What exactly is rated for each Medicare health plan?

The ratings system analyzes Medicare health plan performance across more than 50 distinct areas. Each area is assessed individually and assigned a star quality rating to reflect that assessment. The highest rating is 5 stars () for excellent performance. The lowest rating is 1 star () for poor performance.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services measures how well health and prescription drug plans perform on more than 50 items, which are grouped into different categories:

Medicare health plans are rated on how well they perform in five different categories:

1. Staying Healthy: Screenings, Tests, and Vaccines
2. Managing Chronic (Long-Term) Conditions
3. Plan Responsiveness and Care
4. Member Complaints, Problems Getting Services, and Choosing to Leave the Plan
5. Health Plan Customer Service

Medicare drug plans are rated on how well they perform in four different categories:

1. Drug Plan Customer Service
2. Member Complaints, Problems Getting Services, and Choosing to Leave the Plan
3. Member Experience with Drug Plan
4. Drug Pricing and Patient Safety

^*Plan performance Star Ratings are assessed each year and may change from one year to the next. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Plan Management System, Plan Ratings 2013. Kaiser Permanente contract #H0524, H0630, H1170, H1230, H2150, H6360, H9003.

You must reside in the Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage (HMO) or Medicare Plus (Cost) service area in which you enroll.

Kaiser Permanente is a health plan with a Medicare contract.

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This page was last updated: January 17, 2013 at 12 a.m. PT