Medicare.gov - the Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare

Glossary

Term Definition
Annual Deductible

The amount you must pay for your health care or prescriptions before Original Medicare, your prescription drug plan, your Medicare Health Plan, or your other insurance begins to pay. These amounts can change every year.

If "Under Review" appears, it means that the coverage is still being discussed by Medicare and the plan.

Any Willing Doctor

A doctor, hospital, or other health care provider that agrees to accept the plan's terms and conditions related to payment and that meets other requirements for coverage

Assignment

An agreement by your doctor or other supplier to be paid directly by Medicare, to accept the payment amount Medicare approves for the service, and not to bill you for any more than the Medicare deductible and coinsurance.

Average annual drug costs

The average amount you might expect to spend each year for prescription drugs, depending on your health status.

Benefit Period

The way that Original Medicare measures your use of hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. A benefit period begins the day you go to a hospital or SNF. The benefit period ends when you haven't received any inpatient hospital care (or skilled care in a SNF) for 60 days in a row. If you go into a hospital or a SNF after one benefit period has ended, a new benefit period begins. You must pay the inpatient hospital deductible for each benefit period. There is no limit to the number of benefit periods.

Catastrophic Coverage

Once you reach your plan’s out-of-pocket limit during the coverage gap, you automatically get "catastrophic coverage." Catastrophic coverage assures that once you have spent up to your plan’s out-of-pocket limit for covered drugs, you only pay a small coinsurance amount or a copayment for the rest of the year.

Choose Any Doctor/Any Hospital

There are no networks - you can go to any doctor, supplier, hospital or other facility that participates in Medicare and is accepting new Medicare patients.

Cobrand

Refers to the partner relationships established between Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and other organizations. Some drug plans enter into agreements with other organizations to help market their drug plans. These relationships are between the drug plan and the partner organizations and are outside of the contract with Medicare.

Coinsurance

An amount you may be required to pay as your share of the cost for services after you pay any deductibles. Coinsurance is usually a percentage (for example, 20%). In a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Health Plan, the coinsurance will vary depending on how much you have spent.

Company Name

Name of company that contracts with Medicare to offer a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Health Plan. (The number next to the name is for Medicare's use only.)

Copayment

An amount you may be required to pay as your share of the cost for a medical service or supply, like a doctor’s visit or prescription. A copayment is usually a set amount, rather than a percentage. For example, you might pay $10 or $20 for a doctor’s visit or prescription.

Cost Sharing

The amount you pay for health care and/or prescriptions. This amount can include copayments, coinsurance, and/or deductibles.

Coverage Gap

Medicare drug plans may have a "coverage gap," which is sometimes called the "donut hole." This means that after you and your plan have spent a certain amount of money for covered drugs, you have to pay all costs out-of-pocket for your drugs (up to a limit). Your yearly deductible, coinsurance or copayments, and what you pay in the coverage gap all count toward this out-of-pocket limit. The limit doesn’t include the drug plan’s premium.

Note: If you get extra help paying your drug costs, you won't have a coverage gap. However, you will probably have to pay a small copayment or coinsurance amount.

Deductible

The amount you must pay for health care or prescriptions, before Original Medicare, your Medicare drug plan, your Medicare Health Plan, or your other insurance begins to pay. For example, in Original Medicare, you pay a new deductible for each benefit period for Part A, and each year for Part B. These amounts can change every year.

Demonstration/Pilot Program

Special projects that test improvements in Medicare coverage, payment, and quality of care. Some follow Medicare Advantage rules, but others don't. Demonstrations are usually for a specific group of people and/or are offered only in specific areas. There are also pilot programs for people with multiple chronic illnesses designed to reduce health risks, improve quality of life, and provide savings.

Disenroll

Ending your health care and/or prescription drug coverage with a health plan or drug plan.

Dosage

The strength or amount of active ingredient(s).

Drug Coverage

This tells you that a plan offers drug coverage and provides information about the coverage.

