For over 50 years, the Medicare program has provided health care coverage to older adults, as well as qualifying people with disabilities or certain health conditions. Today this federal program covers over 63 million people in the United States. Enrollment in the Medicare program has steadily increased in recent years as a growing number of adults age into the program. As enrollment continues to climb, so has Medicare spending.
Federal policymakers in Congress and the administration are key stewards of the Medicare program. This series will provide foundational education about the mechanisms of the Medicare program to help decision-makers and other stakeholders consider the tradeoffs of policy options to promote Medicare sustainability. Panelists will explore the implications of policy options for the delivery system, beneficiaries, and the overall financial health of the Medicare program.
This session helped attendees consider the implications of policy options to promote Medicare sustainability. Panelists explored trends in Medicare spending; introduced key concepts related to Medicare financing and solvency; and explored the implications of policy options to promote Medicare sustainability.
This session provided insight into the Medicare population, enrollment trends, and affordability considerations for beneficiaries in traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
During this session, panelists reviewed the basic mechanisms of the Medicare program, with specific focus on traditional Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medicare Advantage (Part C).