Choosing the right Medicare Advantage plan can feel overwhelming. With numerous options available, understanding plan quality is crucial for making an informed decision. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Star Ratings system is designed to help beneficiaries compare Medicare Advantage plans based on quality and performance. As you Compare Medicare Advantage Plans 2024, these Star Ratings offer valuable insights into which plans are likely to provide the best care and service. This article breaks down the 2024 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings, highlighting key trends and what they mean for you.
Medicare Star Ratings are awarded on a scale of one to five stars, with five stars representing the highest quality. These ratings evaluate plans across various categories, including:
- Part C (Medicare Advantage) measures: Covering areas like preventive care, chronic condition management, and member experience.
- Part D (Prescription Drug) measures: Focusing on drug plan customer service, member complaints, and medication safety.
By understanding these ratings, you can more effectively compare medicare advantage plans 2024 and select a plan that aligns with your healthcare needs and priorities.
2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings: Key Distributions
For 2024, the distribution of Overall Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage plans reveals interesting trends when comparing for-profit and non-profit organizations.
| 2024 Overall Rating | Count For-Profit | % For-Profit | Weighted By Enrollment For-Profit | Count Non-Profit | % Non-Profit | Weighted By Enrollment Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 25 | 6.41 | 8.07 | 6 | 3.87 | 3.37 |
| 4.5 stars | 35 | 8.97 | 32.46 | 40 | 25.81 | 25.84 |
| 4 stars | 82 | 21.03 | 32.54 | 41 | 26.45 | 46.64 |
| 3.5 stars | 96 | 24.62 | 17.34 | 42 | 27.10 | 19.26 |
| 3 stars | 106 | 27.18 | 7.84 | 22 | 14.19 | 4.47 |
| 2.5 stars | 42 | 10.77 | 1.72 | 4 | 2.58 | 0.41 |
| 2 stars | 4 | 1.03 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 340 | 155 |
Table 3: Distribution of 2024 Overall Star Ratings for For-profit and Non-profit MA-PDs
As shown in Table 3, a higher percentage of non-profit Medicare Advantage plans achieved 4-star and 4.5-star ratings compared to for-profit plans. Specifically, 25.81% of non-profit plans received 4.5 stars, and 26.45% received 4 stars. In contrast, for-profit plans had 8.97% and 21.03% in the 4.5 and 4-star categories, respectively. This suggests that when you compare medicare advantage plans 2024, non-profit plans, on average, tend to score higher in overall quality ratings.
The distribution of Part D ratings for 2024 also reveals differences:
| 2024 Part D Rating | Count For-Profit | % For-Profit | Weighted By Enrollment For-Profit | Count Non-Profit | % Non-Profit | Weighted By Enrollment Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11.11 | 1.64 |
| 4.5 stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 22.22 | 22.96 |
| 4 stars | 4 | 13.79 | 0.60 | 3 | 16.67 | 31.18 |
| 3.5 stars | 7 | 24.14 | 33.19 | 3 | 16.67 | 11.63 |
| 3 stars | 10 | 34.48 | 54.85 | 5 | 27.78 | 30.57 |
| 2.5 stars | 3 | 10.34 | 8.81 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 stars | 3 | 10.34 | 0.06 | 1 | 5.56 | 2.01 |
| 1.5 stars | 2 | 6.90 | 2.49 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 29 | 18 |
Table 4: Distribution of 2024 Part D Ratings for For-profit and Non-profit PDPs
Table 4 shows that non-profit Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) significantly outperform for-profit PDPs at the higher star ratings. Notably, 11.11% of non-profit PDPs achieved 5 stars and 22.22% received 4.5 stars, while no for-profit PDPs reached these top tiers. When your compare medicare advantage plans 2024 includes prescription drug coverage, considering the Part D ratings, especially for non-profit plans, can be beneficial.
The Impact of Plan Experience on Star Ratings
The length of time a plan has been in the Medicare Advantage program also correlates with its Star Rating performance. More experienced plans tend to achieve higher ratings.