Drug Restrictions

The plan may have certain coverage rules (including quantity limits, prior authorization, and step therapy) on the prescription drug coverage provided.

Drugs From Claims Available To Merge

A list of drugs from your processed Medicare claims data that are included in the Medicare.gov Drug & Plan Finder tool. These drugs can be added to your Drug List so that you can get estimated costs and coverage details from this site.

Drugs From Claims Not Available To Merge

A list of drugs from your processed Medicare claims data that, while they may be covered by Medicare, are not included in the Medicare.gov Drug & Plan Finder tool. These drugs cannot be used to estimate pricing on this site. Please contact the plans for more information about the coverage of these drugs.

Employer or Union Retiree Plans

Plans that give health and/or drug coverage to employees, former employees, and their families. These plans are offered to people through their (or a spouse's) current or former employer or employee organization.

Enhanced Alternative Plan

A plan that can offer a more comprehensive level of coverage, with lower cost and/or additional coverage of certain drugs not included in the standard or basic levels of coverage. Premiums may be higher for these plans.

Estimated Annual Cost

When using this tool, this is an estimate of the average amount you might expect to spend each year for your health and/or drug coverage. The estimates include the following:

  • Plan benefits (coverage)
  • Costs for premiums, copayments, deductibles, coinsurance
  • Costs not covered by your insurance

Your out-of-pocket costs are based on actual health and/or drug coverage use by people with Medicare, and they may differ depending on your age and health status. Also, if you have limited income and resources, your expenses may be lower.

Estimated Annual Drug Costs

This is an estimate of the average amount you might expect to pay each year for your prescription drug coverage. This estimate includes the following costs, as applicable:

  • Monthly premiums
  • Annual deductible
  • Drug copayments/coinsurance
  • Drug costs not covered by prescription drug insurance


If you entered your drugs into the Medicare Plan Finder, then this estimate includes the cost of those drugs.

If you selected "I don’t take any drugs," then this amount includes only the cost of the monthly premiums that you would pay for the plan. It does not include any drug costs.

If you selected "I don’t want to add drugs now," then this estimate includes the average drug costs for people with Medicare and may differ depending on your age and health status.

Your expenses may be lower if you have limited income and resources.

Favorites

Your "favorites" are plans that you're interested in. When you're trying to decide which plan to join, you can create a list of plans you're interested in so that you can return to the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder later and still be able to see those plans. To add or remove plans from your list of "favorites", click the "Add" or "Remove" buttons on the right side of screen under the "favorites" column.

Formulary

A list of prescription drugs covered by a prescription drug plan or another insurance plan offering prescription drug benefits.

Frequency

How often you refill your prescription.

Full Benefit Dual Eligible

People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Full Extra Help

People who qualify for the full low-income subsidy for Medicare prescription drug coverage. People who get full Extra Help pay $0 for their monthly Medicare drug plan premium, $0 deductible, and no more than $2.60 (generic) or $6.50 (brand) for their prescriptions.

Full Year Cost at Network Retail Pharmacies

The total costs for your selected drugs when you use a network retail pharmacy. Actual amounts may vary depending on the number of months left in the year.

Full Year Cost with enrollment today

The total costs for your selected drugs if your enrollment starts at the beginning of next month. Costs calculations account for months that have already passed.

Full Year Cost with January enrollment

The total costs for your selected drugs if your enrollment starts in January.

Generic Drug

A prescription drug that has the same active-ingredient formula as a brand-name drug. Generic drugs usually cost less than brand-name drugs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rates these drugs to be as safe and effective as brand-name drugs.

Guaranteed Issue Rights

Rights you have in certain situations when insurance companies are required by law to sell or offer you a Medigap policy. In these situations, an insurance company can't deny you a policy, or place conditions on a policy, such as exclusions for pre-existing conditions, and can't charge you more for a policy because of past or present health problems.

