Over 30 million people have access to a 2022 Medicare Advantage plan with a 5-Star quality rating - and this means these people have the option of using the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to change to a 5-Star Medicare plan once during the year.

A little background: What is the 5-Star Special Enrollment Period?

Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) allow you to change Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) that runs from October 15th through December 7th.  But, SEPs are usually granted only for exceptional reasons or circumstances (such as when you move to a new area of the country).  However, one of the most accessible Special Enrollment Periods (available in specific areas of the country) is the 5-star Special Enrollment Period. The 5-star SEP allows anyone in the Service Area the opportunity to leave their current Medicare plan and join a 5-star rated Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan - at any time during the year - but you can only use the SEP once during the plan year.  You can even leave your 5-star rated Medicare plan to join another 5-star plan that may be available in your area.

You can click here to read more about the 5-star Special Enrollment Period - with a few cautions about choosing your 5-star plan.  You can click here to read more about other Special Enrollment Periods.

How is it possible that 30 million Medicare beneficiaries can use the 2022 5-star SEP?

In 2022, 5-Star rated Medicare Advantage plans are available in 1,626 counties across 44 states.  Unfortunately, the only 5-star rated Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) are employer/union plans.

Currently*, there are approximately 30,553,379 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare plan that has a star rating of less than 5 stars - and these people are living in counties where a 5-star Medicare Advantage plan is available (MA, MAPD, or SNPs).

(*Using September 2021 CMS Enrollment Data)


More about the 5-star Medicare plans that are available in 2022

The chart below lists the carriers whose Medicare Advantage plans have a 5-Star CMS quality rating for the plan year 2022. Since there are more 5-star Medicare Advantage plans than ever before, we are not able to list each plan individually.

Carriers Offering 5-Star Rated Medicare Advantage Plans (MA, MAPD)
Carrier	Contract ID	Nbr of Counties
Aetna Medicare	H3597	32
Aetna Medicare	H5522	201
Asuris Northwest Health	H5010	6
BayCare Health Plans	H2235	12
Blue Care Network	H5883	298
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island	H3557	5
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island	H4152	40
Blue Plus	H2425	62
Capital Health Plan	H5938	21
CARE N' CARE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH CAROLINA	H9808	14
CarePlus Health Plans, Inc.	H1019	104
CDPHP Medicare Advantage	H3388	130
CDPHP Medicare Advantage	H5042	78
Cigna	H5410	89
Commonwealth Care Alliance, Inc.	H2225	10
Dean Advantage, Prevea360 Medicare Advantage	H9096	61
Dean Health Plan, Inc.	H5264	24
Essence Healthcare	H2610	33
Excellus Health Plan, Inc	H3351	95
HealthPartners	H2422	12
HealthPartners	H2462	165
HealthPartners	H4882	190
HealthPartners UnityPoint Health	H3416	96
HealthSun Health Plans, Inc.	H5431	12
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New Yo	H5526	54
Highmark Inc.	H3916	344
Highmark Inc.	H3957	175
Humana	H0292	10
Humana	H1951	215
Humana	H4461	421
Independence Blue Cross	H3952	30
Independent Health	H3344	16
Independent Health	H3362	49
Kaiser Permanente	H0524	85
Kaiser Permanente	H0630	53
Kaiser Permanente	H1170	54
Kaiser Permanente	H1230	6
Kaiser Permanente	H2172	96
Kaiser Permanente	H5050	48
Kaiser Permanente	H9003	38
KelseyCare Advantage	H0332	41
Martin's Point Generations Advantage	H1365	26
Martin's Point Generations Advantage	H5591	73
Medical Associates Clinic Health Plan of Wisconsin	H5256	12
Medical Associates Health Plan, Inc.	H1651	74
Medical Mutual of Ohio	H4497	290
My Choice Wisconsin Health Plan	H5209	46
Network Health Medicare Advantage Plans	H5215	131
NHC Advantage	H4172	43
Optimum HealthCare, Inc.	H5594	109
Peoples Health	H1961	163
PrimeTime Health Plan	H3664	48
PrimeWest Health	H2416	13
Providence Medicare Advantage Plans	H9047	73
Quartz Medicare Advantage	H5262	270
Quartz Medicare Advantage	H9834	20
SelectHealth	H1994	61
Sharp Health Plan	H5386	3
South Country Health Alliance	H2419	9
Tufts Health Plan	H2256	78
UCare	H2459	558
UnitedHealthcare	H0169	298
UnitedHealthcare	H0294	246
UnitedHealthcare	H0710	518
UnitedHealthcare	H2001	54
UnitedHealthcare	H2226	20
UnitedHealthcare	H2292	49
UnitedHealthcare	H3794	70
UnitedHealthcare	H4590	154
UnitedHealthcare	H5253	1,339
UnitedHealthcare	H5420	6
UnitedHealthcare	H5652	113
UPMC for Life	H3907	343
UPMC for Life	H5533	120
VIVA Medicare	H0154	182
Wellcare	H5087	20

The chart below lists the states where 5-Star rated Medicare Advantage plans are available in 2022.

Once on the state page, you can click on your county to see a list of plans available along with plan highlights and links to plan details, formulary, and star rating details.  Any plan marked with the qualifies for the 2022 5-Star Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Medicare beneficiaries currently enrolled any MA, MAPD, or PDP plan (including people already enrolled in another Medicare plan with 5-star rating) can take advantage of the 5-star Special Enrollment Period. The 5-star rating SEP can only be used one time during the plan year. 

Remember:  If you are currently enrolled in a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan (PDP) and wish to join a 5-star Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD or SNP), you must also be enrolled in Original Medicare Part A and Part B - and meet the eligibility requirements if the plan is a Special Needs Plan (SNP).  Click here to read more about 5-star SEP cautions.

States, County Count, and Number of Medicare Beneficiaries Who Can Take Advantage of a 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans (MA, MAPD)
State	Nbr of Counties	Nbr of People
AL	36	538,263
AZ	6	815,564
CA	31	3,174,529
CO	15	424,087
CT	8	462,457
DC	1	48,601
DE	3	124,875
FL	40	2,894,334
GA	42	720,309
HI	3	113,032
IA	87	461,488
ID	16	140,588
IL	42	1,239,468
IN	29	586,647
KS	55	319,167
KY	56	419,251
LA	64	619,405
MA	11	710,287
ME	16	197,593
MI	74	1,168,456
MN	87	815,619
MO	115	885,338
MS	7	127,508
NC	59	1,071,795
ND	14	64,885
NE	46	218,074
NH	10	184,753
NV	2	271,240
NY	58	2,258,167
OH	85	1,643,878
OK	5	209,264
OR	15	394,785
PA	67	1,888,246
RI	5	166,138
SC	13	457,858
SD	11	68,244
TX	67	1,983,354
UT	20	269,091
VA	84	745,266
WA	19	792,164
WI	72	859,311