Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sends the Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) to select Medicare members.
This anonymous survey lets you share your thoughts about your health and how it affects your daily life. Your feedback is shared with health plan providers like HealthPartners to help them understand what’s working and where they can improve. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Health Outcomes Survey?
The HOS is a Medicare survey that looks at how your physical and mental health changes over time, and how you’re feeling now. Its focus is how you’re feeling and functioning in daily life, as well as how satisfied you are with your health care coverage. By comparing answers from the same members over time, CMS can see whether people’s health is improving, staying the same or changing.
Who is asked to take the survey?
Each year, Medicare randomly selects members to take the HOS. Selection is not based on your health.
If you’re chosen, you’ll be asked to think back on conversations you’ve had with your doctor about topics like physical activity, fall risk factors and prevention, bladder control, and more. About two years later, you may receive the survey again to check on any changes.
The survey arrives by mail in a white envelope starting in July. You can fill it out on your own or get help from someone you trust, such as a family member, a friend, a power of attorney or an interpreter.
What is the Health Outcomes Survey‑Modified (HOS‑M)?
The Health Outcomes Survey Modified (HOS‑M) is a version of the HOS for Medicare members who are enrolled in Program of All‑Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations. This version of the survey focuses on how these members are doing in everyday life, such as moving around, caring for themselves and handling daily tasks. Taking the survey helps ensure that the experiences of Medicare members with more complex health needs are fully understood and counted. The HOS‑M results can also impact how plan programs are reviewed and paid for, making member input especially valuable.
5 benefits of completing the Health Outcomes Survey
1. Your feedback helps improve your care
From better clinics and preventive care programs to tools that make managing your health easier, your answers to the HOS help us continue to invest in what matters most to you. Your answers also guide us on how we work with your doctors and clinics to help you get the care you need when you need it.
2. Sharing your experiences helps members like you
Taking the survey helps more than just you, it also guides us to support others. It helps us determine the best ways to expand appointment options, communicate clearly, reduce waiting times and improve access for everyone.
3. A chance to reflect on your health
Taking the HOS gives you time to think about your health over the past year and share your experience. You may be asked to think about conversations you’ve had with your doctor, nurse or other health care provider, including topics like:
- Staying active and healthy as you age
- Mental health and emotional well‑being
- Physical activity and exercise
- Fall prevention and balance
- Bladder control
There’s no right or wrong answer, just your honest experience. If you’ve had challenges with walking, getting dressed or bathing, it’s okay to share that. Your answers help improve support for members like you.
4. Your input helps shape health programs and support
Your answers help health plan providers understand what members need most. Feedback is used to improve care programs, wellness services and extra support services for managing health conditions. By sharing your experience, you help make sure members’ voices guide care decisions and shape services that better support people throughout their health journey.
5. Your answers are private and secure
The HOS goes through an outside survey group to protect your identity. So you can say what you think and feel confident that your responses are private.
How Medicare uses the Health Outcomes Survey
Medicare uses this survey to understand how care affects your health and independence. Your feedback is shared with health insurance companies like HealthPartners to help them make their programs better for everyone.
Is the Health Outcomes Survey confidential?
Yes. Your responses won’t affect your membership or benefits. They simply help improve the care you receive.
CAHPS vs. Health Outcomes Survey: what’s the difference?
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) and HOS are both important Medicare surveys, but they focus on different things.
- CAHPS focuses on your experience with care. It asks about things like how easy it is to get appointments, how well doctors communicate and how helpful Member Services has been.
- HOS focuses on your health. It looks at your physical and mental health and how it changes over time, including how health conditions affect your daily activities and quality of life.
Together, they give insurance plans a clearer picture of what’s working and if improvements are needed. When you take one or both surveys, you help Medicare and health plans improve care, support better health outcomes and make sure members’ voices truly matter.
Please participate if Medicare sends you a survey
If you’re one of our members chosen to get the Health Outcomes Survey, we hope you’ll participate. It helps us better support members like you and really makes a difference.