SEER-CAHPS: Medicare Enrollment & Claims Data
Medicare is the federally funded program that provides health insurance for the elderly, persons with end-stage renal disease, and some disabled. For persons age 65 and over, 97 percent are eligible for Medicare. Almost all Medicare beneficiaries have Part A coverage that includes hospital, skilled-nursing facility, hospice and some home health care. 96 percent of elderly Part A beneficiaries choose to pay a monthly premium to enroll in Part B of Medicare that covers physician and outpatient services. Medicare Part C refers to HMO enrollment. While some Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in HMOs, most have fee-for-service (FFS) coverage. In 2006, Medicare initiated Part D, which provides prescription drug coverage for beneficiaries who purchase the benefit. In 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates that approximately 60% of beneficiaries have Part D coverage.
Information about Medicare eligibility and enrollment is available for all
persons included in the SEER-Medicare data (both cancer and non-cancer cases).
Medicare claims (bills) are available only for persons with FFS coverage. For
more information about Medicare data, please see the Research Data Assistance Center Web
site
.