Health Benefits

This tells you that the plan offers health coverage and that your costs may vary depending on the services offered.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

A type of Medicare Health Plan that is available in most areas of the country. Plans must cover all Medicare Part A and Part B services. Some HMOs cover extra benefits, like extra days in the hospital. In most HMOs, you can only go to doctors, specialists, or hospitals on the plan's list except in an emergency.

High-Deductible Medigap Policy

A type of Medigap policy that has a high deductible but a lower premium. You must pay the deductible before the Medigap policy pays anything. The deductible amount can change each year.

I don’t get any Extra help

You don't qualify for extra help.

If I Qualify for Extra Help, will My Full Premium be Covered?

When using the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder, if $0 appears under the premium column, it means that the extra help you get will cover the premium for that plan. If an amount of $1 or greater appears under the premium column, it means you will have to pay part of the premium because the extra help won't cover all of it. You would be responsible for paying this monthly amount if you choose to enroll in that plan.

Independent Reviewer

An independent reviewer, also known as an independent review entity (IRE), is an outside organization that has a contract with Medicare. If you appeal a decision about your coverage or if your plan doesn't make a timely appeals decision, the IRE may review your case. The IRE has no connection to the plan. Look at the materials your plan sends you each year, such as the Evidence of Coverage (EOC), for more details about the appeals process. Click here for more information on Medicare appeals: http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/medicare-basics/understanding-claims/medicare-appeals-and-grievances.aspx

Initial Coverage Limit

Once you have met your yearly deductible, and until you reach the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum, you pay a copayment (a set amount you pay) or coinsurance (a percentage of the total cost) for each covered drug.

In-Network

Doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers that have agreed to provide members of a certain insurance plan with services and supplies at a discounted price. In some insurance plans, your care is only covered if you get it from in-network doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers.

May Have Doctor/Hospital Network

You may have to get care and services from doctors or hospitals in the plan’s network, or pay a higher cost to see out-of-network providers. In all plan types, you’re always covered for emergency care.

Medicaid

A joint Federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but most health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Medically Necessary

Services or supplies that are needed for the diagnosis or treatment of your medical condition and accepted standards of medical practice.

Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans (like an HMO or PPO) also called “Part C” are health plans run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. Medicare Advantage Plans include Part A, Part B, and usually other coverage like Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), sometimes for an extra cost.

Medicare Cost Plan

A type of Medicare health plan available in some areas. In a Medicare Cost Plan, if you get services outside of the plan’s network without a referral, your Medicare-covered services will be paid for under Original Medicare (your Cost Plan pays for emergency services, or urgently needed services).

Medicare Health and Prescription Drug Plans

A type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage Plans include Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, Private Fee-for-Service Plans, Special Needs Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare services are covered through the plan and aren’t paid for under Original Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage.

Medicare Health Plans

A Medicare health plan is offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide Part A and Part B benefits to people with Medicare who enroll in the plan. This term is used throughout this handbook to include all Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Cost Plans, Demonstration/Pilot Programs, and Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan

A type of Medicare Advantage Plan. MSA Plans combine a high deductible Medicare Advantage Plan and a bank account. The plan deposits money from Medicare into the account. You can use the money in this account to pay for your health care costs, but only Medicare-covered expenses count toward your deductible. The amount deposited is usually less than your deductible amount so you generally will have to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)

These plans (sometimes called “PDPs”) add drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans. These plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans may also offer prescription drug coverage that follows the same rules as Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.

Medicare Savings Program

A Medicaid program that helps people with limited income and resources pay some or all of their Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance.

Medicare-approved Amount

In Original Medicare, this is the amount a doctor or supplier that accepts assignment can be paid. It includes what Medicare pays and any deductible, coinsurance, or copayment that you pay. It may be less than the actual amount a doctor or supplier charges.

Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Program

Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Programs offer free services to eligible members of Medicare drug plans. These services help make sure that medications are working to improve their members' health. Members can talk with a pharmacist or other health professional and find out how to get the most benefit from their medications. Members can ask questions about costs, drug reactions, or other problems. Each member gets their own action plan and medication list after the discussion. These can be shared with their doctors or other health care providers. Members who take different medications for more than one health condition may contact their drug plan to see if they're eligible.

Medigap Basic Benefits

All Medigap policies must cover a basic set of benefits. These basic benefits include most Medicare Part A and B coinsurance amounts, blood, and additional hospital benefits not covered by Original Medicare.

  • Part A Hospital Coinsurance
    • Days 61-90 of a hospital stay in each Medicare benefit period
    • Days 91-150 of a hospital stay. Medicare will only pay for these 60 days once during your lifetime
  • Additional Part A Hospital Benefits
    • An extra 365 days of inpatient hospital care after you use your Original Medicare hospital benefits
  • Part B Coinsurance
    • Pays for the Part B coinsurance after you meet your annual deductible
  • Part A and B Blood Coverage
    • Pays for the first three pints of blood per calendar year
  • Part A Hospice Coinsurance
    • Pays for outpatient prescriptions drug and inpatient respite care coinsurance

Medigap Policy

Medicare supplement insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill "gaps" in Original Medicare coverage. Medigap policies only work with Original Medicare.

Monthly Premium

The periodic payment to Medicare, an insurance company, or a health care plan for health or prescription drug coverage. In a few cases, a note will say "Under Review" instead of a premium amount. This means Medicare and the company are still discussing the amount.

My Drug List

The list of your prescription drugs previously entered on the site to help generate better estimates of annual and monthly costs under the available plans, and also see which plans cover your drugs.

The site doesn’t show pricing for over the counter drugs or diabetic supplies (e.g. test strips, lancets, needles). For more information, you may contact the plan.

Network pharmacies

Medicare drug plans have contracts with a number of pharmacies that are part of the plan’s "network." If you don’t go to a network pharmacy, your plan may not cover your prescription. Along with retail pharmacies, your plan’s network may include preferred pharmacies, a mail-order program, and a 60- or 90-day retail pharmacy program.

Non-preferred pharmacy

A network pharmacy that offers covered drugs to plan members at higher out-of-pocket costs than what the member would pay at a preferred network pharmacy.

Open Enrollment Period (Medigap)

A one-time only 6-month period when Federal law allows you to buy any Medigap policy you want that is sold in your state. It starts in the first month that you are covered under Medicare Part B and you are age 65 or older (or under age 65 in some states). During this period, you can't be denied a Medigap policy or charged more due to past or present health problems.

Optional Supplemental Benefits

Services not covered by Medicare that enrollees can choose to buy or reject. Enrollees that choose these benefits pay for them directly, usually in the form of premiums and/or copayments or coinsurance. These services can be grouped or offered individually and can be different for each Medicare Health Plan offered.

Original Medicare

Original Medicare is fee-for-service coverage under which the government pays your health care providers directly for your Part A and/or Part B benefits.

Out-of-Network

Generally, an out-of-network benefit provides you with the option to get plan services outside of the plan's contracted network of providers. In some cases, your out-of-pocket costs may be higher for an out-of-network benefit.

Out-of-Pocket Costs

Health or prescription drug costs that you must pay on your own because they are not covered by Medicare or other insurance.

Out-of-Pocket Spending Limit

The most you will have to pay out-of-pocket for your Part A and Part B services during the year. All Medicare Advantage Plans have a limit on what you pay each year and each plan can have a different amount. Original Medicare doesn’t have a limit on what you pay each year.

Overall Plan Rating

The Overall Plan Rating combines scores for the types of services each plan offers:

What is being measured?