| 2024 Overall Rating | Number of Contracts with less than 5 Years | % Less than 5 Years | Number of Contracts with 5 years to Less than 10 Years | % 5 Years to Less than 10 Years | Number of Contracts with 10 or More Years | % 10 or More Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 6 | 3.53 | 3 | 2.86 | 22 | 8.15 |
| 4.5 stars | 16 | 9.41 | 11 | 10.48 | 48 | 17.78 |
| 4 stars | 24 | 14.12 | 27 | 25.71 | 72 | 26.67 |
| 3.5 stars | 43 | 25.29 | 28 | 26.67 | 67 | 24.81 |
| 3 stars | 50 | 29.41 | 31 | 29.52 | 47 | 17.41 |
| 2.5 stars | 28 | 16.47 | 4 | 3.81 | 14 | 5.19 |
| 2 stars | 3 | 1.76 | 1 | 0.95 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 170 | 105 | 270 |
Table 5: Distribution of 2024 Overall Star Ratings by Length of Time in Program for MA-PDs
Table 5 illustrates that Medicare Advantage plans with 10 or more years in the program are significantly more likely to have 4 or more stars (52.6%) compared to newer plans (less than 5 years), where only 27.06% achieved 4 or more stars. This suggests that when you compare medicare advantage plans 2024, considering the plan’s experience can be a factor in anticipating quality and performance.
A similar trend is observed for Part D ratings:
| 2024 Part D Rating | Number of Contracts with less than 5 Years | % Less than 5 Years | Number of Contracts with 5 years to Less than 10 Years | % 5 Years to Less than 10 Years | Number of Contracts with 10 or More Years | % 10 or More Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33.33 | 1 | 2.38 |
| 4.5 stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9.52 |
| 4 stars | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33.33 | 6 | 14.29 |
| 3.5 stars | 1 | 33.33 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 21.43 |
| 3 stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 38.10 |
| 2.5 stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7.14 |
| 2 stars | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33.33 | 3 | 7.14 |
| 1.5 stars | 2 | 66.67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 3 | 3 | 42 |
Table 6: Distribution of 2024 Part D Ratings by Length of Time in Program for PDPs
Table 6 indicates that PDPs with more experience also tend to perform better. Plans with 10 or more years in the program have a higher concentration in the 3-star rating and above categories. When you compare medicare advantage plans 2024 for prescription drug coverage, consider that more established plans might offer more consistent performance.
Average Star Ratings Across Different Measures: A Trend Over Time
Analyzing the average Star Ratings for specific measures over the past four years provides insights into areas of improvement and decline in Medicare plan performance.
| Measure | 2021 Average Star | 2022 Average Star | 2023 Average Star | 2024 Average Star |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer Screening | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Colorectal Cancer Screening | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 |
| Annual Flu Vaccine | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| Monitoring Physical Activity | 3.5 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.0 |
| Special Needs Plan (SNP) Care Management | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
| Care for Older Adults – Medication Review | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.8 |
| Care for Older Adults – Pain Assessment | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| Osteoporosis Management in Women who had a Fracture | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
| Diabetes Care – Eye Exam | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes Care – Blood Sugar Controlled | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.6 |
| Controlling Blood Pressure | NA | NA | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| Reducing the Risk of Falling | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Improving Bladder Control | 3.2 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.2 |
| Medication Reconciliation Post-Discharge | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Plan All-Cause Readmissions | NA | NA | NA | 2.9 |
| Statin Therapy for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| Transitions of Care | NA | NA | NA | 2.5 |
| Follow-up after Emergency Department Visit for People with Multiple High-Risk Chronic Conditions | NA | NA | NA | 3.0 |
| Getting Needed Care | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Getting Appointments and Care Quickly | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Customer Service | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| Rating of Health Care Quality | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Rating of Health Plan | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| Care Coordination | 3.4 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| Complaints about the Plan | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| Members Choosing to Leave the Plan | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| Health Plan Quality Improvement | 3.2 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 3.0 |
| Plan Makes Timely Decisions about Appeals | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6. | 4.1 |
| Reviewing Appeals Decisions | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 3.6 |
| Call Center – Foreign Language Interpreter and TTY Availability | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
Table 7: 2021 – 2024 Average Star Rating by Part C Measure
Table 7 indicates a general trend of declining average star ratings across many Part C measures from 2021 to 2024. For example, “Care for Older Adults – Medication Review” dropped from 4.3 in 2021 to 3.8 in 2024, and “Diabetes Care – Blood Sugar Controlled” decreased from 4.2 to 3.6. When you compare medicare advantage plans 2024, pay attention to these measure-specific ratings to understand where plans may be facing challenges.
