Medicare

Comparison of Catastrophic Health Insurance Proposals--An Update Gao ID: HRD-88-19BR October 16, 1987

GAO updated its report on proposed legislation to relieve elderly Medicare beneficiaries from out-of-pocket catastrophic health care expenses.

GAO found that two newly proposed bills would: (1) place an upper limit on beneficiary liability for certain Medicare deductibles and coinsurance; (2) cap physician services, hospital care, and skilled nursing facility coinsurance during the first 150 days, and add Medicare coverage for prescription drugs and in-home care; (3) still leave the elderly at risk of high out-of-pocket expenses for nursing home care, home health care, and other services that Medicare does not cover; and (4) not cover physician expenses in excess of the Medicare-determined reasonable charge rates. GAO believes that, although: (1) the bills would represent an important step in increasing available health insurance coverage for the elderly, significant gaps would remain; and (2) other proposed legislation would cover some of the gaps, the additional relief would increase Medicare costs.



The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.