Kaiser earns high marks for Medicare, Medicaid services

Oct. 21--For the seventh consecutive year, Kaiser Permanente's Medicare health plans in California have earned five out of five stars for 2018, the highest overall rating for quality and service from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Kaiser officials announced.

CMS created the Medicare star quality rating system to help people assess Medicare plans based on quality of care and service delivery, so they can make an informed decision when choosing a plan.

Kaiser Permanente Medicare health plans have consistently received high ratings since CMS began awarding them in 2009, company officials said. In addition to Northern and Southern California, Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, Hawaii, Northwest, and Mid-Atlantic states received 5 out of 5 stars each. Kaiser Permanente in Georgia and Washington earned 4.5 out of 5 stars, they said.

Besides the recognition by CMS, Kaiser Permanente's Medicare health plans in Northern California recently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a national group that rates health plans for consumer experience, prevention and treatment. Kaiser Permanente Northern California was also given the committee's top rating for its commercial health plan, making it the only organization in the country to achieve the top rating for both its Medicare and commercial plans, Kaiser officials said.

For Medicare beneficiaries, the advantages of a 5-star plan go beyond high-quality care and service -- they also include year-long open enrollment. Medicare beneficiaries may change to a 5-star Kaiser Permanente individual Medicare plan through a CMS Special Enrollment Period from Dec. 8 to Nov. 30, 2018 without having to wait until the next annual enrollment period. Medicare beneficiaries can learn more about the star ratings and Kaiser Permanente's Medicare health plans by visiting kp.org/medicarestars.

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