Why Are Medicare Star Ratings Important?

Medicare star ratings are important because they give you insight into which plans in your area have the highest satisfaction ratings among those on Medicare. However, Medicare star ratings only pertain to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans.

For both types of coverage, star ratings provide a way to compare the options in your area beyond cost.

The five-star quality rating system measures the experiences of those on each plan. Below is a list of the plan quality indicated by each star rating.

• 5-star: Excellent
• 4-star: Above Average
• 3-star: Average
• 2-star: Below Average
• 1-star: Poor

However, newer plans are more challenging to rate since they may not yet have enough feedback from beneficiaries.

The star rating system helps consumers identify the best Medicare Advantage plans and the best Medicare Part D plans. You have the right to know if a plan has been low-performing for several years. Likewise, if a plan is well-liked by its enrollees, the star rating will also reflect this trend.

Medicare considers a plan below average if it gets a rating of fewer than three stars for three consecutive years. Each October, CMS releases Medicare star ratings – just in time for the Annual Enrollment Period. Thus, they help you understand which plan may be best for you in the upcoming year.

Medicare Part D Star Rating Factors

The following are the three factors that are a part of a Medicare Part D plan star rating.

Plan’s Customer Service

Quality customer service is essential, especially when something goes wrong. You want your insurance company to help you through any issues as quickly as possible. The last thing you want is to be on a telephone hold for hours when there is an issue.

Member Experience

Medicare cares about the experience you have with your plan. When many members rate high satisfaction, the star rating reflects that. Those who file a complaint could impact the ratings of their plan. Further, rating factors consider the improvement a plan makes yearly based on
customer feedback.

Accuracy of Drug Pricing and Drug Safety

Prescription drug policies with accurate price information are more likely to have higher ratings. Further, Medicare monitors plans for drug safety.

Therefore, if you want to enroll in a five-star Medicare Advantage or Part D plan outside the Annual Enrollment Period, you can do so. Remember that you can only use this Special Enrollment Period once a year. If you decide to leave the five-star plan, you will need to wait for the fall Annual Enrollment Period to re-enroll.

You only need Medicare Part A to enroll in a five-star Medicare Part D plan in your area.

Medicare Star Ratings FAQs

How to Enroll in a Five-Star Medicare Plan

When you look at your plan options online, you will notice ratings for each policy. Plans with higher ratings have a history of working well for past and current beneficiaries. Also, if you are choosing between two plans, the Medicare star rating can help you determine which plan will be better for you.

If you find a five-star Medicare Part C plan, it is wise to compare it to a Medigap plan available in your area. For many, Medigap plans provide superior coverage compared to Medicare Advantage, so comparing the best plan in your area will help you better understand how the plans stack up against one another.

To compare quality coverage options, call us at the number above. You can also fill out an online rate form to see your rates now.

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