The rating system was developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that administers Medicare, in 2007.
Medicare uses information from satisfaction surveys, plan claims, and other sources to evaluate health plans and providers and give them performance ratings.
Ratings help Medicare beneficiaries and their families shop for plans based on quality of care and performance. The plan rating provides a summary score that makes it easier to compare different plans. The Medicare Plan Finder tool at www.medicare.gov includes information about plans and their ratings. This tool allows you to compare plans using criteria, including plan ratings.
Medicare health plan performance is measured based on major categories that include:
Medicare health plan performance is measured by significant categories, which include:
When a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare drug plan with a 5-star rating is available in a particular area, consumers can use the 5-star Special Enrollment Period to switch from their current Medicare plan to a Medicare plan with a “5-star” quality rating. Enrollees can use this Special Enrollment Period any time during the year, as long as they meet the plan's enrollment requirements, but only once between December 8 and November 30 of the following year. Individuals enrolled in a plan with a 5-star overall rating may also switch to a different plan with a 5-star overall rating. The effective date of enrollment is the first day of the month following the month in which the plan receives the enrollment request.
At MCS, we are very proud of this achievement. It means that we provide high-quality care and excellent service, demonstrating that the well-being of our members is our top priority.
A 5-star rating for the fourth consecutive year confirms that MCS Classicare strives to provide high-quality care that focuses on the needs of our members through a holistic approach. We recognize that this achievement was made possible by the unwavering support of our primary care physicians and all the medical providers in our network who work with us daily.
Current and potential members can rely on MCS Classicare's care because it is a CMS-rated health plan. This means that members receive high-quality care and service excellence at MCS Classicare.
In the Medicare Plan Finder tool, the high-performance icon will appear next to our contract number for each MCS Classicare product. This is to let beneficiaries know that we have the highest possible quality rating on www.medicare.gov and that our service is “Excellent.”
Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system.