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On the National Front 


On its 50th anniversary, more than 55 million Americans covered by Medicare

As Medicare and Medicaid celebrate their 50th anniversary protecting the health and well-being of millions of seniors, people with disabilities and low-income individuals, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released updated Medicare state-by-state enrollment numbers, showing that more than 55 million Americans are covered by Medicare.

In 1966, approximately 19.1 million Americans were covered by Medicare. In 2012, there were nearly 52 million beneficiaries covered by Medicare. Today’s enrollment numbers represent a three million person increase during the last three years as the Baby Boom generation has started to retire. Medicare beneficiaries depend on the program to provide critical health services such as preventive services, including flu shots and diabetes screenings, hospital stays, lab tests and critical supplies like wheelchairs and prescription drugs.

"Over the last 50 years, Medicare has become part of the fabric of our communities, protecting the well-being and financial security of millions of American families as they age or if they become disabled. In doing so, Medicare has kept up with dramatic demographic changes and led the charge toward improving health care delivery," said Andy Slavitt, CMS acting administrator. "As we preserve and advance Medicare for future generations, we are focused on helping build a better system with smarter spending that keeps people healthier."

CMS also releases state-by-state Medicaid enrollments on a monthly basis. As of May 2015, over 71.6 million individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) with 12.8 million more gaining coverage since 2013. More information is available on Medicaid.gov.

To view enrollment as of May 2015 in Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Part D (prescription drug plans), please click here.

CMS Continues to Implement the Premium Stabilization Programs

The Affordable Care Act creates the risk adjustment, reinsurance and risk corridors programs (referred to as the premium stabilization programs), the cost-sharing reductions program, and Marketplace affordability programs such as advance payments of the premium tax credit. These programs are designed to provide consumers with affordable health insurance coverage, to reduce incentives for health insurance issuers to avoid enrolling sicker people, and to stabilize premiums in the individual and small group health insurance markets inside and outside the Marketplaces. Specifically, these programs are:

  • Reducing the incentives for health insurance issuers to avoid enrolling people with pre-existing conditions: The permanent risk adjustment program will assist health plans that provide coverage to individuals with higher health care costs and will help ensure that those who are sick have access to the coverage they need.
  • Stabilizing premiums in the individual market for health insurance: The transitional reinsurance program is a three-year program designed to reduce premiums and ensure market stability for issuers and thereby reduce premiums for enrollees in the individual market to ensure market stability with the implementation of new consumer protections in 2014.
  • Protecting health insurance issuers against uncertainty in setting premium rates:  The temporary risk corridors program protects qualified health plans from uncertainty in rate setting from 2014 to 2016 by having the Federal government share risk in losses and gains.
  • Assisting low and moderate-income Americans in affording health insurance on the Marketplaces: Advance payments of the premium tax credit will help eligible individuals pay their premiums and make coverage purchased through a Marketplace affordable for low- and middle-income consumers. The cost-sharing reduction program will further reduce the out-of-pocket spending for health services for low- and middle-income individuals, and Indians.

Click here for more information.


Kaiser Health News » The Health Law

Viewpoints: The Role Of High-Priced Drugs In The Nation’s Health Care Spending; Ushering In A New Age Of Preventive Health Care

Burwell: No Evidence Of Fraudulent Obamacare Enrollments

Forecast: National Health Care Spending To Accelerate

Viewpoints: The Health Law At Work In Calif.; ‘Prescription’ For Social Security Disability Insurance


The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation: Health Reform Source

Mapping the Effects of the ACA's Health Insurance Coverage Expansions

How Do Health Insurance Exchanges Work?

Implementation Timeline

Summary of the New Health Reform Law

Information from the White House (www.whitehouse.gov)

The Health Care Law & You from healthcare.gov

NEW: It may not be too late....

You may be able to get coverage outside of open enrollment. Click here for more information

Enroll America

Check out this video from Get Covered America: 
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  • Home
    • About HCSEF
    • About Navigate PBC
    • Services We Provide
    • Contact Us
  • Learning Center
    • PowerPoint Trainings
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  • News & Events
    • News >
      • State and Local Updates
      • On the National Front / The Affordable Care Act Updates
      • Program Updates
    • Events & Meetings >
      • Navigate PBC Regional Symposium >
        • Lighthouse Award
        • 2016 Navigate PBC Symposium
        • 2014 Navigate PBC Symposium
        • 2013 Navigate PBC Symposium
      • Alliance Meetings >
        • Quarterly Alliance Meeting
        • Meeting Materials
      • Trainings / Webinars >
        • Upcoming Trainings
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  • Resource Hub
    • Informational Sheets & Forms
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