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Quick Health Facts 2008: A Compilation of Selected State Data / Research Report
April 2008— This publication provides a snapshot of each state’s health care landscape by providing comparable state-level and national data for over 30 indicators. Data are presented for each state and the District of Columbia in regard to demographics, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance coverage. Limited data are presented for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (68 pages) (Publication ID: D18971)

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States / Research Report
March 2008— Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current population Surveys, this series of annual AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheets by Ke Bin Wu has been reporting the income, poverty and health Insurance status of Americans of all ages since 1995.

What Do the New Auto Industry VEBAs Mean for Current and Future Retirees? / Research Report
March 2008— As health care costs increase, new auto industry agreements have substantially changed the terms of the retiree health care deal for UAW retirees. Beginning in 2010, the three U.S. automakers will no longer provide health benefits to retirees but will contribute nearly $60 billion to so-called VEBAs. A new PPI "Insight on the Issues" report by Ellen O’Brien describes the VEBAs and what they mean for retirees. (17 pages) (Publication ID: I4)

Opinions of Pennsylvanians Age 50+ on Health Care Reform / Research Report
March 2008— The opinions of Pennsylvania’s 50+ population on health care reform were assessed in this AARP survey, as well as their experiences and concerns relative to health care access and costs. A majority of the respondents are ready for change, supporting several reform proposals. (20 pages)

Minnesota Health Care: A Study of Current Challenges and the Support for State Reform / Research Report
March 2008— Although AARP members in Minnesota are more likely to be insured than those ages 50-64 in the general population, a recent survey shows that member concern around this issue is great and that they expect it to be addressed by the Governor and State Legislature. (19 pages)

South Dakota Health Care: Accessible and Affordable for All / Research Report
February 2008— Access to health care, cost of services, insurance coverage, and financial responsibility for health care are all concerns of AARP members in South Dakota, according to a September-October 2007 survey about health care reform. (18 pages)

Ohio Health Care: A Study of Current Challenges and the Support for State Reform / Research Report
February 2008— Ohio residents believe that the Ohio health care system needs improvement, are concerned about future health care costs, and feel that access and affordability of health care should be top priorities for the Governor and State Legislature, according to a December 2007 telephone survey. (27 pages)

2007-2008 AARP Key Legislative Priorities: A Survey of Likely Voters in North Carolina / Research Report
July 2007— Likely Tar Heel State voters’ thoughts about six issues important to AARP, which are being considered by the North Carolina General Assembly during its 2007-08 session, are examined in this March 2007 telephone survey of 626 voters with a history of having voted in general elections in the last three years. (12 pages)

Long-Term Care Insurance / Fact Sheet
June 2007— Without private insurance or public program coverage, the high cost of long-term care (LTC) is unaffordable for most Americans. This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Enid Kassner provides an overview of private LTC insurance, including who buys it, how much it costs, important attributes of policies, and tax implications. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS7R)

Health Coverage among 50- to 64-Year-Olds / Research Report
May 2007— These AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digests explore how Americans age 50-64 get health coverage, how coverage shifts with retirement, and characteristics of those who buy their own coverage or are uninsured.

FYI: Characteristics of Uninsured 50- to 64-Year-Olds in California / Research Report
May 2007— Various characteristics of uninsured Californians age 50 to 64 are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute report by Gerry Smolka, Leigh Purvis and Carlos Figueiredo. (6 pages) (Publication ID: FYI)

FYI: Characteristics of Uninsured 50- to 64-Year-Olds in Wisconsin / Research Report
May 2007— Various characteristics of uninsured Wisconsin residents age 50 to 64 are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute report by Gerry Smolka, Leigh Purvis and Carlos Figueiredo. (4 pages) (Publication ID: FYI)

FYI: Characteristics of Uninsured and Underinsured 50- to 64-Year-Olds / Research Report
May 2007— These AARP Public Policy Institute papers provide a snapshot of the employment status, income, out-of-pocket health expenditures, health status, and health spending burdens of Americans age 50–64 who are uninsured or underinsured.

Access to Physicians Survey / Research Report
February 2007— How the medical care experiences, reactions and satisfaction levels of those between ages 50 and 64 who have private health insurance compare with the experiences of those age 65+ covered by Medicare is examined in this February 2006 AARP telephone survey of 2,010 age 50+ Americans. (23 pages)

The State of 50+ America 2007 / Research Report
January 2007— AARP’s fourth annual “report card” on the quality of life of age 50+ Americans finds them somewhat better off now than a few years ago, but there is still much room for improvement. The report examines changes in various economic, health, social and lifestyle indicators over the most recent year, as well as multi-year periods. (60 pages) (Publication ID: D18779)

AARP Election Watch 2006: Pulse of a Generation / Research Report
November 2006— Of 1,500 age 42+ likely voters surveyed between October 23rd and 29th, 2006 by AARP, 83 percent are seriously considering the rising budget deficit in their voting decisions, and 76 percent are likely to vote for candidates supporting increased domestic spending while 47 percent favor and 40 percent oppose creating a national sales tax to fund healthcare for children and the uninsured.

