What is the 5-Star Special Enrollment Period?
Special Enrollment Periods allow you to change Medicare plans outside of
the annual Open Enrollment Period (October 15th through December 7th)
and are granted only for exceptional reasons. You
can
click here to read more about Special Enrollment Periods.
One type of relatively new Special Enrollment Period that is available
in a few areas of the country is the 5-star
Special Enrollment Period. As discussed below, the 5-Star Special
Enrollment Period allows you to change enrollment once a year to a
Medicare plan with a 5-star quality rating. You can
click
here to read about the 5-star Special Enrollment Period.
However, "5 Star" rated Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans are available only in a few areas across the country.
Currently, there are approximately 4,090,000 people who could take advantage of the 2015 5-Star Special Enrollment Period (discussed below). These people are enrolled in a Medicare plan that has a star rating of less than 5 stars and there is a 5-Star rated plan available in their area. About 1,153,185 of these members are enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and an additional 2,937,418 people are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.
As many people have found, there are only five "5-Star" rated stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) offered in 2015. These plans include the:
In addition, a 5-star stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) is available statewide in:
-
Iowa - currently 226,740 people enrolled in Iowa PDP plans with less than 5 stars,
- Minnesota - currently 240,817 members enrolled in Minnesota PDP plans with less than 5 stars,
- Montana - 70,606 people enrolled in Montana PDP plans with less than 5 stars,
- Nebraska - currently 138,445 people enrolled in Nebraska PDP plans with less than 5 stars,
- North Dakota - 52,169 people enrolled in North Dakota PDP plans with less than 5 stars,
- South Dakota - currently 70,148 members enrolled in South Dakota PDP plans with less than 5 stars,
- Wisconsin - 310,874 people enrolled in Wisconsin PDP plans with less than 5 stars,
- Wyoming - currently 43,386 members enrolled in Wyoming PDP plans with less than 5 stars.
Again, there are approximately 1,153,185 beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans that have less than a 5-star rating. These plan members are all eligible for the 5-star Special Enrollment Period.
The only available 5-Star 2015 Medicare Advantage plans include:
So a 5-star Medicare Advantage plan may be available to you if you live in a specific county located in:
California (
30 counties),
Colorado (
17 counties),
the
District of Columbia,
Florida (
19 counties),
Hawaii (
3 counties),
Iowa (
5 counties),
Maryland (
11 counties),
Maine (
16 counties),
New Hampshire (
2 counties),
Ohio (
7 counties),
Oregon (
15 counties),
Virginia (
9 counties),
Washington (
16 counties), or
Wisconsin (
11 counties).
Below is a list of counties where 5-star rated Medicare Advantage plans are available. Also listed is the number of members currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans that have a star rating lower than 5 stars. These members,
approximately 2,937,418 people would be eligible to take advantage of the 5-Star Special Enrollment Period:
California 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Alameda County, CA - 2 plans (15,459 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Amador County, CA - 3 plans (567 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Contra Costa County, CA - 2 plans (14,229 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- El Dorado County, CA - 3 plans (2,385 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Fresno County, CA - 3 plans (17,969 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Kern County, CA - 3 plans (20,136 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Kings County, CA - 3 plans (1,328 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Los Angeles County, CA - 2 plans (381,613 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Madera County, CA - 3 plans (2,141 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Marin County, CA - 2 plans (569 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Mariposa County, CA - 3 plans
- Napa County, CA - 2 plans (257 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Orange County, CA - 2 plans (142,448 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Placer County, CA - 3 plans (7,904 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Riverside County, CA - 2 plans (125,712 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Sacramento County, CA - 3 plans (28,903 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- San Bernardino County, CA - 2 plans (95,337 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- San Diego County, CA - 2 plans (123,452 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- San Francisco County, CA - 2 plans (19,306 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- San Joaquin County, CA - 3 plans (13,553 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- San Mateo County, CA - 2 plans (15,988 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Santa Clara County, CA - 2 plans (26,923 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Solano County, CA - 2 plans
- Sonoma County, CA - 3 plans (4,552 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Stanislaus County, CA - 3 plans (21,670 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Sutter County, CA - 3 plans
- Tulare County, CA - 3 plans (6,420 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Ventura County, CA - 2 plans (15,332 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Yolo County, CA - 3 plans (4,002 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Yuba County, CA - 3 plans
Colorado 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Adams County, CO - 4 plans (13,441 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Arapahoe County, CO - 4 plans (17,652 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Boulder County, CO - 4 plans (7,149 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Broomfield County, CO - 4 plans (1,650 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Clear Creek County, CO - 4 plans (172 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Denver County, CO - 4 plans (21,620 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Douglas County, CO - 4 plans (7,523 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- El Paso County, CO - 2 plans (19,654 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Elbert County, CO - 4 plans (350 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Fremont County, CO - 2 plans (2,464 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Gilpin County, CO - 4 plans (31 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Jefferson County, CO - 4 plans (25,190 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Larimer County, CO - 2 plans (11,006 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Park County, CO - 4 plans (307 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Pueblo County, CO - 2 plans (7,836 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Teller County, CO - 2 plans (1,210 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Weld County, CO - 2 plans (8,108 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
District of Columbia 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
Florida 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Brevard County, FL - 2 plans (40,782 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Broward County, FL - 4 plans (133,830 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Duval County, FL - 2 plans (40,450 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Hillsborough County, FL - 5 plans (78,723 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Indian River County, FL - 2 plans (8,209 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Lake County, FL - 3 plans (20,664 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Marion County, FL - 3 plans (34,259 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Martin County, FL - 2 plans (8,897 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Miami-Dade County, FL - 5 plans (230,448 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Okeechobee County, FL - 2 plans (2,427 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Orange County, FL - 3 plans (59,343 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Osceola County, FL - 3 plans (21,478 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Palm Beach County, FL - 5 plans (94,876 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Pasco County, FL - 5 plans (54,993 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Pinellas County, FL - 5 plans (90,439 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Polk County, FL - 5 plans (43,244 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Seminole County, FL - 3 plans (24,076 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- St. Lucie County, FL - 2 plans (21,981 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Sumter County, FL - 3 plans (15,485 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
