HealthMetrix Research Selects 2013 Medicare Advantage Plans for Exceptional Benefit Value & Overall Performance

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicare Advantage plans in 75 cities will be recognized for exceptional value in the design of their medical and Part D prescription drug benefits available for 2013 Medicare plan enrollees.  The 2013 Senior Choice Gold Award recipients were selected from Medicare Advantage plans across 95 cities based on independent cost-sharing comparisons conducted annually by HealthMetrix Research Inc. and MedicareNewsWatch.com.  The 2013 Senior Choice Gold Award selections include special recognition for plans achieving at least 4-star overall ratings for quality and performance as reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

According to HealthMetrix Research Inc. president Alan Mittermaier:

"This award is unique by considering both forward-looking independent cost-sharing comparisons along with measurable quality and performance ratings.  Each award recipient has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in the design of their 2013 Medicare plan benefits, copayments, deductibles and premiums including the Part D prescription drug benefits.  Numerous award recipients have also achieved exceptional  performance results and are setting higher standards for themselves and the entire Medicare Advantage industry. HealthMetrix Research applauds these organizations for this distinctive dual recognition."           

The award criteria were based on 2013 benefits and cost-sharing approved by Medicare for the selected plans.  Estimated annual out-of-pocket costs consider beneficiaries' 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).  HealthMetrix Research cost-sharing comparisons for are available at www.MedicareNewsWatch.com.  HealthMetrix Research neither recommends nor endorses specific Medicare plans.

2013 Senior Choice Gold Award Recipients

Medicare Advantage plans receive overall ratings annually on a 1 to 5 star scale; 5 stars = excellent performance, 1 star = poor performance.  A minimum 3 star rating is required for selection except for plans too new to be rated for 2013.

East


Albany

   WellCare

Atlanta

   Kaiser Permanente (4.5 Star)

Baltimore

   Kaiser Permanente (5 Star)

Boston

   Fallon Community Health Plan (4.5 Star)

Bradenton 

   Humana (4.5 Star)

Buffalo

   WellCare

Fort Lauderdale

   Optimum Healthcare

Harrisburg

   Geisinger Gold (4.5 Star)

Hartford

   WellCare

Miami

   Humana (4.5 Star)

New Jersey
  (Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, Passaic, Union)

   United Healthcare

New York City  (Bronx, Kings, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island)

   Optimum Healthcare

(Nassau)

   Healthfirst

Orlando

   Preferred Care Partners (4 Star)

Pensacola

   Humana (4.5 Star)

Philadelphia

   HealthAmerica (4 Star)

Pittsburgh

   UPMC Health Plan (4 Star)

Portland, ME

   Martin's Point (4.5 Star)

Raleigh

   Blue Cross Blue Shield (4 Star)

Richmond

   Humana

Rochester

   Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western NY (4.5 
   Star) 

Sarasota

   Optimum Healthcare

Tampa-St. Petersburg

   Optimum Healthcare

Washington, DC

   Kaiser Permanente (5 Star)

West Palm Beach

   WellCare



 

Midwest


Akron-Canton

   SummaCare (4 Star)

Baton Rouge

   Peoples Health

Birmingham

   HealthSpring

Chattanooga

   HealthSpring

Chicago

   Humana (4 Star)

Cincinnati

   MediGold

Cleveland

   SummaCare (4 Star)

Columbus

   MediGold

Dayton

   MediGold

Des Moines

   Coventry Health Care (4 Star)

Detroit

   HealthPlus (4.5 Star)

Fort Wayne

   Humana

Grand Rapids

   Blue Care Network (4.5 Star)

Kansas City

   Coventry Health Care (4 Star)

Knoxville

   HealthSpring

Louisville

   WellCare

Memphis

   HealthSpring

Milwaukee

   United Healthcare

Minneapolis-St. Paul

   HealthPartners (5 Star) 

Mobile

   HealthSpring

Montgomery

   HealthSpring

Nashville

   HealthSpring

New Orleans

   Peoples Health

Rapid City

   Coventry Health Care (4 Star)

St. Louis

   Essence Healthcare (4.5 Star)

Toledo

   SummaCare (4 Star)

Wichita

   Coventry Health Care (4 Star)



 

West


Albuquerque-Santa Fe

   Lovelace Medicare

Austin        

   Humana

Billings

   New West Health Services

Boise

   Regence BlueShield

Dallas-Fort Worth

   WellCare

Denver-Colorado Springs

   Kaiser Permanente (5 Star)

Fresno

   Health Net

Honolulu

   Akamai by HMSA (4.5 Star)

Las Vegas

   Health Plan of Nevada

Los Angeles    (Los Angeles & Orange)
                                (Riverside & San Bernardino)

                                (Ventura)

   Central Health Plan
   Citizens Choice Healthplan

   Kaiser Permanente (5 Star)

Modesto

   Care1st

Oakland

   Easy Choice

Oklahoma City

   Secure Horizons  

Phoenix

   CareMore

Portland

   Humana (4.5 Star)

Sacramento

   Blue Shield (4 Star)

Salt Lake City

   SelectHealth

San Diego

   Easy Choice

San Francisco

   Care1st

San Jose

   Care1st

Seattle

   Community HealthFirst

Tucson

   CareMore

Tulsa

   Lovelace Medicare

Contact:   Alan Mittermaier, President - HealthMetrix Research Inc.     
614-236-8345  

SOURCE HealthMetrix Research Inc.