The main reason for the increase in needed savings is related to the adjustment that is made each year to rebaseline out-of-pocket spending associated with prescription drug use. As a result of the rebaselining, data on out-of-pocket spending for prescription drugs for 2012 and beyond have increased. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is reducing cost sharing in the Medicare Part D coverage gap or so-called “donut hole.” By 2020, coinsurance in the coverage gap will be phased in to 25 percent. This year-to-year reduction in coinsurance will continue to reduce the savings needed for health care expenses in retirement, all else equal, for individuals with the highest drug use, which is one reason why this analysis finds past reductions in needed savings for health care expenses in retirement. Improvements in the outlook for growth in premiums related to the Medicare program also contributed to past declines in savings targets. However, more recently, these declines were offset by larger increases in out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs as a result of rebaselining.
Download or read book Amount of Savings Needed for Health Expenses for People Eligible for Medicare written by Paul Fronstin and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper updates previous estimates by the Employee Benefit Research Institute on savings needed to cover health insurance premiums and health care expenses in retirement. Much like EBRI's 2012 report, this analysis finds that the savings targets for a 65-year-old retiring in 2013 were not higher than the savings targets for a 65-year-old in the previous year. In fact, these particular savings targets have continued to fall, with the decline ranging from 6-11 percent. This report discusses the model, the savings targets, and continued reasons for the decline in savings targets. In 2010, Medicare covered 62 percent of the cost of health care services for Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older, while out-of-pocket spending accounted for 12 percent, and private insurance covered 13 percent. Individuals can expect to pay a greater share of their costs out-of-pocket in the future because of the combination of the financial condition of the Medicare program and cutbacks to employment-based retiree health programs. Because women have longer life expectancies than men, women will generally need larger savings than men to cover health insurance premiums and health care expenses in retirement post-65 when examining needed savings regardless of the savings targets. In 2013, a man would need $65,000 in savings and a woman would need $86,000 if each had a goal of having a 50 percent chance of having enough money saved to cover health care expenses in retirement. If either instead wanted a 90 percent chance of having enough savings, $122,000 would be needed for a man and $139,000 would be needed for a woman. Savings targets declined between 6 percent and 11 percent between 2012 and 2013 for a person or couple age 65. For a married couple both with drug expenses at the 90th percentile throughout retirement who wanted a 90 percent chance of having enough money saved for health care expenses in retirement by age 65, targeted savings fell from $387,000 in 2012 to $360,000 in 2013. The PDF for the above title, published in the October 2013 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another October 2013 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “IRA Asset Allocation, 2011.”
Download or read book Savings Needed for Health Expenses for People Eligible for Medicare written by Paul Fronstin and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper provides estimates for savings needed to cover health insurance to supplement Medicare and out-of-pocket expenses for health care services in retirement. Medicare generally covers only about 60 percent of the cost of health care services (not including long-term care) for Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older, while out-of-pocket spending accounts for 13 percent. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) reduces cost sharing in the Part D “donut hole” down to 25 percent by 2020. This year-to-year reduction in coinsurance will continue to reduce savings needed for health care expenses in retirement, all else equal, for individuals with the highest prescription drug use. EBRI analysis finds 1-2 percent reductions in needed savings among individuals with median drug use and 4-5 percent reductions in needed savings among individuals at the 90th percentile in drug use since EBRI's 2011 analysis. A 65-year-old man would need $70,000 in savings and a woman would need $93,000 in 2012 if each had a goal of having a 50 percent chance of having enough money saved to cover health care expenses (excluding long-term care) in retirement. A 65-year-old couple, both with median drug expenses, would need $163,000 in 2012 to have a 50 percent chance of having enough money to cover health care expenses (excluding long-term care) in retirement, $227,000 to have a 75 percent chance of covering those expenses, and $283,000 to have a 90 percent chance of doing so. These estimates are 1-2 percent lower than the savings targets estimated in 2011. Many individuals will need more money than the amounts cited in this report because this analysis does not factor in the savings needed to cover long-term care expenses, nor does it take into account the fact that many individuals retire prior to becoming eligible for Medicare. However, some workers will need to save less than what is reported if they choose to work during retirement, thereby postponing enrollment in Medicare Parts B and D if they receive health benefits as active workers. Finally, issues surrounding retirement income security are certain to become an even greater challenge in the future as employers continue to scale back retiree health benefits and as policymakers begin to address financial shortfalls in the Medicare program with solutions that are likely to shift more responsibility for health care costs to Medicare beneficiaries. The PDF for the above title, published in the October 2012 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another October 2012 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “IRA Asset Allocation, 2010.”
Download or read book Funding Savings Needed for Health Expenses for Persons Eligible for Medicare written by Paul Fronstin and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Medicare Advantage Higher Spending Relative to Medicare Fee for Service May Not Ensure Lower Out of Pocket Costs for Beneficiaries written by James Cosgrove and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-06 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although private health plans were originally envisioned in the 1980s as a potential source of Medicare savings, such plans have generally increased program spending. In 2006, Medicare paid $59 billion to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans -- an estimated $7.1 billion more than Medicare would have spent if MA beneficiaries had received care in Medicare fee-for-service (FFS). MA plans receive a per member per month payment to provide services covered under Medicare FFS. For this testimony, the author examined MA plans¿: (1) projected allocation of rebates; (2) projected cost sharing; and (3) projected revenues and expenses. Charts and tables.
