2008 Rankings For America's Best Health Plans Released - Nearly 700 Health Plans Evaluated

Only one listed here in California, Kaiser Permanente under top 5 Medicare plans, and most I noticed were located in the northeast portion of the US.

In California we are looking at even more healthcare budget cuts and a potential sales tax hike.

“The proposed health cuts would mean hundreds of thousands of Californians would lose coverage, and millions would lose dental, vision, podiatry, and other vital benefits. There are specific cuts to seniors, immigrants, public hospitals, and other groups. These cuts will also mean California will lose federal matching funds, further harm our already broken health system, and our economy.”

No wonder we didn’t do too well in the analysis in California. More on the overall rankings can be read here. BD

U.S. News Media Group and The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) today released the fourth annual edition of America's Best Health Plans on USNews.com. Launched at the start of open-enrollment season, when millions of Americans prepare to select their healthcare coverage, the 2008 Best Health Plans guide provides comprehensive rankings and important consumer information for nearly 700 commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health plans. The full rankings of America's Best Health Plans are online today at http://www.usnews.com/healthplans, and the top 50 commercial, top 25 Medicare, top 25 Medicaid, and "Honor Roll" health plans will be featured in the November 17-24 issue of U.S. News, available on newsstands on Monday, November 10.

The 2008 America's Best Health Plans rankings are based on more than 100 aspects of prevention, treatment, and consumer experience, such as how quickly members receive needed care or how well a plan controls blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes. The Best Health Plans guide also identifies 126 plans that chose to report no data.

Top 10 Commercial Plans
1. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (Maine, Mass.)
2. Tufts Associated Health Maintenance Organization (Mass., N.H., R.I.)
3. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England (N.H.)
4. Grand Valley Health Plan (Mich.)
5. Geisinger Health Plan (Pa.)
6. Health New England (Conn., Mass.)
7. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield - Connecticut
8. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin
9. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts
10. CIGNA HealthCare of New Hampshire
Top 5 Medicare Plans
1. Preferred Care (N.Y.)
2. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Southern California
3. Geisinger Health Plan (Pa.)
4. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts
5. Security Health Plan of Wisconsin
Top 5 Medicaid Plans
1. Fallon Community Health Plan (Mass.)
2. Neighborhood Health Plan (Mass.)
3. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (N.Y.)
4. Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island
5. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Hawaii