  • For plans covering health services, the overall score for quality of those services covers 36 different topics in 5 categories:
    • Staying healthy: screenings, tests, and vaccines: Includes how often members got various screening tests, vaccines, and other check-ups that help them stay healthy.
    • Managing chronic (long-term) conditions: Includes how often members with different conditions got certain tests and treatments that help them manage their condition.
    • Ratings of health plan responsiveness and care: Includes ratings of member satisfaction with the plan.
    • Health plan member complaints and appeals: Includes how often members filed a complaint against the plan.
    • Health plan telephone customer service: Includes how well the plan handles calls from members.
  • For plans covering drug services, the overall score for quality of those services covers 17 different topics in 4 categories:
    • Drug plan customer service: Includes how well the drug plan handles calls and makes decisions about member appeals.
    • Drug plan member complaints and Medicare audit findings: Includes how often members filed a complaint about the drug and findings from Medicare’s audit of the plan.
    • Member experience with drug plan: Includes member satisfaction information.
    • Drug pricing and patient safety: Includes how well the drug plan prices prescriptions and provides updated information on the Medicare website. Includes information on how often members with certain medical conditions get prescription drugs that are considered safer and clinically recommended for their condition.
  • For plans covering both health & drug services, the overall score for quality of those services covers all of the 53 topics listed above.


Where does the information for the Overall Plan Rating come from?

  • For quality of health services, the information comes from sources that include:
    • Member surveys done by Medicare
    • Information from clinicians
    • Information submitted by the plans
    • Results from Medicare's regular monitoring activities
  • For quality of drug services, the information comes from sources that include:
    • Results from Medicare's regular monitoring activities
    • Reviews of billing and other information that plans submit to Medicare
    • Member surveys done by Medicare


Why is the Overall Plan Rating important?

The Overall Plan Rating gives you a single summary score that makes it easy for you to compare plans based on quality and performance. Learn more about differences among plans by looking at the detailed ratings.

PACE (Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly)

A special type of health plan that provides all the care and services covered by Medicare and Medicaid as well as additional medically-necessary care and services based on your needs as determined by an interdisciplinary team. PACE serves frail older adults who need nursing home services but are capable of living in the community. PACE combines medical, social, and long-term care services and prescription drug coverage.

Package

The container(s) your medicine comes in.

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

The part of Medicare that pays for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some home health care.

Part B (Medical Insurance)

Medicare medical insurance that helps pay for certain doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, durable medical equipment, and some medical services that aren't covered by Part A.

Part B Deductible

The standard Part B deductible is $140 for 2012. This is the amount you pay before Medicare begins to pay its share for services like doctors’ visits, outpatient care, durable medical equipment and other medical services.

Partial Dual Eligible

People who are in a Medicare Savings Program run by their state.

Partial Extra Help

People who qualify for the partial low-income subsidy for Medicare prescription drug coverage. People who get partial Extra Help may pay a percentage of their monthly Medicare drug plan premium depending on their income and resources, $63 for their annual deductible, and may pay up to 15% coinsurance for the cost of their prescriptions.

Password Date

The password used to retrieve a Saved Drug List.

Pharmacy Network

Pharmacies that have agreed to provide members of certain plans with services and supplies at a discounted price. In some plans, your prescriptions are only covered if you get them filled at network pharmacies.

Pharmacy Type

The type of pharmacy you get your medicine from. This can be a mail order pharmacy or a local, retail pharmacy.

Plan members who qualify for Extra Help

These plan members qualify to get Extra Help from Medicare paying their prescription drug coverage costs. This Extra Help is also known as the “Low-Income Subsidy.” People who qualify for this program get help paying their plan's monthly premiums, as well as the yearly deductible and co-payments for their prescription drugs.

Plan Name

The name of the plan offered by the company that contracts with Medicare.

Point of Service (POS)

An HMO option that lets you use doctors and hospitals outside the plan for an additional cost.

Pre-existing conditions

A health problem you had before the date that a new insurance policy starts.

