HealthMetrix Research Selects 2018 Medicare Advantage Plans for Exceptional Benefit Value & Overall Performance
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicare Advantage plans in 70 cities will be recognized for exceptional value in the design of their medical and Part D prescription drug benefits available effective January 1. The 2018 Senior Choice Gold Award recipients were selected from Medicare Advantage plans across 47 states and Puerto Rico based on cost-sharing analysis conducted by HealthMetrix Research Inc. and MedicareNewsWatch.com. The 2018 Senior Choice Gold Award selections include special recognition for plans achieving at least 3.5-star overall ratings for quality and performance as reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
According to HealthMetrix Research Inc. president Alan Mittermaier:
"This prestigious consumer award is unique for considering both forward-looking cost-sharing comparisons along with the recently announced CMS quality and performance ratings. Each award recipient has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in the design of their 2018 Medicare plan benefits, copayments, deductibles and premiums including the Part D prescription drug benefits. Nearly 70% of the award recipients also achieved at least 4-star CMS overall ratings for exceptional performance that raises the bar for all Medicare Advantage competitors. HealthMetrix Research commends those organizations for this distinctive dual recognition."
The award criteria were based on 2018 benefits and cost-sharing features approved by Medicare for the selected plans as published on Medicare Plan Finder (www.Medicare.gov). These include applicable plan copayments, deductibles and premiums adjusted for beneficiaries' health status (Excellent, Good, Poor) and utilization of healthcare services. The HealthMetrix Research cost-sharing analysis is available at www.MedicareNewsWatch.com. HealthMetrix Research neither recommends nor endorses specific Medicare plans.
2018 Senior Choice Gold Award Recipients
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues ratings annually on a 1-Star (lowest) to 5-Star (highest) scale.
| East |
* Previous year Senior Choice Gold Award recipient |
| Albany |
Universal American (4 Star) |
| Atlanta |
Aetna (4 Star) |
| Boston |
Aetna (3.5 Star) |
| Bradenton |
WellCare (4 Star) |
| Burlington |
United Healthcare* (4 Star) |
| Charleston WV |
Coventry Health Care* (4 Star) |
| Charlotte |
Aetna* (4 Star) |
| Concord NH |
Humana (4 Star) |
| Fort Myers-Naples |
Florida Blue (3.5 Star) |
| Greensboro |
HealthTeam (4.5 Star) |
| Harrisburg |
Aetna* (3.5 Star) |
| Hartford |
Aetna (4 Star) |
| Miami |
Coventry Health Care* (4 Star) |
| New Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Hudson) |
Aetna (3.5 Star) |
| Pensacola |
WellCare (4 Star) |
| Philadelphia |
Humana* (4 Star) |
| Pittsburgh |
Coventry Health Care (4 Star) |
| Portland ME |
Aetna (4.5 Star) |
| Raleigh |
FirstCarolinaCare (3.5 Star) |
| Richmond VA |
Anthem* (4.5 Star) |
| Rochester |
Universal American (4 Star) |
| San Juan PR |
Humana* (4 Star) |
| Sarasota |
Humana (4.5 Star) |
| Syracuse |
Universal American (4 Star) |
| Tallahassee |
WellCare* (4 Star) |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg |
WellCare (4 Star) |
| Washington DC |
Kaiser Permanente* (5 Star) |
| West Palm Beach |
Simply Healthcare (4 Star) |
| Wilmington DE |
Humana (4 Star) |
| Worcester MA |
Aetna (3.5 Star) |
| Midwest |
* Previous year Senior Choice Gold Award recipient |
| Akron |
Anthem (4.5 Star) |
| Baton Rouge |
Peoples Health* (4.5 Star) |
| Birmingham |
Aetna (3.5 Star) |
| Chicago |
Humana* (4.5 Star) |
| Cleveland |
Anthem (4.5 Star) |
| Dayton |
Anthem (4.5 Star) |
| Fort Wayne |
Aetna (4 Star) |
| Kansas City |
Coventry Health Care (4 Star) |
| Lansing |
Humana (3.5 Star) |
| Little Rock |
Coventry Health Care (4 Star) |
| Louisville |
Humana* (4.5 Star) |
| Milwaukee |
Anthem (4.5 Star) |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul |
HealthPartners (4.5 Star) |
| New Orleans |
Peoples Health* (4.5 Star) |
| Oklahoma City |
Coventry Health Care (4 Star) |
| St. Louis |
Coventry Health Care (4 Star) |
| Sioux Falls |
Coventry Health Care* (4 Star) |
| Wichita |
Coventry Health Care* (4 Star) |
| West |
* Previous year Senior Choice Gold Award recipient |
| Austin |
Amerigroup* (3.5 Star) |
| Bakersfield |
Brand New Day* (3.5 Star) |
| Boise |
United Healthcare (4 Star) |
| Denver-Colorado Springs |
Anthem (4.5 Star) |
| El Paso |
Cigna HealthSpring (4 Star) |
| Fresno |
Care1st (3.5 Star) |
| Honolulu |
Humana* (4 Star) |
| Houston |
WellCare (4 Star) |
| Las Vegas |
United Healthcare (4 Star) |
| Los Angeles Metro (Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside,Ventura) |
|
| Oakland |
Health Net* (3.5 Star) |
| Portland |
Humana (4.5 Star) |
| Reno |
Hometown Health (4.5 Star) |
| Sacramento |
Anthem* (4.5 Star) |
| Salt Lake City |
Molina Healthcare (3.5 Star) |
| San Antonio |
Aetna* (4 Star) |
| San Diego |
Brand New Day (3.5 Star) |
| San Jose |
Alignment Health* (4.5 Star) |
| Stockton |
Alignment Health* (4.5 Star) |
| Tucson |
CareMore* (4 Star) |
Source: HealthMetrix Research Inc. www.MedicareNewsWatch.com
Contact: Alan Mittermaier, President - HealthMetrix Research Inc. 614-236-8345
SOURCE HealthMetrix Research Inc.
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