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U.S. News releases list of top-rated 2018 Medicare plans by state

Insurance Forums Staff

Medicare Part D plans in 11 states and Medicare Advantage plans in 15 states (and the District of Columbia) earned maximum 5-star ratings in the U.S. News & World Report 2018 Best Medicare Plan ratings, updated on Oct. 19.

The new ratings are intended to be a resource for Medicare beneficiaries and their families searching for the best coverage options during this year’s open enrollment period, which runs through Dec. 7, 2017.

The latest Best Medicare Plans include Honor Rolls of the Best Medicare Advantage Plans and Best Part D Plans, which highlight insurance companies that consistently offer highly rated health coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, who are typically age 65 or older.

“Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers may face an overwhelming number of options when deciding on the right health insurance plan that fits their specific needs,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis for U.S. News. “Best Medicare Plans was designed to take the confusion out of finding a plan in order to help consumers make fully informed decisions when it comes to identifying the best coverage for them and their families.”

The U.S. News ratings give up to 5 stars for each Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan available in each state. Insurance companies made the Honor Roll if either their Medicare Advantage or their Part D plans received an average rating of 4.5 stars or higher across all plans in a given state.

Companies that consistently offer highly rated Medicare Advantage plans in multiple states include Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Essence Healthcare, Health Alliance Medicare, Health Partners, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, Martin’s Point Generations Advantage, Medical Insurance Company, MVP HEALTH CARE, Providence Health Assurance, and Senior Preferred.

For Part D plans, 13 states have at least one insurer that made the U.S. News list. This year, 12 of the 13 plans on the Medicare Part D Honor Roll are Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.

U.S. News used plan-ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify the Best Medicare Advantage Plans and Best Medicare Part D Plans. CMS rates individual plans on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, factoring in member satisfaction, customer service and other criteria. The U.S. News methodology analyzes all plans offered by an insurer in a given state.

Top-Rated Part D Plans

States (listed alphabetically) with 5-star Part D plans include:

Connecticut: Anthem BCBS

Iowa: Wellmark BCBS of Iowa

Massachusetts: BCBS of Massachusetts

Minnesota: BCBS of Minnesota

Montana: BCBS of Montana

Nebraska: BCBS of Nebraska

North Dakota: BCBS of North Dakota

Rhode Island: BCBS of Rhode Island

South Dakota: Wellmark BCBS of South Dakota

Vermont: BCBS of Vermont

Wyoming: BCBS of Wyoming

Plans in Michigan (BCBS of Michigan) and Wisconsin (WPS Health Insurance) were the only ones to earn 4.5 star ratings.

Top-Rated Medicare Advantage Plans

States (listed alphabetically) with 5-star Medicare Advantage plans include:

California: Kaiser Permanente

Colorado: Kaiser Permanente

District of Columbia: Kaiser Permanente

Florida: Healthsun Health Plans; Optimum Healthcare

Georgia: Anthem BCBS

Hawaii: Kaiser Permanente

Iowa: Senior Preferred

Maryland: Kaiser Permanente

Massachusetts: Tufts Health Plan

Minnesota: BCBS of Minnesota

Oregon: Kaiser Permanente; Providence Health Assurance

Texas: Kelseycare Advantage

Virginia: Kaiser Permanente

Washington: Kaiser Permanente; Providence Health Assurance

Wisconsin: Dean Advantage; Medical Associates Clinic Health Plan of Wisconsin; Senior Preferred

26 states, including many with 5-star plans, also had plans earning 4.5 stars.

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