Preferred Pharmacies

If your plan has preferred pharmacies, you may save money by using them. Your prescription drug costs (such as a copayment or coinsurance) may be less at a preferred pharmacy because it has agreed with your plan to charge less.

Preferred Pharmacy

A pharmacy that’s part of a Medicare drug plan’s network. You pay lower out-of-pockets costs if you get your prescription drugs from a Preferred Pharmacy instead of a Non-Preferred Pharmacy.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

A type of Medicare Advantage Plan available in a local or regional area in which you pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and providers that belong to the network. You can use doctors, hospitals, and providers outside of the network for an additional cost.

Premium

The periodic payment to Medicare, an insurance company, a health care plan, or a drug plan for health care or prescription drug coverage.

Pricing Method

Insurance companies set their own premiums for Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policies. How they set the price affects how much you pay now and in the future. Medigap policies can be priced or "rated" in three ways:

  1. Community-rated (or "no-age-rated")
  2. Issue-age-rated
  3. Attained-age-rated
Prior Authorization

Prior authorization means that you will need prior approval from an insurance plan before you fill your prescription. If a drug has prior authorization, you will need to work with the plan and your doctor to get an exception. Call your plan or visit their Web site to learn more about specific prior authorization requirements. Many prior authorization requirements can be resolved at the point of sale and don’t require any additional information from your doctor. Knowing what the prior authorizations are before going to your doctor's office may save you time at the pharmacy counter.

Private Fee-for-Service Plan

A type of Medicare Advantage Plan in which you may go to any Medicare-approved doctor or hospital that agrees to treat you under the plan and that accepts the plan's payment terms. The plan decides how much you must pay for services.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)

A Medicaid program for people with Medicare who need help paying for Medicare services. The person with Medicare must have Medicare Part A and limited income and resources. For those who qualify, the Medicaid program pays Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, and Medicare deductibles and coinsurance amounts for Medicare services.

Quality

Quality is how well the health plan keeps its members healthy or treats them when they are sick. Good quality health care means doing the right thing at the right time, in the right way, for the right person-and getting the best possible results.

Quantity

The amount of medicine you receive each time you refill your prescription.

Quantity Limitation

For safety and cost reasons, plans may limit the quantity of drugs that they cover over a certain period of time. If the drug has a quantity limit restriction, you should contact the plan for more details. If you take one pill per day and the drug has a 30 day/month quantity limit, the impact will be minimal (i.e., you may not be able to refill the prescription until a few days before running out of pills). If you currently take 2 pills per day and the quantity limit is 30 pills per month, you would need to work with the plan to get authorization for the higher quantity.

Referral

A written order from your primary care doctor for you to see a specialist or get certain services. In many HMOs, you need to get a referral before you can get care from anyone except your primary care doctor. If you don't get a referral first, t he plan may not pay for your care

Saved Drug List

Your list of drugs that is saved with a unique ID number. This list can be retrieved at any time by entering the Saved Drug List ID and Password Date.

Service Area

The area where a health plan accepts members. For plans that limit which doctors and hospitals you may use, it’s generally the area where you can get routine (non-emergency) services. The plan may disenroll you if you move out of the plan's service area.

Skilled Nursing Facility

A nursing facility with the staff and equipment to give skilled nursing care and, in most cases skilled rehabilitation services and other related health services.

Special Needs Plan (SNP)

Medicare Special Needs Plans are a type of Medicare Advantage Plan designed for certain types of people with Medicare. Some Special Needs Plans are for people with certain chronic diseases and conditions, some are for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid, and some are for people who live in an institution such as a nursing home.

Special Pharmacy Type

Most network pharmacies are either retail or mail-order pharmacies. Some pharmacies have a special distinction because they distribute limited access drugs, home infusion drugs, or are considered a long term care (LTC) pharmacy. Please contact the plan to find out more about this specific pharmacy within the network, or about the plan’s mail-order pharmacy options.

Specified Low - Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)

A Medicaid program that pays Medicare Part B premiums for people who have Medicare Part A and limited income and resources.

