The Public Policy Institute’s Health Team conducts research and policy analysis, and brings together thought leaders to develop and advance AARP’s public policy agenda on health care.

The team examines critical public policy issues that affect access to health care services, quality and safety, cost of care and public health. Our goal is to foster sound and creative solutions that meet the health care challenges of an aging society and to inform state and national policymakers, opinion leaders, researchers, program planners, and administrators.

Update: Age Rating Under Comprehensive Health Care Reform

How age is used to set health insurance premiums has an strong impact on affordability of premiums.  Age rating has been an important issue in the ongoing health care reform debate.  This Insight on the Issues was prepared for AARP’s Public Policy Institute by Linda Blumberg, Matthew Buettgens, and Bowen Garrett of the Urban Institute.  It compares the implications of setting premiums for older adults at three times those for younger adults, at two times those for younger adults, and if no age variation is allowed. The analysis updates earlier analysis by the authors that analyzed the implications if older adults have rates five times those of younger adults.

Integrating Medicare and Medicaid: State Experience with Dual Eligible Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans

The AARP Public Policy Institute contracted with Health Management Associates (HMA) to explore the experience of state Medicaid programs that have contracted with dual eligible SNPs. HMA conducted in-depth telephone interviews in late 2008 and early 2009 with state Medicaid officials in three states—Minnesota, New Mexico, and New York—that currently contract with dual eligible SNPs to promote integration of Medicare and Medicaid services. Each of these states offers at least one SNP product that includes Medicaid long-term care as part of the benefit package. Telephone interviews were also conducted with officials in Alabama and Washington to explore relevant experience in these states with contracting with Medicare SNPs for Medicaid dual eligibles.

Health Care Reports by Topic

Click below for reports on major topics. For a precise search, use the PPI search box in the upper left hand corner of this page. 

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Health Costs
• Health Coverage/Insurance
• Health Quality, Safety and Access
• Healthy Behavior and Public Health
• Prescription Drugs
• Health Care Work Force
• Nursing
• Other Health Care Reports