Thursday, June 15, 2023

Snapshot: How Complicated Are MediGap Plans

I believe the basic structure of Medigap plans evolved some years ago, but boy, it's complicated.  A current MEDPAC report to Congress talks about the complexity of choosing Medicare Advantage Plans.  But, it includes a table of the complexity of Medigap plans, too.

https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Jun23_Ch3_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf

click to enlarge

Find the 44 page Medicare Advantage report here:

https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Jun23_Ch3_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf


or see the full 500 page report with numerous topics:

https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Jun23_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf


For all voting topics (appendix), the MEDPAC commissioners voting was in every case unanimous. An exercise left to the reader - did the staff writing the 500 page report perfectly foresee the commissioners' views, or did the commissioners simply read and agree to everything the staff wrote.



MedPAC releases June 2023 report on Medicare and the health care delivery system

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has released its June 2023 Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System. Each June, as part of its mandate from the Congress, MedPAC reports on issues affecting the Medicare program as well as broader changes in health care delivery and the market for health care services. This report also satisfies two additional legislative mandates (telehealth in Medicare and an evaluation of a prototype design for a post-acute care prospective payment system) and a congressional request regarding behavioral health services in the Medicare program. You may go to our website at www.medpac.gov to view the 10 chapters of the report, or follow the links below.

News release
 

June 2023 Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System

Entire report 

Executive summary

 

Chapter 1:  Addressing high prices of drugs covered under Medicare Part B

Chapter 2:  Assessing postsale rebates for prescription drugs in Medicare Part D

Chapter 3:  Standardized benefits in Medicare Advantage plans

Chapter 4:  Favorable selection and future directions for Medicare Advantage payment policy

Chapter 5:  Disparities in outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries with different social risks

Chapter 6:  Congressional request: Behavioral health services in the Medicare program

Chapter 7:  Mandated report: Telehealth in Medicare

Chapter 8:  Aligning fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings

Chapter 9:  Reforming Medicare’s wage index systems

Chapter 10:  Mandated report: Evaluation of a prototype design for a post-acute care prospective payment


Appendix A:  Commissioners' voting on recommendations