Medicare Advantage members are on average more satisfied with their health plans than commercial plan members, according to a survey from J.D. Power.
MA members gave their plan an average satisfaction score of 774 out of 1,000, compared to commercial plan members who gave their plans a 679. However, despite this, less than half of MA members strongly agree their health plan is a "trusted partner in their health and wellness," according to the report.
Those who were not satisfied with their plans may include the high-cost, complex patient population: A recent study in Health Affairs showed these patients are more likely to switch from MA to traditional Medicare than vice versa, suggesting the MA program is not equipped to meet long-term or post-acute care needs.
Among those who are extremely satisfied with MA and gave their plans a score of 901 or higher, most (89 percent) said they would renew their plan and would recommend it to family or a friend (88 percent), according to J.D. Power. The survey noted loyalty and advocacy dropped as satisfaction decreased.
Based on responses from more than 2,700 MA members, J.D. Power ranked 10 national MA health plans, which represent 67 percent of the MA market, by member satisfaction. Here is how the 10 plans stack up on their average member satisfaction score, according to J.D. Power.
1. Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.) — 842 out of 1,000
2. Highmark (Pittsburgh, Pa.) — 773
3. Humana (Louisville, Ky.) — 759
4. UnitedHealthcare (Minnetonka, Minn.) — 752
5. Cigna (Bloomfield, Conn.) — 751
6. BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan (Detroit) — 748
7. Health Net (Woodland Hills, Calif.) — 747
8. Aetna (Hartford, Conn.) — 746
9. WellCare (Tampa, Fla.) — 742
10. Anthem (Indianapolis) — 732
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