MedicareWebWatch National Certification Recognizes Benchmark & Distinguished 2018 Medicare Advantage Websites

Columbus, OH (February 15, 2018) – HealthMetrix Research Inc., an independent research firm, announces the selection of 43 Medicare Advantage plan websites for MedicareWebWatch national certification.  MedicareWebWatch national certification recognizes excellence in Medicare plan website content, member connectivity, design and transparency.  Nine “benchmark” websites and 34 “distinguished” websites were selected from 160 Medicare Advantage websites after comprehensive site reviews.

According to HealthMetrix Research Inc. president Alan Mittermaier, “These best-of-breed websites demonstrate their growing value as an asset for Medicare Advantage plans to achieve enrollment and customer satisfaction goals.  Providing a high-value, positive website experience that engages plan members and caregivers will also deliver outstanding return on investment in the long-term.  HealthMetrix Research is pleased to recognize these organizations for their forward-looking commitment to website relevance and readiness.”

MedicareWebWatch national certification is based on HealthMetrix Research’s mapping methodology that weighs 50 website features related to:  plan-specific content; external content resources; member connectivity; design and navigation; transparency and privacy disclosure.  Certification details are available at www.MedicareWebWatch.com.  HealthMetrix Research Inc. neither recommends nor endorses specific Medicare plans or products.

Benchmark Websites

Aetna

AvMed

Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan

HealthPartners

Humana

Kaiser Permanente

MVP Health Plan

Priority Health

Providence Health Plans

Distinguished Websites

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

ATRIO Health Plans

Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan

Blue Cross Blue Shield Rhode Island

Blue Cross Blue Shield Western NY

Blue Shield Northeastern NY

Capital Blue Cross

Care N’ Care

ConnectiCare

EmblemHealth

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield

Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield

Fallon Health Plan

Florida Blue

Florida Health Care Plans

Health Alliance Plan

Health First

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

HMSA Blue Cross Blue Shield Hawaii

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield

Independent Blue Cross

Independent Health

MCS Classicare

Peoples Health

Presbyterian Health Plan

Rocky Mountain Health Plans

SCAN

Security Health Plan

Soundpath Health

Tufts Health Plan

UCare

Univera

UPMC

Trusted External Content Still Lacking on Most Medicare Advantage Websites

Trusted external content represents an overlooked asset that is seldom incorporated on Medicare Advantage plan websites.  Frankly, it puzzles me as both a Medicare Advantage plan member and as a website consultant familiar with all 150+ MA plan websites that such content is unavailable to plan members and caregivers.  Too many MA websites simply display the minimum external content or links required by CMS Medicare Marketing Guidelines, e.g., Medicare.gov.  Many websites also include SSA.gov but little more.

Below are two trusted external content resources that should be available on every MA plan website for enhancing user engagement.  Best of all — the content is totally free!

 

Top Posts

• Go paperless—get your “Medicare & You” electronically!
• What is the Donut Hole?
• Spot the signs of ovarian cancer
• Protect your Medicare by protecting your Medicare number
• Turning 65 soon? Transitioning to dual Medicare and Medicaid coverage and getting help with costs
• Finding a hospice provider just got easier
• Get your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) electronically
• 3 tips for people in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program
• Nursing Home Compare quality ratings now work better for you
• Protecting yourself from pneumonia is easy
  

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https://medlineplus.gov/seniors.html

2018 Medicare Marketing Guidelines Impose Minimal New Website Compliance Hurdles

Posted by Alan Mittermaier

The delayed posting of the CY 2018 Medicare Marketing Guidelines on July 20th reveals only modest changes pertaining to Medicare Advantage/Part D website compliance.  Areas involving new and existing compliance clarification include the following:

60.4 – Formulary and Formulary Change Notice Requirements  (pp. 27-28)
60.4.3 – Changes to Printed and Posted Formularies  (p.28)

Comment:  Both of the above clarifications favor document eDelivery opt-in for plan members.

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100.4 – Online Formulary, Utilization Management (UM), and Notice Requirements (p.71)

Comment:  Previous online notification provisions become “must” requirements.

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100.7 – Third-Party Websites (pp.73-74)

Comment:  Includes new guidelines specifically for third-party websites defined as sites not owned by Plan/Part D sponsors, but by companies with whom Plan/Part D sponsors have contracts for the purpose of selling or promoting Medicare products.

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Contact HealthMetrix Research president Alan Mittermaier for additional guidance related to 2018 website compliance and MedicareWebWatch evidence-based build-out strategies.

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Why Do Medicare Advantage Plan Websites Grow Stale and Boring?

Posted by Alan Mittermaier

June 5, 2017

As a Medicare Advantage plan member and 67 year old boomer, I have first-hand perspective both from navigating all 147 Medicare plan websites recently and from my daily use of an array of websites for personal purposes — news, banking, travel, hobbies, purchases.  From such perspective, I can attest there are many more mediocre plan websites than 5-star websites.  Too many websites grow stale (even boring) and offer little good reason for plan members or caregivers to bookmark them for frequent visits.