Hawaii 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
Iowa 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
Maryland 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Anne Arundel County, MD - 5 plans (1,546 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Baltimore County, MD - 5 plans (6,282 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Baltimore City County, MD - 5 plans (9,085 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Calvert County, MD - 5 plans
- Carroll County, MD - 5 plans (81 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Charles County, MD - 5 plans (261 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Frederick County, MD - 5 plans (634 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Harford County, MD - 5 plans (949 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Howard County, MD - 5 plans (883 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Montgomery County, MD - 5 plans (2,480 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Prince George's County, MD - 5 plans (3,978 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
Maine 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Androscoggin County, ME - 2 plans (1,825 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Aroostook County, ME - 2 plans (677 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Cumberland County, ME - 2 plans (6,666 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Franklin County, ME - 2 plans (498 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Hancock County, ME - 2 plans (336 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Kennebec County, ME - 2 plans (2,420 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Knox County, ME - 2 plans (573 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Lincoln County, ME - 2 plans (499 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Oxford County, ME - 2 plans (1,228 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Penobscot County, ME - 2 plans (2,852 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Piscataquis County, ME - 2 plans (114 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Sagadahoc County, ME - 2 plans (691 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Somerset County, ME - 2 plans (355 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Waldo County, ME - 2 plans (651 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Washington County, ME - 2 plans (76 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- York County, ME - 2 plans (5,190 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
New Hampshire 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
Ohio 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Cuyahoga County, OH - 9 plans (65,269 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Geauga County, OH - 9 plans (3,841 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Lake County, OH - 9 plans (11,391 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Lorain County, OH - 9 plans (11,279 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Medina County, OH - 9 plans (7,979 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Portage County, OH - 9 plans (7,984 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Summit County, OH - 9 plans (36,961 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
Oregon 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Benton County, OR - 2 plans (4,512 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Clackamas County, OR - 7 plans (21,340 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Columbia County, OR - 6 plans (2,482 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Crook County, OR - 2 plans (1,127 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Deschutes County, OR - 2 plans (8,535 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Hood River County, OR - 2 plans (720 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Jefferson County, OR - 2 plans (949 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Lane County, OR - 4 plans (31,679 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Linn County, OR - 2 plans (10,645 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Marion County, OR - 6 plans (19,947 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Multnomah County, OR - 7 plans (30,274 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Polk County, OR - 6 plans (5,639 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Washington County, OR - 7 plans (19,179 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Wheeler County, OR - 2 plans (45 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Yamhill County, OR - 6 plans (5,045 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
Virginia 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Alexandria City County, VA - 5 plans (456 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Arlington County, VA - 5 plans (581 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Fairfax County, VA - 5 plans (4,032 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Fairfax City County, VA - 5 plans (98 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Falls Church City County, VA - 5 plans (4 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Loudoun County, VA - 5 plans (1,268 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Manassas City County, VA - 5 plans (286 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Manassas Park City County, VA - 5 plans (27 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Prince William County, VA - 5 plans (2,871 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
Washington State 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Clark County, WA - 6 plans (20,409 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Cowlitz County, WA - 2 plans (4,002 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Grays Harbor County, WA - 4 plans (490 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Island County, WA - 3 plans (2,104 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- King County, WA - 4 plans (64,996 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Kitsap County, WA - 4 plans (3,117 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Lewis County, WA - 6 plans (4,198 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Mason County, WA - 4 plans (302 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Pierce County, WA - 4 plans (29,653 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- San Juan County, WA - 3 plans (251 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Skagit County, WA - 3 plans (2,743 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Snohomish County, WA - 4 plans (37,561 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Spokane County, WA - 2 plans (26,310 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Thurston County, WA - 4 plans (7,748 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Wahkiakum County, WA - 2 plans (47 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Whatcom County, WA - 3 plans (5,904 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
Wisconsin 5-Star Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Buffalo County, WI - 4 plans (434 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Crawford County, WI - 4 plans (257 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Grant County, WI - 4 plans (230 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Jackson County, WI - 4 plans (813 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Juneau County, WI - 4 plans (878 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- La Crosse County, WI - 4 plans (1,852 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Monroe County, WI - 4 plans (803 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Richland County, WI - 4 plans (416 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Sauk County, WI - 4 plans (806 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Trempealeau County, WI - 4 plans (892 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
- Vernon County, WI - 4 plans (363 members in MA/MAPD plans with < 5 stars)
To learn more about taking advantage of the 5-Star Special Enrollment Period, you can telephone a Medicare representative at 1-800-633-4227.