HealthMetrix Research Sees Significant Shifts in 2014 Medicare Advantage Plan Benefit Value & Overall Performance

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthMetrix Research president Alan Mittermaier reports that significant shifts occurred among Medicare Advantage plans after evaluating the new 2014 plan benefits along with the recently-issued Star performance ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).   

When comparing the 2014 Medicare Advantage plan benefits and Star performance ratings against 2013, HealthMetrix Research found Medicare Advantage plans boasting both top performance ratings (minimum of 4 Star) and lowest estimated annual out-of-pocket costs for next year in 53% of geographic markets (45 of 85) included in the 2014 CostShare Report.  This compares to 36% of the geographic markets (31 of 85) for the current 2013 plan benefit year.

Among the major multi-state Medicare Advantage competitors, Humana captured 13 of the 45 markets followed by Coventry Health Care (6 markets), Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensees (6 markets), Kaiser Permanente (4 markets) and Cigna HealthSpring (2 markets).   Alan Mittermaier notes that "Overall this is good news for current and new Medicare-eligibles in many areas of the country who can select a Medicare Advantage plan that combines at least 4 Star performance ratings with low out-of-pocket costs regardless of their health status.  The general uptick in member satisfaction and quality of care performance indicators combined with minimizing member out-of-pocket costs is a winning formula for Medicare Advantage plans."

The CostShare Report estimates annual out-of-pocket costs based on weighing beneficiary health status (healthy, episodic, chronic) and utilization of the most common health plan benefits (physician office visits, emergency care, hospital care, home health visits, prevention care, prescriptions).  The HealthMetrix Research 2014 CostShare Report comparisons for 85 markets are available at www.MedicareNewsWatch.com.  HealthMetrix Research neither recommends nor endorses specific Medicare plans or products.

2014 Medicare Advantage Plans Recognized
for Combined Benefit Value & Performance Achievement

www.MedicareNewsWatch.com

SOURCE HealthMetrix Research Inc.