Download or read book Report to the Congress written by and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Choosing a Health Plan written by Charles E. Grassley and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2000-07 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Medicare written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Medicare Beneficiaries Out of pocket Spending for Health Care written by Claire Noel-Miller and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 8 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Medicare program pays for certain health care services for adults age 65 and older and for younger individuals with certain disabilities. The program pays a portion of costs for the inpatient and outpatient health care services beneficiaries receive, as well as prescription drugs. While Medicare is a vital program that helps older adults pay for needed health care services, it typically requires significant cost sharing from beneficiaries. This report assesses the out-of-pocket (OOP) spending burden on Medicare beneficiaries, using data from the most recent Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS), the 2007 Cost and Use File.
Download or read book Health and the War on Poverty written by Karen Davis and published by Brookings Institution Press. This book was released on 1978 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Monograph on health policy towards low income groups in the USA, with particular reference to the achievements of the federal health service programmes between 1965 and 1975 - describes conditions for eligibility to medical care programmes, examines public expenditure on health, medical care of the aged and of the handicapped (disabled person), etc. In poverty areas, and includes a methodology for measuring the contribution of medical care to health. References and statistical tables.
Download or read book Savings Needed for Health Expenses in Retirement written by Paul Fronstin and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper updates earlier EBRI research on estimated savings needed to cover health insurance to supplement Medicare and out-of-pocket expenses for health care services in retirement. It finds that men retiring at age 65 in 2009 will need anywhere from $68,000 to $173,000 in savings to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses in retirement if they want a 50-50 chance of being able to have enough money, and $134,000 to $378,000 if they prefer a 90 percent chance. With their greater longevity, women will need more: a woman retiring at age 65 in 2009 will need anywhere from $98,000 to $242,000 in savings to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses in retirement for a 50-50 chance of having enough money, and $164,000 to $450,000 for a 90 percent chance. For those seeking a median (50 percent) chance of having enough money for health care in retirement, these estimates are about 9 percent higher than a year ago for men and married couples, and 16 percent higher for single women. Many individuals will need more money than the amounts cited in this report because this analysis does not factor in the savings needed to cover long-term care expenses, nor does it take into account the fact that many individuals retire prior to becoming eligible for Medicare. However, some workers will need to save less than what is reported if they choose to work during retirement and receive health benefits as active workers. The PDF for the above title, published in the June 2009 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another June 2009 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Many 401(k) Sponsors Suspending Matching Contributions Are Funding Defined Benefit Pension Plans.”
Download or read book Reforming Medicare written by Henry Aaron and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2009-11-01 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Everyone agrees on the need to reform Medicare but not on how to do it. Some argue the program is too comprehensive, others that it is not comprehensive enough. Some suggest it pays too much for health care, others, too little. Meanwhile, the financial stakes continue to mount. Medicare spending exceeded $400 billion in 2007, making it more expensive than the entire health systems of most other nations, as well as the largest national public program other than Social Security and national defense. In R eforming Medicare, Henry J. Aaron and Jeanne M. Lambrew deftly guide readers through this complex debate. They identify and analyze the three leading approaches to reform. Updated social insurance would retain the current system while rationalizing coverage and reducing bureaucracy. Premium support would replace the current system with a capped, per-person payment that beneficiaries could use to buy health insurance. Consumer-directed Medicare would have beneficiaries pay for care up to a high deductible from government- supported savings accounts and offer premium-support coverage above the deductible. In addition to rating each option on its ability to promote access to health care, improve the quality of care, and control costs, the authors evaluate each reform's political strengths and weaknesses. Given the heat generated by the Medicare debate, it is unlikely that any single approach will be implemented in full. Consequently, Aaron and Lambrew describe incremental strategies that blend elements of each plan. Their analysis provides essential insight into the types of hybrid policies that Congress will consider in coming years.
Download or read book Fifth in Series on Medicare Reform written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means. Subcommittee on Health and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Potential Role for Employers Associations and Medical Savings Accounts in the Medicare Program written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means. Subcommittee on Health and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book A Place at the Table written by Marilyn Moon and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medicare is the federal health insurance program that offers coverage on equal terms to seniors and those with disabilities. The benefit package is uniform and premiums do not rise with age. As Marilyn Moon shows in this important work, however, the characteristics of older women make them extremely vulnerable to gaps in Medicare coverage and other features of the program. Because older women are more likely to suffer from multiple chronic illnesses than men, Medicare's failure to cover most outpatient prescription drugs affects them the most. Because women live longer on average than men and have lower incomes from pensions and other sources, they are less able to meet the out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare or supplemental insurance. Moon evaluates Medicare reform proposals with an eye to whether they would alleviate or worsen the existing position of women in Medicare. She argues that making Medicare benefits more comprehensive and simplifying the program's rules would improve the health of older women and reduce their financial burdens.
Download or read book Retooling for an Aging America written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-08-27 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the first of the nation's 78 million baby boomers begin reaching age 65 in 2011, they will face a health care workforce that is too small and woefully unprepared to meet their specific health needs. Retooling for an Aging America calls for bold initiatives starting immediately to train all health care providers in the basics of geriatric care and to prepare family members and other informal caregivers, who currently receive little or no training in how to tend to their aging loved ones. The book also recommends that Medicare, Medicaid, and other health plans pay higher rates to boost recruitment and retention of geriatric specialists and care aides. Educators and health professional groups can use Retooling for an Aging America to institute or increase formal education and training in geriatrics. Consumer groups can use the book to advocate for improving the care for older adults. Health care professional and occupational groups can use it to improve the quality of health care jobs.
