HealthMetrix Research Sees Marginal Changes in Benefit Value & Overall Performance Among 2015 Medicare Advantage Plans

News provided by

Oct 24, 2014, 02:00 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthMetrix Research president Alan Mittermaier reports that marginal changes occurred among Medicare Advantage plans after evaluating the new 2015 plan benefits along with the recently-issued Star performance ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

When overlaying the 2015 CostShare Report findings on plan benefits with the CMS Star performance ratings, HealthMetrix Research found plans boasting both top performance ratings (4 Star or higher) and lowest estimated annual out-of-pocket costs for next year in 52% of geographic markets (45 of 87 markets). This compares to 53% (45 of 85 markets) for the 2014 plan benefit year.

Among the major multi-state Medicare Advantage competitors, Humana captured top honors in 15 of the 45 markets followed by Aetna-Coventry Health Care (10 markets), Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliates (7 markets) and Kaiser Permanente (2 markets). Alan Mittermaier notes that "Current and new Medicare-eligibles in many areas of the country 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. Higher member satisfaction and quality of care performance ratings combined with minimal increases in member premiums, co-pays and deductibles continues to be a win-win formula for both Medicare Advantage plans and beneficiaries."

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 2015 CostShare Report comparisons for 87 markets are available at www.MedicareNewsWatch.com. HealthMetrix Research neither recommends nor endorses specific Medicare plans or products.

2015 Medicare Advantage Plans Offering
Highest Combined Benefit Value & Overall Performance


Humana	Baton Rouge, Bradenton, Chicago, Fort Wayne, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Pensacola, Peoria, Salt Lake City, Santa Fe, Toledo
Aetna Coventry Health Care	Charlotte, Harrisburg, Northern NJ (7 counties), Raleigh, Rochester, Syracuse Des Moines, Omaha, Pittsburgh, Sioux Falls
Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates	Albuquerque, Boise, Fresno, Memphis, Nashville, Providence, Ventura County (CA)
Kaiser Permanente	Baltimore, Colorado Springs
MediGold	Cincinnati, Columbus
CarePlus	Miami
Essence Healthcare	St. Louis
Freedom Health	Fort Myers
Health Net	Portland OR
Health New England	Hartford
HealthPartners	Minneapolis-St. Paul
Independent Health	Buffalo
Martin's Point Health Care	Portland ME
Preferred Care Partners	Fort Lauderdale