Similar trends are visible in Part D measures for MA-PD plans:
| Measure | 2021 MA-PD Average Star | 2022 MA-PD Average Star | 2023 MA-PD Average Star | 2024 MA-PD Average Star |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call Center – Foreign Language Interpreter and TTY Availability | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.7 |
| Complaints about the Plan | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| Members Choosing to Leave the Plan | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| Drug Plan Quality Improvement | 3.5 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| Rating of Drug Plan | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| Getting Needed Prescription Drugs | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.5 |
| MPF Price Accuracy | 4.9 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.6 |
| Medication Adherence for Diabetes Medications | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| Medication Adherence for Hypertension (RAS antagonists) | 3.2 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Medication Adherence for Cholesterol (Statins) | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| MTM Program Completion Rate for CMR | 3.7 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 |
| Statin Use in Persons with Diabetes (SUPD) | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.7 |
Table 8: 2021 – 2024 Average Star Rating by Part D Measure for MA-PDs
Table 8 shows a similar decline in average star ratings for Part D measures within Medicare Advantage plans. “Call Center – Foreign Language Interpreter and TTY Availability” dropped from 4.4 in 2021 to 3.7 in 2024, and “MPF Price Accuracy” decreased from a high of 4.9 in 2021 to 3.6 in 2024. When you compare medicare advantage plans 2024, consider these trends when evaluating drug coverage and related services.
PDP average star ratings also reflect this downward trend:
| Measure | 2021 PDP Average Star | 2022 PDP Average Star | 2023 PDP Average Star | 2024 PDP Average Star |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call Center – Foreign Language Interpreter and TTY Availability | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.0 |
| Complaints about the Plan | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 3.9 |
| Members Choosing to Leave the Plan | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 3.8 |
| Drug Plan Quality Improvement | 4.1 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 2.9 |
| Rating of Drug Plan | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
| Getting Needed Prescription Drugs | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| MPF Price Accuracy | 4.9 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| Medication Adherence for Diabetes Medications | 3.9 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| Medication Adherence for Hypertension (RAS antagonists) | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| Medication Adherence for Cholesterol (Statins) | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.0 |
| MTM Program Completion Rate for CMR | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| Statin Use in Persons with Diabetes (SUPD) | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
Table 9: 2021 – 2024 Average Star Rating by Part D Measure for PDPs
Table 9 reinforces the trend of decreasing average star ratings, particularly in PDPs. “Call Center – Foreign Language Interpreter and TTY Availability” experienced a significant drop from 4.2 in 2021 to 3.0 in 2024, and “Medication Adherence for Diabetes Medications” declined from 3.9 to 2.6. As you compare medicare advantage plans 2024, these declines suggest a need to carefully evaluate plan performance across various measures, not just overall ratings.
High and Low Performing Plans in 2024
While average ratings provide a broad overview, identifying specific high-performing and low-performing plans can further refine your comparison process. For 2024, several plans received the “High Performing Icon,” signifying exceptional quality. Examples include:
- VIVA HEALTH, INC. (H0154)
- UNITEDHEALTHCARE OF WISCONSIN, INC. (H0169)
- HUMANA MEDICAL PLAN, INC. (H1036)
- DEVOTED HEALTH PLAN OF FLORIDA, INC. (H1290)
- UPMC HEALTH PLAN, INC. (H3907)
Conversely, some plans received a “Low Performing Icon,” indicating areas needing improvement. Examples include:
- BUCKEYE HEALTH PLAN COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, Inc. (H0724)
- WELLCARE HEALTH INSURANCE OF ARIZONA, INC. (H5199)
- SILVERSUMMIT HEALTHPLAN, INC. (H6446)
- ZING HEALTH, INC. (H7330)
- CLEAR SPRING HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY (S6946)
When you compare medicare advantage plans 2024, reviewing lists of high and low-performing plans in your region can provide a starting point for your research, though always verify the most current ratings and plan details directly with CMS and the plans themselves.
Using Star Ratings to Make Informed Decisions
As you compare medicare advantage plans 2024, remember that Star Ratings are a valuable tool but not the only factor. Consider these tips:
- Focus on Measures Important to You: If managing diabetes is a priority, pay close attention to diabetes care measures. If customer service is crucial, review those ratings.
- Look Beyond Overall Ratings: Delve into measure-specific ratings to understand plan strengths and weaknesses in areas relevant to your health needs.
- Consider Plan Experience: More experienced plans often have a track record of higher performance.
- Balance Ratings with Other Factors: Compare premiums, deductibles, network coverage, and specific benefits alongside Star Ratings.
- Check for Recent Updates: Star Ratings are updated annually, so always use the most current information available from CMS when making your decision.
Conclusion: Star Ratings – Your Guide to Comparing Medicare Advantage Plans in 2024
The 2024 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings offer a comprehensive overview of plan quality and performance. By understanding the distribution of ratings, the impact of plan experience, and trends across different measures, you can more effectively compare medicare advantage plans 2024. While average ratings have shown some decline, high-performing plans still exist, and focusing on measure-specific ratings along with your individual needs will lead you to a Medicare Advantage plan that best supports your health and well-being in 2024.