Methodological Issues in Estimating Prescription Drug Coverage Using The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey / Research Report
October 2006— Various methods used for estimating the prescription drug coverage of Medicare beneficiaries are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Becky Briesacher and colleagues who conclude that the greater consistency and transparency of a standardized approach are needed to eliminate present – and prevent future – discrepancies. (30 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-21)

Health Insurance Coverage and Costs at Older Ages: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study / Research Report
September 2006— How changes in employer retiree health plans are affecting individuals is analyzed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Richard W. Johnson of the Urban Institute. Health coverage and costs among early retirees and those on Medicare, and the role played by employer-sponsored retiree health benefits are examined. (67 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-20)

In Brief: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule and Patient Access to Medical Records / Research Report
February 2006— This In Brief, based on the PPI Issue Paper of the same title, describes the provisions of the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which grants patients access to their medical records (paper and electronic). (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB114)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule and Patient Access to Medical Records / Research Report
February 2006— This PPI Issue Paper, written by Beth Tossell, Emily Stewart, and Janlori Goldman of the Health Privacy Project, describes the provisions of the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which grants patients access to their medical records (paper and electronic). (36 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-03)

Health Care in Vermont: Support for Universal Coverage / Research Report
October 2005— Escalating health care costs concern Vermont residents, most of whom (88%) have some kind of health insurance coverage. This report presents findings from a June 2005 AARP survey of Vermont residents on their experiences with health insurance in the state. (27 pages)

2005 AARP Oregon Legislative Issues Survey / Research Report
March 2006— The opinions of Oregon AARP members about a variety of legislative issues, including long-term care, home and community based services, and prescription drugs, are examined in this January-February 2005 mail survey. AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH (27 pages)

State Government Retiree Health Benefits: Current Status and Potential Impact of New Accounting Standards / Research Report
July 2004— State and local governments will have to follow new accounting standards for their retiree health benefits. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, written by Stan Wisniewski and Lorel Wisniewski of Workplace Economics, Inc., provides an overview of retiree health benefits for state-government workers (including state-level descriptions) and discusses the possible effects of the new standards. (105 pages) (Publication ID: 2004-08)

Perceptions of the EEOC Ruling Among the 50+ Population: Results of a National Survey / Research Report
May 2004— This survey found that more than 7 in 10 people age 50+ (73%) disagree with the April 2004 ruling of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that employers may reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees when they become eligible for Medicare at age 65. (12 pages)

Decision Making In Consumer-Directed Health Plans / Research Report
May 2003— What will be required of consumers to effectively navigate an emerging approach to health insurance that transfers more responsibility to individuals for the cost and quality of their care – and the types of decision supports that will be needed to assist them – are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Judith H. Hibbard of the University of Oregon, Joyce Dubow of PPI, and Ellen Peters of Decision Research and the University of Oregon. (37 pages) (Publication ID: 2003-05)

A Review of Michigan's Insurance Complaint System / Research Report
May 2002— Since October 2000, Michigan residents have had access to an external appeals process for resolving disputes over covered health insurance benefits. How has the new system worked? How much have consumers benefited from it? And what more needs to be done? (7 pages).

District of Columbia Consumer Assistance with Health Insurance Survey / Research Report
May 2001— Eighty-three percent of Washington, DC residents covered by public or private health plans support creating a consumer assistance or ombudsman program to educate people about health insurance issues even if public funds are needed to develop and sustain it. (5 pages)

Older Consumers' Skill in Using Comparative Data to Inform Health Plan Choice: A Preliminary Assessment / Research Report
September 2000— Abilities vary, but using comparative information is a difficult task for most Medicare beneficiaries, according to this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Judith H. Hibbard, Dr.P.H., of the University of Oregon and Paul Slovic and colleagues from Decision Research. (38 pages) (Publication ID: 2000-14)

Older Adults and Their Health Insurance / Research Report
March 1999— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Gail Jensen and Derek Weycker of Wayne State University and Jon Gabel of KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP examines the health insurance coverage of Americans aged 51 to 61 in 1992, as well as the coverage of the same age cohort two years later, using the first two waves of the Health and Retirement Study. (37 pages) (Publication ID: 9903)

Low-Income Older Americans and Their Health Coverage Needs / Fact Sheet
August 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Jo Ann Lamphere, Sharon Bee and Normandy Brangan presents data about the demographics, insurance status, and out-of-pocket spending of non-institutionalized older Americans living at or below 135 percent of poverty. (4 pages) (Publication ID: FS68)