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New Election Poll Looks at Problems Paying for Health Care Due to Recent Economic Conditions
The new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 poll finds that one in four (24%) Americans continues to struggle with paying for health care. Health care ranks as a “serious problem” above paying for food (18%), problems with debt (16%), and paying the rent or mortgage (15%) and below paying for gas (37%) or getting a good paying job or raise in pay (26%). Groups disproportionately reporting problems paying for health care include the uninsured, the unemployed, those with household incomes under $30,000, and those in "fair" or "poor" health. The poll also examines public views of the major presidential candidates' positions on health care and reform. Generally, the public’s perception of Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama and Republican nominee Senator John McCain on health care issues indicates that Obama maintains the traditional advantage of his party on these issues. When asked who better represents their own personal health care views, nearly twice as many registered voters name Obama (42%) over McCain (24%).
Kaiser Study Examines Impact of "Doughnut Hole" On People Enrolled in Medicare Drug Plans
A new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation quantifies, for the first time, the number of Medicare Part D plan enrollees in 2007 who reached a gap in their prescription drug coverage known as the “doughnut hole,” as well as the changes in beneficiaries' use of medications and out-of-pocket spending after they reached that gap. The analysis excludes beneficiaries who receive low-income subsidies because they do not face a gap in coverage under their Medicare drug plan. The study finds that one in four (26 percent) Part D enrollees who filled any prescriptions in 2007 reached the coverage gap, relatively few of whom ultimately received catastrophic coverage. Applying this estimate to the entire population of Part D enrollees, the analysis suggests that about 3.4 million beneficiaries (14 percent of all Part D enrollees) reached the coverage gap and faced the full cost of their prescriptions in 2007. Conducted by researchers at Georgetown University, NORC at the University of Chicago, and Kaiser, the study found evidence of patients changing their use of prescription drugs when they are required to pay the full cost of medications in the coverage gap. Across eight classes of drugs examined – used to treat a variety of relatively common chronic conditions – 15 percent of Part D enrollees who reached the gap stopped their drug therapy for that condition, 5 percent switched to another medication in the class, and 1 percent reduced the number of drugs they were taking in the class.
Today’s Topics Live Webcast Discussed Race, Genetics and the Future of Personalized Medicine
Kaiser’s live, interactive webcast series, Today’s Topics In Health Disparities, discussed the potential of race-based medical solutions for improving health care and reducing racial/ethnic health disparities. The webcast on “Race and Genetics: The Future of Personalized Medicine” took a closer look at efforts to study the interaction between race, genetics and health. Panelists included Richard A. Levy, Ph.D., president, Levy Consulting, and former vice president for scientific affairs, National Pharmaceutical Council; Dorothy E. Roberts, J.D., Kirkland & Ellis Professor, Northwestern University Law School; and Clyde W. Yancy, M.D., medical director, Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute and chief, Cardiothoracic Transplantation, Baylor University Medical Center.. The discussion was moderated by Marsha Lillie-Blanton, Dr.P.H., Kaiser’s senior advisor on race, ethnicity and health care. An archived webcast, transcript and podcast are available online.
Today's Topics In Health Disparities - Race and Genetics: The Future of Personalized Medicine
Kaiser Family Foundation
 A podcast is also available.
Reforming the U.S. Health Care System: Supporting the Role of Individuals
Bipartisan Policy Center and the Dole Institute
A podcast is also available.
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