Standard Part B Premium

The standard 2012 Part B premium is $99.90. This is the amount that most people pay monthly for services like doctors’ visits, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, and other medical services.

Stars

Stars for each plan show how well the plan performs in a particular category. Star ratings range from 1 star to 5 stars, where a rating of 1 star means "poor" quality, 2 stars means "below average" quality, 3 stars means "average" quality, 4 stars means "above average" quality and 5 stars means "excellent" quality.

Step Therapy

In some cases, plans require you to first try one drug to treat your medical condition before they will cover another drug for that condition. For example, if Drug A and Drug B both treat your medical condition, a plan may require your doctor to prescribe Drug A first. If Drug A doesn’t work for you, then the plan will cover Drug B. If a drug has step therapy restrictions, you will need to work with the plan and your doctor to get an exception.

Subsidy Status Unknown

Medicare doesn't have any information about your extra help status.

Summary Rating of Health Plan Quality

This summary rating gives an overall score on the health plan's quality and performance on 36 different topics in 5 categories:

  • Staying healthy: screenings, tests, and vaccines. How often members got various screening tests, vaccines, and other check-ups that help them stay healthy.
  • Managing chronic (long-term) conditions. How often members with different conditions got certain tests and treatments that help them manage their condition.
  • Ratings of health plan responsiveness and care. How well members are satisfied with the plan.
  • Health plan member complaints and appeals. Includes often members have made complaints against the plan.
  • Health plan telephone customer service. How well the plan handles calls from members.

The information described is based on member surveys, information from clinicians, or information from plans. In other cases it’s based on results from Medicare's regular monitoring activities.

Why is the summary rating important?

A single overall rating makes it easy for you to compare health plans based on quality and performance. In addition to using the summary rating:

  • You can look up how well the health plan is doing in each of the 5 categories that make up the summary rating.
  • You can also look up how well the health plan is doing in the 36 individual topics that make up the ratings in those 5 categories.
Summary Rating of Prescription Drug Plan Quality

This summary rating gives an overall score on the drug plan's quality and performance on 17 different topics in 4 categories:

  • Drug plan customer service: How well the drug plan handles calls and makes decisions about member appeals.
  • Drug plan member complaints and Medicare audit findings: Includes how often members complain about the drug plan.
  • Member experience with drug plan: How well members are satisfied with the plan.
  • Drug pricing and patient safety: How well the drug plan prices prescriptions and provides accurate pricing information on the Medicare Web site. Includes information on how often members with certain medical conditions get prescription drugs that are considered safer and clinically recommended for their condition.

This information is gathered from Medicare's regular monitoring activities, reviews of billing and other information that plans submit to Medicare, and Medicare's member surveys.

Why is the summary rating important?

The summary rating makes it easy to compare drug plans based on quality and performance. In addition to using the summary rating:

  • You can look up the drug plan's rating in each of the 4 categories that make up the summary rating.
  • You can also look up how well the drug plan is doing in the 17 individual topics that make up the rating in those 4 categories.
Supplemental Security Income

SSI is a monthly amount paid by Social Security to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. SSI benefits provide cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. SSI benefits aren’t the same as Social Security benefits.

Tiers

Drugs on a formulary are often organized into different drug "tiers," or groups of different drug types. Your cost depends on which drug tier your drug is in.

For example, a plan may form tiers this way:

  • Tier 1 - Generic drugs.
  • Tier 2 - Preferred brand-name drugs.
  • Tier 3- Non-preferred brand name drugs.

Contact the plan to learn more about its specific tier structure.

Timely Appeals Decision

An appeals decision is considered to be timely when it meets Medicare's appeals timeframes. The specific timeframe depends on the type of appeal, and ranges from 24 hours to 7 days. Look at the materials your plan sends you each year, such as the Evidence of Coverage (EOC), for more details about the appeals process.

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