Medicare Subvention: Challenges and Opportunities Facing a Possible VA Demonstration
Abstract
Most military retirees aged 65 and over are eligible for Medicarea federally financed health insurance program for the elderly, some disabled people, and people with end-stage kidney disease. Medicare covers about39 million beneficiaries and spends about $212 billion a year. Benefits Page 2 GAO/T-HEHS/GGD-99-159Medicare Subvention: Challenges and Opportunities Facing a Possible VA Demonstration include hospital, physician, and other services, such as home health and limited skilled nursing facility care. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) administers Medicare and regulates participating providers and health plans. Medicare was originally set up to reimburse private providers on a fee-for-service basis and to allow Medicare beneficiaries to choose their own providers without restriction. A newer option3 allows Medicare beneficiaries to choose among private, managed care health plans. Currently, 17 percent of beneficiaries use Medicare managed care. In fee-for-service Medicare, beneficiaries must pay a share of the costs for various services. Most Medicare managed care plans have only modest beneficiary cost-sharing, and many offer extra benefits, such as prescription drugs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- AD1169721
Entities
People
- Stephen P. Backhus
- William J. Scanlon
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office