On October 11, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a press release announcing its Star Ratings for the 2018 Medicare health and drug plans. CMS noted that there will be a higher number of plans with quality ratings of four stars or more in 2018.

Specific plan listings are available on the CMS website. Higher quality ratings are tied to significant financial bonuses for insurers, encouraging them to undertake various initiatives to boost their scores, such as broadening the services covered, expanding service areas, increasing local health plan staffing, and creating innovative relationships with their network providers.

On September 29, CMS had previously released benefit and premium information for 2018 Medicare health and drug plans, which showed that there will be more health coverage choices and decreased premiums in 2018.

Medicare Open Enrollment for 2018 Medicare health and drug plans began on October 15 and will end on December 7.


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