Over 31 million people have access to a 2023 Medicare Advantage plan with a 5-Star quality rating - and this means these people have the option of using the 5-Star 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 31 million Medicare beneficiaries can use the 2023 5-star SEP?

In 2023, 5-Star rated Medicare Advantage plans are available in 1,656 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 31,276,553 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 2022 CMS Enrollment Data)


More about the 5-star Medicare plans that are available in 2023

The chart below lists the carriers whose Medicare Advantage plans have a 5-Star CMS quality rating for the plan year 2023. 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
Alignment Health Plan	H5296	48
Baylor Scott & White Health Plan	H8142	206
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island	H3557	5
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island	H4152	35
Blue Plus	H2425	87
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee	H7917	478
CARE N' CARE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH CAROLINA	H9808	22
CDPHP Medicare Advantage	H3388	134
CDPHP Medicare Advantage	H3388	4
CDPHP Medicare Advantage	H5042	92
Cigna	H4513	795
Dean Advantage, Prevea360 Medicare Advantage	H9096	62
Dean Health Plan, Inc.	H5264	16
Devoted Health	H2697	235
Essence Healthcare	H2610	95
Excellus Health Plan, Inc	H3351	87
HealthPartners	H4882	212
HealthSun Health Plans, Inc.	H5431	11
Highmark BCBS of WNY and Highmark BS of NENY	H5526	72
Highmark Inc.	H3916	406
Highmark Inc.	H3957	180
Highmark Inc.	H5106	258
Humana	H0292	15
Humana	H1951	279
Humana	H4461	441
Independence Blue Cross	H3952	35
Independent Health	H3344	16
Independent Health	H3362	49
Kaiser Permanente	H0524	91
Kaiser Permanente	H0630	66
Kaiser Permanente	H1170	84
Kaiser Permanente	H1230	6
Kaiser Permanente	H2172	105
KelseyCare Advantage	H0332	41
Martin's Point Generations Advantage	H5591	66
Medical Associates Clinic Health Plan of Wisconsin	H5256	12
Medical Associates Health Plan, Inc.	H1651	76
Medical Mutual of Ohio	H4497	290
Medical Mutual of Ohio	H6723	334
MVP HEALTH CARE	H3305	241
MVP HEALTH CARE	H3305	27
Network Health Medicare Advantage Plans	H5215	154
Optimum HealthCare, Inc.	H5594	114
Peoples Health	H1961	163
PrimeTime Health Plan	H3664	48
Priority Health Medicare	H2320	209
Quartz Medicare Advantage	H5262	288
Quartz Medicare Advantage	H9834	20
SelectHealth	H1994	65
Sharp Health Plan	H5386	3
SummaCare Medicare Advantage Plans	H3660	164
Tufts Health Plan	H2256	78
UnitedHealthcare	H0710	611
UnitedHealthcare	H2001	56
UnitedHealthcare	H2292	61
UnitedHealthcare	H4590	164
UnitedHealthcare	H5322	632
UnitedHealthcare	H5652	118
UPMC for Life	H3907	306
UPMC for Life	H5533	221
VIVA Medicare	H0154	196

The chart below lists the states where 5-Star rated Medicare Advantage plans are available in 2023.

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 2023 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	44	558,303
AR	45	366,043
AZ	4	822,563
CA	31	3,157,562
CO	15	443,280
CT	8	476,170
DC	1	49,788
DE	3	131,008
FL	30	2,800,364
GA	154	1,118,031
HI	3	118,231
IA	46	287,617
ID	16	140,075
IL	34	1,202,936
IN	33	646,739
KS	63	351,313
KY	17	220,975
LA	64	364,046
MA	10	706,222
MD	14	408,173
ME	16	162,097
MI	68	1,141,655
MN	87	706,286
MO	21	536,524
MS	7	132,240
NC	43	792,685
NH	10	192,974
NJ	19	991,693
NV	2	280,202
NY	62	2,172,994
OH	88	1,541,174
OK	73	469,126
OR	11	370,332
PA	67	1,447,813
RI	5	109,706
SC	9	417,361
TN	95	810,092
TX	163	2,492,753
UT	22	248,994
VA	28	432,935
VT	14	102,456
WA	14	702,685
WI	49	422,805
WV	48	229,532