Trends and Innovations in Chronic Disease Prevention & Treatment: An Update on Medicare Advantage Plans
An overview of key trends in chronic care, highlighting Medicare Advantage plans' recent innovations.

Health Affairs Marketwatch--Medigap Coverage and Medicare Spending: A Second Look (Full Report; Policy Brief)
New study shows Medigap coverage may have a smaller impact on Medicare spending than previously thought.

Trends in Medigap Policies, December 2004 to December 2006
Number of Medigap Policyholders Has Remained Steady in Recent Years

Individual Health Insurance 2006-2007: A Comprehensive Survey of Premiums, Availability, and Benefits
The latest in a series of AHIP surveys shows that the market for individually purchased coverage is more affordable and accessible than may be widely known.

AHIP Releases Guaranteed Access Proposal for the Individual Market

A Survey of Preventive Benefits in Health Savings Account (HSA) Plans, July 2007
Most HSA Plans Provide First-Dollar Coverage for Recommended Preventive Care

Health Insurance: Overview and Economic Impact in the States
A compendium of reference information on health insurance in the states.

A New Generation of Behavioral Health Coverage: Perspectives from Interviews with Medical Leaders
A snapshot of health insurance plans' latest tools to promote excellence in behavioral health care.

Who Buys Long-Term Care Insurance? A 15-Year Study of Buyers and Non-Buyers
While people continue to purchase LTC insurance for multiple reasons, in 2005, the single most important reason for purchase was to protect assets.

AHIP Quality and Safety Proposal
AHIP advances a new national strategy to improve health care quality and patient safety.

January 2007 Census Shows 4.5 Million People Covered by HSA/High-Deductible Health Plans (Full Report; Slides)
Health Savings Account/HDHP enrollment continues to grow in both the Individual and Group Markets.

Innovations in Chronic Care
A compendium of health plan programs to improve quality of life for members with cancer, chronic pain, depression, asthma, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, and to address obesity among children and adults.

Low-Income and Rural Beneficiaries with Medigap Coverage, 2004 (Overview; Full Report)
Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey serve as a reminder of the critical role played by Medigap coverage, especially for low- and moderate-income beneficiaries, and those living in rural areas.

Low-Income and Minority Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage Plans, 2004 (Overview; Full Report)
Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey show that Medicare Advantage plans were a vital source of coverage for low-income beneficiaries.

Long-Term Care Partnerships: New Choices for Consumers -- Potential Savings for Federal and State Government
As more people purchase private LTC Partnership policies, the long-run outlook for Medicaid costs will improve.

Health Cost Trend Remains Stable at 7-8 Percent (Full Report; Slides)

Overall health costs have stabilized at an annual growth rate of about 7.5 percent, according to the Center for Studying Health System Change. Meanwhile, several surveys report that premiums or costs for employer-based coverage rose by between 6 and 8 percent in 2006.

AHIP Releases Proposal to Expand Health Insurance Coverage.
AHIP Federal Access Proposal
AHIP State Reform Principles
Survey of Americans on AHIP Health Coverage Access Proposals
Webcast
Universal Health Accounts: A Portable Mechanism to Expand Access

Universal Health Accounts: A Portable Mechanism to Expand Access
A closer look at a key component of AHIP's access proposal.

A Survey of Medigap Enrollment Trends, July 2006

AHIP member survey tracks enrollment in Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) Insurance coverage from January 2003 to July 2006.

Small Group Health Insurance in 2006: A Comprehensive Survey of Premiums, Consumer Choices, and Benefits (Full Report; Slides)

A comprehensive survey of member companies offering coverage in the small group health insurance market, with premium and benefit data from more than 650,000 small groups covering 4 million workers and 3.2 million dependents.

HSAs and Account-Based Health Plans

An Overview of Preliminary Research

An Updated Survey of Health Care Claims Receipt and Processing Times

Electronic submission of health insurance claims more than tripled in the last decade, reducing administrative costs and allowing 98 percent of claims to be processed within 30 days of receipt.

