The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2023 Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to help people with Medicare compare plans ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment, which kicks off on October 15. Plans are rated on a one-to-five scale, with one star representing poor performance and five stars representing excellent performance. Star Ratings are released annually and reflect the experiences of people enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. The Star Ratings system supports CMS’ efforts to empower people to make health care decisions that are best for them.
People with Medicare can use the Medicare Plan Finder tool, available on Medicare.gov, to compare plan quality through the Star Ratings, along with other information, such as cost and coverage. Approximately 72% of people currently in Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription drug coverage are enrolled in a plan that earned four or more stars in 2023. Approximately 51% of Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription drug coverage will have an overall rating of four stars or higher in 2023.
Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2022, and ends December 7, 2022. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can compare coverage options, including Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and choose high quality health and drug plans for 2023. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan costs and covered benefits can change from year to year, so Medicare beneficiaries should look at their coverage choices and decide on the options that best meet their health needs. They can visit Medicare.gov (https://www.medicare.gov), call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact their State Health Insurance Assistance Program. 1-800-MEDICARE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide help in English and Spanish, as well as support in over 200 languages. People who want to keep their current Medicare coverage do not need to re-enroll.
CMS released the 2023 premium and coverage information for 2023 Medicare Advantage and Part D plans on September 29, 2022. Projections for 2023 indicate lower premiums for both Medicare Advantage and basic Part D coverage compared to 2022. Additionally, starting in 2023 under the Inflation Reduction Act, people with Medicare prescription drug coverage will have improved and more affordable benefits, including a $35 cost-sharing limit on a month’s supply of each covered insulin product, as well as adult vaccines that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at no additional cost.
For more information on the 2023 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings, including a fact sheet, please visit: http://go.cms.gov/partcanddstarratings.