For starters, here are tips to avoid the curse of the stale Medicare plan website.

1. Think fresh content — The social media boom has upended how all internet users, including boomers, communicate both in terms of speed and frequency.  We go on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and similar social media platforms for fresh content.  Why should Medicare plan websites limit their appeal with predominantly static content?  Refreshing content and informing website visitors about dates for upcoming new content will increase bookmark loyalty and website stickiness.  Relying on various social media platforms for providing fresh content is well and good, however, don’t overlook the member retention value of keeping website content fresh as well.
2. Go for transparency — Virtually every Medicare Advantage website short-changes its plan members, caregivers and prospects on transparency.  The lack of transparency is never more evident than in the presentation of CMS Star ratings.  Posting the minimum overall Star ratings proscribed by the Medicare Marketing Guidelines is of limited value to well-informed beneficiaries without supporting details.  The lone standout for full Star rating transparency is Tufts Health Plan that posts the sub-category performance Star ratings for its health plan (5 sub-categories) and drug plan (4 sub-categories).  Other areas lacking in transparency are the posting of drug formulary changes and Medicare national coverage determinations (NCDs).
3. Member portals matter — Nearly 75% of all Medicare plan websites offer a member-only portal feature, yet fewer than 50% of those member portals go beyond the basic options — e.g., member account details, billing status, change of contact information.  Engaging plan members and caregivers should be the “holy grail” for every Medicare plan website.  Offer members the capability to view their health performance — e.g., test results, wellness activity participation — against their personal goals.  Provide member-only access to health education videos, online health quizzes and interviews with healthcare professionals.  Feature recommended mobile apps and similar resources that support healthy choices and lifestyles.

(This is the fourth in a series highlighting the 2017 MedicareWebWatch project findings)

“2018 Medicare Advantage Website Build Out Strategies” — June 13 GoToMeeting Invitation

Join HealthMetrix Research president Alan Mittermaier for this 45-minute GoToMeeting on June 13 11:00 ET highlighting the 2017 MedicareWebWatch Project  2018 website build out strategies to enhance user engagement.  There is no fee, however, this GoToMeeting is limited to 25 registered participants.  Simply complete and submit the information below for the GoToMeeting confirmation and sign-on instructions.

 

 

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What Prevents Medicare Advantage Plans from Offering 5-Star Websites? [Part 3]

Posted by Alan Mittermaier

May 11, 2017

While only a handful of 2017 Medicare Advantage plans can boast 5-Star CMS overall performance ratings (total of 14 by my count), every plan is capable of building a 5-Star website for their key target audiences — plan members, caregivers, prospects.  Yet, after mapping Medicare plan websites annually since 2009 for the MedicareWebWatch project, it is still disappointing to observe the low engagement experience among so many websites.

The new 2017 MedicareWebWatch project findings breakout 13 “Benchmark” or 5-Star websites plus another 20 “Distinguished” websites.  These highly-rated websites are  not exclusively among the largest Medicare Advantage players.  Many mid-size plan websites are among the highest rated as well.  The common thread among these “Benchmark” and  “Distinguished” websites is their commitment to elevating the user engagement experience.

As a Medicare Advantage plan member and 67 year old boomer, I have a first-hand perspective both from navigating all 147 Medicare plan websites recently and from my daily use of an array of websites for personal purposes — news, banking, travel, purchases.  Below are two advance content features that every Medicare plan website should provide for enhancing the user engagement experience — with examples.

1. New member orientation — Only 25% (36 of 147) of sites provide content or links to new member orientation materials or advice for new members.  Fallon Health and Presbyterian Health Plan offer the best examples.  Special mention to Priority Health for its “Medicare for Dummies” downloadable publication for both new members and prospects.  Providing new member orientation and/or new member advice on websites is an essential reinforcement strategy for maximizing long-term member retention
2. Medicare reminders/health alerts — Just short of 35% (49 of 147) of sites offer Medicare reminders and/or health alerts.  Actually, excluding Medicare national coverage determination (NCDs) postings, there are zero websites offering Medicare reminders.  The primary source for Medicare alerts is the little-known Medicare blog maintained by Medicare.gov.  Go visit this resource and you will  likely wonder why it hasn’t always been linked to your plan’s website and social media platforms.   Best example for offering FDA drug safety alerts is Security Health Plan.  Best example for CDC health safety alerts is Kaiser Permanente.

(This is the third in a series highlighting the 2017 MedicareWebWatch project findings)

“Best Website Content & Feature Picks for User Engagement” — May 9 GoToMeeting Invitation

Join HealthMetrix Research president Alan Mittermaier for this 45-minute GoToMeeting on May 9 1:00ET highlighting the 2017 MedicareWebWatch Project best picks for user engagement across selected website content and features.  There is no fee, however, this GoToMeeting is limited to 25 registered participants.  Simply complete and submit the information below for the GoToMeeting confirmation and sign-on instructions.

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