title: Medicare+Choice--cost and funding issues for Medicare risk plans.
abstract: The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 contained the most important changes in Medicare since its inception in 1965. The most notable changes include Medicare+Choice, which includes existing Medicare risk programs. The author offers a brief summary of the history of Medicare and the changes that will impact employer/union service providers. Areas of discussion include typical Medicare risk benefit packages, a financial analysis of Medicare risk contractors and changes to risk contracting under the new law.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cosway
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002017:Budgets / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002204:Capitation Fee / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D020398:Medicare Part C / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D012179:Retirement / Q000191:economics; D020414:Risk Sharing, Financial; D014481:United States