FOR RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 8, 2021

Sharp Health Plan’s Medicare Advantage plans are top rated by U.S. News & World Report and earned 5 out of 5 stars from Medicare

Highest possible ratings reflect Sharp Health Plan’s commitment to its Medicare members.

Best Insurance Companies - Medicare Advantage - California (US News & World Report)

SAN DIEGO — Sharp Health Plan, a nonprofit, locally-based health plan serving San Diegans of all ages, was named in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report list of Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage in California for the second year in a row.

In addition to being one of the best insurance companies for Medicare Advantage in California, Sharp Health Plan is also among the highest rated in the country, with an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars from Medicare for 2022. This is Medicare's highest possible rating, reflecting the extra steps Sharp Health Plan takes to do what's right for its members.

“Earning 5 stars from Medicare is a tremendous achievement,” says Chris Howard, chief executive officer of Sharp HealthCare. “Sharp Health Plan’s sheer number of best-in-class accolades this year is a testament to its superior quality, and a very important part of our world-class delivery system.”

These honors build on Sharp Health Plan’s commitment to deliver high-quality coverage and service, resulting in national, statewide and local recognitions, including the following:

  • Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage in California by U.S. News & World Report for 20221
  • 5 out of 5 stars from Medicare for 20222
  • Highest member-rated Medicare Advantage plan in San Diego for 20223
  • Highest member-rated health plan in California for the seventh year in a row4, with the highest member ratings for health care, personal doctor and specialist among reporting California health plans5
  • 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 2020-216
  • 5 out of 5 stars from the Office of the Patient Advocate for overall patient experience for 2020-217
  • Best Insurance Provider in the 2021 San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll8

“These quality ratings are the result of Sharp’s integration, where world-class care and coverage come together. Thank you to our incredible provider and pharmacy partners and our amazing employees for delivering The Sharp Experience each and every day,” says Melissa Hayden Cook, president and chief executive officer of Sharp Health Plan. “With Medicare’s Annual Election Period happening now, we encourage all Medicare-eligible San Diegans to enroll in Medicare Advantage to receive the highest quality, coordinated care at the best value versus original Medicare.”

This year, Sharp Health Plan introduced a new Sharp Direct Advantage® VIP Plan that offers more value and extras like $0 monthly plan premiums, $0 primary care and specialist visits and much more. Visit sharpmedicareadvantage.com/our-plans to learn more about Sharp Health Plan’s Medicare Advantage plans, or sharphealthplan.com/honors for a complete list of quality ratings.

About Sharp Health Plan

Sharp Health Plan is a locally based, nonprofit health plan that has been serving San Diegans for almost 30 years. With 145,000 members, Sharp Health Plan offers San Diegans access to high-quality and affordable health insurance through their individual and family plans, commercial group plans, and Medicare plans. They continue to be recognized nationally and locally for their award-winning healthcare for San Diegans of all ages. Visit sharphealthplan.com to learn more.

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.

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 Based on U.S. News & World Report’s “2022 Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage” in California along with 4 other insurers in California. Sharp Health Plan was also named to the “2021 Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage” list along with 3 other insurers in California.

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

3 Based on a 91% base group in the area of members’ overall rating of their health plan from the 2021 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems® score survey results achieved by Sharp Health Plan and SCAN Health Plan.

4 Among reporting CA plans. Based on 2015 - 2021 NCQA Quality Compass CAHPS results. Quality Compass is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

5,6 The source for this data is Quality Compass® 2021 and is used with the permission of the NCQA. Quality Compass® 2021 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 AHRQ. Sharp Health Plan achieved the following summary ratings (9+10):64.73 for Rating of the Health Plan compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 50.74; 69.47 for Rating of Health Care compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 56.87; 75.69 for Rating of Personal Doctor compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs & EPOs) of 65.86; and 76.15 for Rating of Specialist compared to the California all LOBs average (excluding PPOs &EPOs) of 68.84.

7 The source for data contained in this publication is Quality Compass® 2021 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Quality Compass® 2021 includes certain Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (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).

8 Voted ‘Best Insurance Provider’ in the 2021 San Diego Union Tribune SD Best Readers Poll.