Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sends the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey to select Medicare members.
Through this anonymous survey, patients and plan members can share important feedback that helps shape health care services and plans, from overall coverage to benefits. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Medicare CAHPS health plan survey, and what is its purpose?
The Medicare CAHPS survey is an annual questionnaire that assesses Medicare members’ experiences with their health care services and coverage. When you answer the survey questions, you get a chance to share your experiences. Question topics can include how easy it was to contact your doctor and get an appointment, if you were able to get the care and medications you needed, if your plan covers the services you need most, and more.
How taking the CAHPS survey benefits you
Answering the CAHPS survey is your chance to share which elements of your health care and coverage matter most to you. Your insurer can use your anonymous feedback to shape your plan and benefits, improving quality of care, clinics, preventive care programs and tools that make managing your health easier. Your feedback will help your insurer prioritize the benefits you need, like drug cost estimators, nurse support lines and more.
When the CAHPS survey is administered
The CAHPS survey is sent out in March to randomly selected members. The cutoff for responding is in May.
How the CAHPS survey is administered
You can complete the CAHPS survey by mail, email or telephone. If you need some help, you can fill out the survey yourself or with the support of a loved one, power of attorney or interpreter. Look for an email invitation from a survey vendor called PressGaney and for a white envelope in your mailbox.
Is the CAHPS survey mandatory?
No, the CAHPS survey isn’t mandatory, but participation is highly recommended. If you receive the survey, you have the chance to help yourself and others get the most out of your health plan. At HealthPartners, this feedback helps us to recognize improvements in care, making services more affordable and accessible.
Is the CMS Medicare survey legitimate?
Yes, the “CMS Medicare survey” is another name for the CAHPS survey. To determine whether a CAHPS survey or email is legitimate, read it carefully and call your insurance’s Member Services team if you have questions. And remember – the CAHPS survey request should arrive between March and May.
It’s time to shape your care and coverage
Your health care experience matters! By sharing your experiences, you can inspire direct change to your care and coverage that helps better meet your and your community’s needs. For organizations like HealthPartners, your responses highlight our mission to make care simpler, more affordable and more convenient.