Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Medicare Plans Among Top-Rated in Nation

(Eagan, Minnesota) October 13, 2020 — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Plus (Blue Cross) is announcing that three of its Medicare plans have been awarded an overall Star Rating of 4.5-Stars out of five Stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Blue Cross achieved a 4.5-Star rating out of five Stars for its Medicare Advantage plan, SecureBlue^SM (HMO SNP) Minnesota Senior Health Options plan and MedicareBlue Rx Part D plan. The Platinum Blue^SM Cost plan was awarded a 4-Star rating.

The CMS Five-Star Quality Star Rating System scores Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug (Part D) plans on a series of quality performance measures, including appropriate clinical care, health outcomes, member experience, health plan administration and customer service. Ratings range from one to five stars, with five being the highest.

“By focusing on our members and ensuring that they receive the right care, at the right time, with the right experience, Blue Cross consistently delivers high-quality Medicare plans,” said Kimberly Switlick-Prose, vice president of the Blue Cross Star, Quality, and Risk Adjustment Center of Excellence. “Our stability relative to other Medicare plans quality performance across the country is particularly notable. Even as the bar gets pushed higher, we meet and exceed it.”

Star Ratings are calculated annually and measures are graded on a curve relative to other plans’ performance that year. Having a plan ranked 4.5-Star or better reflects being among the top 15% of plans in the marketplace nationwide. 2021 Star Ratings are based on services and care members received in 2019 and are posted at Medicare.gov. More information about Blue Cross’ Medicare plans can be found at bluecrossmn.com/medicare.

“Putting the member first and helping them achieve the best possible health outcomes is central to our mission,” said Monica Engel, senior vice president and president of government markets at Blue Cross. “Throughout the organization we place a strong emphasis on driving that mission through quality performance on Star ratings.”

Since its creation in 2015, the Star and Risk Adjustment Center of Excellence has worked to develop and integrate improvements in health provider engagement, member engagement, health improvement programs, administrative excellence and data analytics. Blue Cross plans have maintained 4-Star or better ratings on its plans since the creation of the Center of Excellence. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system.

Blue Cross offers PPO, Cost and PDP plans with Medicare contracts. Enrollment in these Blue Cross plans depends on contract renewal. SecureBlue^SM (HMO SNP) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and the Minnesota Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees. Enrollment in SecureBlue depends on contract renewal.