Universal American Announces 2017 Medicare Star Ratings

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Universal American Corp. (NYSE:UAM) announced gains in Medicare Star Quality for 2017 as published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The company's flagship TexanPlus® HMO plan, serving Medicare beneficiaries in Houston-Beaumont, Texas for more than 15 years and representing 57% of current membership, has improved to a 4.5 Star Quality Rating (out of 5 stars).

The company's PPO in the Northeast, Todays Options, maintained its 4 Star Quality Rating (out of 5 stars).

The company's Network Private-Fee-for Service plan in the Northeast was reduced from 4 Stars to 3.5 Stars (out of 5 stars).

The overall enrollment-weighted Star rating for Universal American's Medicare Advantage membership also increased from 3.96 to 4.12 Stars. 72% of our membership is in plans rated 4 Stars or higher (out of 5 stars).

"Our collaboration with primary care physicians, especially in Houston-Beaumont, is the central and defining element of our company's business strategy, and these partnerships are nowhere more active or rewarding than in our Medicare Advantage quality program," said Richard A. Barasch, CEO of Universal American. "We are very proud of this year's ratings which show that we are working even more effectively with our doctors to ensure quality care and improve the experience our members have with us."

Universal American operates Medicare Advantage plans in Texas, New York and Maine. For more information about the company's 2017 Medicare Advantage plans, please visit www.UniversalAmerican.com. 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. The overall rating provides a way for Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to compare performance across plans. Star ratings are posted on the Medicare Plan Finder located at www.medicare.gov. About Universal American Corp. Universal American (NYSE:UAM), through our family of healthcare companies, provides health benefits to people covered by Medicare. We are dedicated to working collaboratively with healthcare professionals, especially primary care physicians, in order to improve the health and well-being of those we serve and reduce healthcare costs. For more information on Universal American, please visit our website at www.UniversalAmerican.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161014005131/en/

Keywords for this news article include: Health Policy, Medicare and Medicaid, Universal American Corp.

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