January 2006 Census Shows 3.2 Million People Covered By HSA Plans (Full Report; Summary; Slides)

A census of AHIP members shows enrollment in Health Savings Account (HSA) Plans tripled in ten months

An Analysis of the Recommendations of the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform

Update on State External Review Programs

This report provides an analysis of publicly available data from state external review programs operating in 2003 and 2004.

Innovations in Health Information Technology

An in-depth report on health insurance plans' latest IT solutions in areas such as e-prescribing, digital radiology, online decision support, electronic health records (EHRs), and personal health records (PHRs).

Individual Health Insurance: A Comprehensive Survey of Affordability, Access, and Benefits

A comprehensive survey of AHIP members shows that individually purchased major medical insurance was more affordable and accessible than may be widely known, and offered a broad array of benefits.

Guide to Health Care Spending Accounts

Answers to frequently asked questions about HSAs, HRAs, FSAs, and MSAs

Health Cost Trend Stabilized at About 8 Percent in 2004

The Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) estimates that growth in prescription drug spending declined to about 7 percent in 2004. Meanwhile, spending for hospital care and outpatient surgical and diagnostic services grew by 10 percent.

Low-Income and Rural Beneficiaries with Medigap Coverage, 2002 (Full Report; Summary)

Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey serve as a reminder of the critical role played by Medigap coverage, especially for low- and moderate-income beneficiaries, and those living in rural areas.

Low-Income and Minority Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage Plans, 2002 (Full report; Summary)

Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey show that Medicare Advantage plans were a vital source of coverage for low-income beneficiaries.

Number of HSA Plans Exceeded One Million in March 2005 (Full Report; Summary; Slides)

A census of AHIP members shows enrollment in Health Savings Account (HSA) plans doubled in six months.

Commentary: A Cautionary Note on the Number of Health-Related Bankruptcies

The research in Health Affairs doesn't come close to supporting claims that half of all bankruptcies are "caused" by medical debts.

Medicaid Innovations

Health insurance plans are implementing a multitude of creative programs to improve quality and efficiency in Medicaid.

Perspective: Administrative Costs of Private Health Insurance Plans

Over the last four decades, the administrative costs of private health insurance have remained steady at about 12 percent.

Health Savings Accounts Off To a Fast Start in the Individual Market (Full Report; Slides)

Preliminary data from AHIP members show 438,000 people covered by September 2004.

Comparison of Tax Advantaged Health Care Spending Accounts

This comprehensive comparison chart provides an overview, as well as detailed features of Archer MSAs, HSAs, FSAs, HRAs.

Center for Studying Health System Change Identifies Hospital Prices as a Key Cost Driver; Rx Drug Spending Slowing

Health cost trends have moderated, but still outpace economic growth.

CBO's Analysis of Potential Savings from Disease Management Programs in Medicare

The latest data indicate that disease management programs can reduce the overall cost of health care, in addition to improving quality and patient outcomes.

AHIP Report: "Medicaid Managed Care Cost Savings - A Synthesis of Fourteen Studies"

According to the Lewin Group's review of 14 studies, Medicaid managed care has saved states up to 19% compared with fee-for-service Medicaid.

A Look at the U.S. Group Dental Market: Trends and Opportunities

This survey report explores a variety of topics: benefit provisions, managed dental plans, dual choice or employee benefit choice dental plans, underwriting, technology, and distribution methods.

Research Findings: Long Term Care Insurance in 2002

This survey measures the growth of the long-term care insurance industry and monitors the evolution of long-term care insurance products.

A Chartbook of Findings: 2002 AHIP Survey of Health Insurance Plans

This chartbook contains findings from the 2002 AHIP Survey of Health Insurance Plans conducted by AHIP. The report covers timely issues such as: prevention and wellness services, disease management, mental health services, patient safety, e-commerce.