FOR RELEASE ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

Sharp Health Plan will offer a Sharp Direct Advantage Plan to eligible CalPERS Medicare beneficiaries in 2021

The San Diego-based health plan announces expanded relationship with long-time partner, CalPERS.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Sharp Health Plan, a not-for-profit, locally-based health plan serving San Diegans of all ages, today announced an expanded partnership with the California Public Employee's Retirement System (CalPERS). Beginning January 2021, Sharp Health Plan will offer a Medicare plan to eligible CalPERS beneficiaries within San Diego County. The new Sharp Direct Advantage® plan will be available during CalPERS' annual open enrollment period that starts Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 16, 2020.

Sharp Health Plan has been serving CalPERS with commercial group plans since 2015, and currently provides health benefits to over 40% of CalPERS' HMO (health maintenance organization) members in San Diego County. During the five-year partnership, Sharp Health Plan has consistently demonstrated the highest-levels of partnership and member satisfaction.

In 2020, Sharp Health Plan's Sharp Performance Plus HMO plan had high CalPERS member satisfaction scores, with an 87.6% overall rating of the health plan. Across its entire book of business, Sharp Health Plan is:

  • The highest member-rated health plan in California.1
  • One of the highest-rated health plans in the nation with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 in the National Committee for Quality Assurance's (NCQA) Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2019-20.2
  • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by Medicare.3

“Sharp Health Plan is a great partner to CalPERS, and is consistently a high-performing health plan in terms of quality scores and patient satisfaction,” said Marta Green, chief, health plan research and administration at CalPERS. “We're excited about offering a Sharp Direct Advantage plan in San Diego County next year because it will offer our retirees' continuity of care from a health plan experience as they age into Medicare.”

As part of the Sharp HealthCare integrated delivery system, Sharp Health Plan's population health management program plays an important role in its clinical quality, patient ratings and affordability. “Our population health approach provides savings and predictability for employers because of the way in which our hospitals, medical groups, and health plan are all aligned in managing care,” explains Michael Byrd, vice president and chief business development officer at Sharp Health Plan. “This approach allows us to offer some of the most affordable rates in San Diego County, and when you couple affordability with clinical excellence and an unparalleled patient experience, you can see why Sharp Health Plan has grown so much over recent years.”

"We're thrilled to expand our partnership with CalPERS,” said Melissa Hayden Cook, president and chief executive officer of Sharp Health Plan. “Our affordable, high-quality plans make it simple for CalPERS employees and retirees who are insured with Sharp Health Plan to get care quickly and stay healthy.”

To learn more about Sharp Health Plan, and its plan offerings, please visit sharphealthplan.com.

About Sharp Health Plan

Sharp Health Plan is a locally based, not-for-profit health plan that has been serving San Diegans for over 25 years. With more than 145,000 members, Sharp Health Plan offers San Diegans access to high quality and affordable health insurance through its individual and family plans, commercial group plans, and Medicare plans. Sharp Health Plan continues to be recognized nationally and locally for its award-winning healthcare for San Diegans of all ages. Visit sharphealthplan.com to learn more.

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. The source for this data is Quality Compass® 2019 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Quality Compass® 2019 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): 57.30 for Rating of the Health Plan compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 47.23; 65.25 for Rating of Health Care compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 51.87; 74.47 for Rating of Personal Doctor compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 65.60 and 75.68 for Rating of Specialist compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 63.50.

2. Rating of 4.5 out of 5 in NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2019-20. National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and manages the evolution of HEDIS®, the performance measurement tool used by more than 90% of the nation's health plans. Visit ncqa.org for information that can help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.

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