FOR RELEASE ON DECEMBER 5, 2022

Sharp Health Plan Once Again Rated 5 out 5 Stars by Medicare

While many other carriers’ 2023-star ratings dropped, Sharp Health Plan continues to build on its market leading performance and excellence in quality and service

 

SAN DIEGO — Sharp Health Plan was rated 5 out of 5 stars by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)1, which is the highest possible rating from CMS, for the second year in a row. This is the third year that Sharp Health Plan was named one of the Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage in California by U.S. News and World Report2. Additionally, Sharp Health Plan’s Sharp Direct Advantage® membership grew nearly 38% following last year’s Medicare open enrollment period.

“Sharp Heath Plan is deeply committed to delivering award-winning, high-quality and affordable health care coverage to San Diegans of all ages,” said Melissa Hayden Cook, president and chief executive officer at Sharp Health Plan. “Our commitment to excellence coupled with our seamless integration with our nationally recognized Sharp HealthCare delivery system is why Sharp Health Plan continues to earn a 5-star Medicare rating.”

As a locally based nonprofit health plan serving San Diegans for the past 30 years, Sharp Health Plan has also received the following statewide and local recognitions:

  • Highest member-rated commercial health plan in California for the eighth year in a row,3 with the highest member ratings for health care and specialist among reporting California health plans4
  • Highest member-rated Medicare Advantage Plan in San Diego5 with the highest member ratings for getting needed care, getting appointments quickly, health care quality and customer service6
  • Best Health Insurance in San Diego in the 2022 San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll7

As part of Sharp HealthCare’s integrated delivery system, Sharp Health Plan works in partnership with their medical groups and physicians to improve health outcomes for all plan members through key preventive health care initiatives. As a result, Sharp Health Plan is also:

  • The highest-rated commercial health plan for rating of blood pressure control in California8
  • The highest-rated commercial health plan for women’s cancer screenings in California for both breast and cervical cancer8

“As a 5-star plan, Medicare beneficiaries can enroll any time during the Annual Open Enrollment Period and during the 5-star special enrollment period that runs Dec. 8, 2022 to November 30, 2023,” said Michael Byrd, vice president and chief business development office at Sharp Health Plan. “With open enrollment happening now, we encourage all San Diegans to get health insurance and to evaluate the quality of their health plan and its network. This year, Sharp Health Plan is offering individual and family plans through Covered California™ for as low as $0 a month, based on eligibility. We’re also offering a $0 VIP Sharp Direct Advantage Medicare Plan with $0 monthly premiums, $0 doctor visits and a comprehensive dental benefit included at no additional cost.”

More information on Sharp Health Plan can be found at sharphealthplan.com/our-plans, and a complete list of the Health Plan’s quality ratings can be found at sharphealthplan.com/honors-awards-ratings.

About Sharp Health Plan

Sharp Health Plan is a locally based, nonprofit health plan that has been serving San Diegans for the past 30 years. Sharp Health Plan offers San Diegans of all ages access to award winning, high-quality and affordable health insurance through their individual and family plans, commercial group plans and Medicare plans. Visit sharphealthplan.com to learn more.

About NCQA

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes clinicians in key clinical areas. NCQA’s HEDIS® is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's website (www.ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices.

Media Contact

John Cihomsky
Sharp HealthCare Public Relations and Communications
john.cihomsky@sharp.com | 1-858-499-4117 Office | 1-760-525-0671 Mobile

1 Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system.

2 Based on U.S. News & World Report’s “2023 Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage” along with 3 other insurers in California.

3 Among reporting California plans. Based on 2015-22 NCQA Quality Compass® CAHPS® results. Quality Compass is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). CAHPS is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

4 The source for this data is Quality Compass® 2022 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Quality Compass® 2022 includes certain CAHPS® data. Any data display, analysis, interpretation or conclusion based on these data is solely that of the authors, and NCQA specifically disclaims responsibility for any such display, analysis, interpretation or conclusion. Quality Compass® is a registered trademark of NCQA. CAHPS® is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Sharp Health Plan achieved the following summary ratings (9+10): 59.05 for Rating of the Health Plan compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 47.93; 59.00 for Rating of Health Care compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 50.13; and 74.67 for Rating of Specialist compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 64.52.

5 Based on a 93% base group in the area of members’ overall rating of their health plan from the 2022 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems® score survey results achieved by Sharp Health Plan.

6 Based on MCAHPS 2022 data.

7 Voted ‘Best Health Insurance’ in the 2021 and 2022 San Diego Union Tribune SD Best Readers Poll.

8 Based on HEDIS MY2021 Commercial data.