Medicare:

Comparison of Catastrophic Health Insurance Proposals

HRD-87-92BR: Published: Jun 19, 1987. Publicly Released: Jul 6, 1987.

Additional Materials:

Contact:

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed 14 legislative proposals that would provide coverage of catastrophic health care costs to determine the potential effects on Medicare beneficiaries.

GAO found that: (1) the bills would either place a limit on beneficiary liability for Medicare deductibles and coinsurance or attempt to provide for some of the costs not currently covered under Medicare; (2) the bills would apply catastrophic dollar limits only to physician services and hospital care; (3) most of the bills would leave the elderly at risk of high out-of-pocket costs, since they would provide limited protection for nursing home and home health care; (4) supplemental Medigap insurance policies cover only deductible and coinsurance for Medicare-covered services at the Medicare-approved rate; (5) most of the proposals would not relieve Medicare beneficiaries of their out-of-pocket physician charges; (6) of the 14 proposals, 9 would establish a catastrophic dollar limit above which the beneficiary would no longer be liable for Medicare deductibles; (7) although increasing health insurance coverage for the elderly would provide relief from high out-of-pocket expenses, it would also increase Medicare payments; and (8) the bills that would provide extensive protection propose a variety of methods to spread the costs over either all Medicare beneficiaries or all taxpayers.

Mar 3, 2021

Mar 1, 2021

Feb 24, 2021

Feb 17, 2021

Feb 11, 2021

Feb 5, 2021

Jan 28, 2021

Jan 21, 2021

Looking for more? Browse all our products here