News for families planning care

A New Option for Long-Term Care Costs (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Washington state has launched the first program to help cover home care and other supports. Several other states are paying attention.

Key Facts About Medicare Spending Trends and Projections from the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief provides an overview of key trends in Medicare spending and spending growth, as well as the impact of these trends on out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries and Medicare program solvency, as projected by the Medicare Trustees in the 2026 Trustees Report.

Medicare Part D Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost Sharing in 2026 (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

The Medicare Part D program provides an outpatient prescription drug benefit to 56 million older adults and people with long-term disabilities in Medicare who enroll in private plans. This brief analyzes Medicare Part D enrollment, premiums, and cost sharing in 2026 and trends over time, based on da…

Medicare Advantage in 2026: Premiums, Out-of-Pocket Limits, Supplemental Benefits, and Prior Authorization (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief provides information about Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, including premiums, out-of-pocket limits, supplemental benefits, and prior authorization, as well as trends over time.

Medicare Advantage Out-of-Pocket Limits: Variation and Trends (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief analyzes out-of-pocket limits in Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, variation by plan type, the distribution of enrollees facing different out-of-pocket limits, and trends over time.

Key Facts About Health Care Affordability for People With Medicare (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief presents key facts and analysis about affordability of health care costs among people with Medicare, including younger adults with long-term disabilities, drawing on data from various sources.

Hospital Prices Have Risen Much Faster for Private Insurance Than Medicare Since 2019 (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

This brief compares the prices paid by private insurers for hospital care to increases in Medicare payment using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index (PPI), finding that hospital prices have risen much faster for private insurance than Medicare since 2019.

Part D Mail Order Prescription Drugs (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

Part D Retail Prescription Drugs (opens KFF — Medicare policy in a new tab)

Medigap Premiums Leap, and Consumers Have Few Alternatives (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Millions of people rely on the supplemental insurance to offset the deductibles, copayments, and other costs faced by enrollees in the traditional Medicare program.

Real Estate Investors Profit From Long-Term Care While Residents Languish (opens KFF Health News — Aging in a new tab)

Real estate investment trusts are landlords for thousands of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. Some select the managers and keep close watch over their performance but deny responsibility for bad care.