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Medicare drug plan receives 5-Star Rating Only 5-Star prescription drug plan in Iowa and South Dakota

December 05, 2017

Des Moines, IA — MedicareBlue℠ Rx (PDP), offered by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Iowa and South Dakota, achieved a 5-Star rating — the highest possible rating — from the 2018 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Star Rating system. It was only one of seven plans nationwide to receive the 5-Star rating representing “excellent performance.” MedicareBlue Rx is also the only 5-Star prescription drug plan (PDP) in Iowa and South Dakota.

Rating gives consumers flexibility to change plans

All CMS 5-Star plans have a continuous special enrollment period throughout the year. That means individuals can enroll in MedicareBlue Rx at any time, not just during the annual enrollment period. Medicare beneficiaries can:

  • Drop their current Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug or Prescription Drug Plan and enroll in a 5-Star plan at any time.
  • Enroll in a 5-Star plan at any time if they have Original Medicare Parts A and B.
  • Enroll in a 5-Star prescription drug plan at any time if they have Original Medicare Part A or B.

The CMS Star Rating system rates plans on a one-to five-star scale based on the results of several quality measures, with the summary score providing a measure of a plan’s overall quality. This score represents:

  • Quality of care
  • Access to care
  • Responsiveness of plan
  • Member satisfaction

Wellmark also has Medicare supplement plans, to offer seniors a variety of options, so they can select coverage that best meets their individual needs.

Scores for all plans are posted online at Medicare.gov External Site and are released to coincide with Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Learn more about Wellmark's Medicare products.

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Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next. MedicareBlue Rx is a PDP with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in MedicareBlue Rx depends on contract renewal.

WellmarkBlue Supplment℠ plans are specific to Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield South Dakota and Blue Shield of Iowa and can only be purchased by South Dakota or Iowa residents, respectively. MedicareBlue Supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.

Wellmark, Inc. does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., Wellmark Synergy Health, Inc. and Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc., insure or pay health benefit claims for more than 2 million members in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., Wellmark Synergy Health, Inc. and Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

S5743_111717_FF01_IA_SD Internal Approval 11/20/2017

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