title: Medicare HMO exodus: system correction or prediction?
abstract: In a blow to seniors, numerous HMOs made a hasty withdrawal from the Medicare market, citing increased costs and inadequate federal reimbursement. This action forced more than 400,000 Medicare recipients to scramble for health coverage. In some parts of the country, coverage through a managed care plan may not be available, resulting in higher out-of-pocket costs. Even more disconcerting is the potential loss of added non-Medicare benefits, such as prescription drugs, eyeglasses, and dental care for those who return to traditional Medicare. Policymakers at all levels are searching for solutions to this disruption in health care delivery. Events such as this demonstrate the critical relationship between the mechanism of financing and service delivery.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Benjamin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003657:Decision Making; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000639:trends; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D020398:Medicare Part C / Q000191:economics*; D011050:Policy Making; D011907:Rate Setting and Review; D014481:United States