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Comparing Health Care Providers



How do I compare the quality fo Health Care Providers?
Medicare collects information about the quality and safety of medical care and services given by most health care providers (and facilities).

Check Medicare.gov/quality-care-finder and get a snapshot of the quality of care they give their patients. Some feature a star rating system to help you compare quality measures that are important to you.

Find out more by:

  • Talking to your health care provider. Each health care provider should have someone you can talk to about quality.
  • Asking your doctor or other health care provider what he or she thinks about the quality of care other providers give. You can also ask your doctor or other health care provider about the quality of care information you find on Medicare.gov.
Having access to quality and cost information upfront helps you get a complete picture of your health care options. You'll be able to compare quality ratings, cost information, and other details to help you get the best value for your health care.


How do I compare the quality of Medicare health and drug plans?
The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov/plan-compare features a star rating system for Medicare health and drug plans. The Overall Star Rating gives an overall rating of the plan's quality and performance for the types of services each plan offer.



For plans covering health services, this is an overall rating for the quality of many medical/health care services that fall into 5 categories and includes:


1. Staying healthy - screening tests and vaccines: Whether members got various screening tests, vaccines, and other check-ups to help them stay healthy.

2. Managing chronic (long-term) conditions: How often members with certain conditions got recommended tests and treatments to help manage their condition.

3. Member experience with the health plan: Member ratings of the plan.

4. Member complaints and changes int the health plan's performance: How often members had problems with the plan. Includes how much the plan's performance improved (if at all) over time.

5. Health plan customer service: How well the plan handles member calls questions.








For plans that cover the prescription drug, this is an overall rating for the quality of prescription-related services that fall into 4 categories and includes:

1. Drug plan customer service: How well the plan handles member calls and questions.

2. Member complaints and changes in the drug plan's performance: How often members had problems with the plan. Includes how much the plan's performance improved over time. 

3. Member experience with drug plan: Member ratings of the plan.

4. Drug safety and accuracy of drug pricing: How accurate the plan's pricing information is and how often members with certain medical conditions are prescribed drugs in a way that's safer and clinically recommended for their condition.


For plans that cover both health services and prescription drugs, the overall rating for quality and performance covers all the topics above. 

You can compare the quality of health care providers and Medicare plan services nationwide by visiting Medicare.gov or by calling your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). 






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