The Trump administration released the star ratings for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans just before the 2020 open enrollment period.
The ratings, which score health plans based on several quality metrics, help consumers compare Medicare plans and providers. The majority of beneficiaries––81%––enrolled in MA plans with prescription drug coverage will be in a plan with a four-star rating or better, according to CMS. That’s up from 69% in 2017. Most Medicare beneficiaries will also have access to MA plans and Part D plans that are rated at least four stars.
The release from CMS comes just after President Trump signed an executive order seeking to “protect” Medicare by creating pathways to expand MA. Currently, MA plans cover about one-third of all Medicare beneficiaries, with enrollment expected to grow over the coming years.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma used the announcement as an opportunity to tout Trump and rail against Medicare-for-all plans by Democrats.
“President Trump continues to be the great protector of the Medicare program for our nation’s seniors,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Proposals for more government in our healthcare – such as Medicare-for-All – would eviscerate the progress we’ve made to strengthen the program by empowering patients to make informed choices in choosing high-quality plans that best fit their needs.”
The administration also recently announced that MA and Part D premiums dropped in 2019.
For 2020, 23 contracts in the Medicare Plan Finder achieved a five-star rating, 20 of which were both MA and Part D plans. One MA plan earned five stars as did two Part D plans.
Across the board, plans from Kaiser Permanente fared well in the 2020 ratings. Of the 20 MA-PD contracts with five stars, Kaiser snagged seven.
The agency also pointed out low performers with 2020 contracts, with a summary ratings of 2.5 stars or fewer, including Quality Health Plans of New York; Community Care Alliance of Illinois; Centers Plan for Health Living; Prominence Healthfirst of Texas; and Merit Health Insurance Company.
For 2020, CMS noted more higher rated plans will also be available. Approximately 28% of enrollees in stand-alone prescription drug plans will be in one rated four stars or higher, compared to 3% in 2018. The average star rating for a stand-along drug plan will increase from 3.34 in 2019 to 3.5 in 2020.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."