Medicare HMOs: Potential Effects of a Limited Enrollment Period Policy

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed how a limited enrollment period would affect the Medicare program, private health plans, beneficiaries, and employers who provide Medicare supplemental benefits to retirees, focusing on: (1) the growth of Medicare's managed care program; (2) employers' attempts to administer their respective benefits seasons; (3) taxpayer savings measured against beneficiary protections; and (4) the resources needed by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which runs Medicare's day-to-day operations.