er It’s All In The Stars: Rating System For Medicare Plans Explained (NAPS)—Seniors enrolling in Medi- care often are surprised to discover that most Medicare hlth and prescription drug plans are msured by five-star rating system. Muchlike a reviewer guide to restaurants or hotels, Medicare plans are ranked from a low ofonestar to a high of five stars. The overall ratings provide an sy and intuitive way to help people evaluate and compare both the quality of the product being offered and the overall experience ofrl-life consumers. Developed by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Star Rating system is based on membersurveys as well as information provided by doctors, hlth care providers, and Medicare's regular monitoring activities. ‘The standards are evaluated on an annual basis and are built to drive continuous improvement in the hlth care system andbetter hlth outcomes for Medicare enrollees. For 2018, there was only one Medi- care (Cost) plan in the state of Minneso- ta to receiv five outoffive-star rating: Platinum Blue by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. For plans covering hlth services, ratings are based on a plan's perfor- mancein five categories: Keeping people hlthy: Includes whether members received appropriate preventative screeningtests, vaccines, and other check-upsto help them stay hlthy. Managing chronic (long-term) conditions: Includes how often members with certain conditions got recommendedtests and trtments to help managetheir condition. Member experience: Includes ac- tual member’s ratings ofthe plan. = An insurance agent or broker can help you navigate the Medicare system to your best advantage. Member complaints and changes in the hlth plan’s performance: In- cludes how often Medicare found problems with the plan and how often members had problemswith the plan. Hlth plan customerservice: In- cludes how well the plan handles member appls. Evaluating a Medicare plan should take other factors into account as well, such as covered benefits and which doc- tors, clinics and hospitals are included in the network. Hlth insurance comes with many complexities. At no cost or obligation to you, a local insurance agent or broker can explain the different parts of Medicare and find the most cost-effective coverage that best fits your needs. He or she can also assist with any claims issues that arise at any time during the yr. For more resources, you can visit bluecrossmn.com/medicare or to spk with a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota representative call (855) 579-7658 (TTY userscall 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time, daily. Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated ch yr and may change from one yrto the next. Platinum Blue is a Cost plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Platinum Blue depends on contract renewal.
