The Best Health Plans of 2006

US News and World report in conjunction with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the nations largest accrediting organization for Managed Care, conducts an annual evaluation of Health Plans, and the results for 20006 are in.

The study collected information on health insurance plans and analyzed data in four categories: Access to Care, Overall Customer Satisfaction, Prevention and Treatment. Based on the information collected NCQA then developed a score in each of the categories for a given plan and assigned them a ranking. Some 684 plans were looked at nationwide, a complete listing of the rankings and comparison of plans can be seen at http://www.usnews.com/healthplans. But here then are the top 10 commercial health plans according to the survey. It is interesting to note how many of the health plans in the Top 10 are located in the Northeast, specifically Massachusetts and New York, two States that are known to have taken the lead in trying to provide affordable health insurance options to all of their citizenry.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Massachusetts, Maine
Score: 93.2

Tufts Associated health Maintenance Organization
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island
Score: 92.7

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England
New Hampshire
Score: 92.4

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Score 91.4 

Capital District Physicians' Health Plan
New York
90.8

ConnectiCare
Connecticut
Score: 90.7

UPMC Health Plan
Pennsylvania
Score: 90.7

Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Score: 90.6

Independent Health Association
New York
Score: 90.6

Preferred Care
New York
Score: 90.4

As we start a new year now is the time that many Americans are reevaluating their Health Insurance needs and are looking for a new heath plan or shopping for medical coverage for the first time. The rankings put out by NCQA can prove very helpful in navigating these waters. A Private, Non-Profit Organization NCQA's mission is to improve the quality of the nations healthcare delivery system. The organization oversees the managed care industry and evaluates and reports on various aspects of quality and performance. NCQA also offers a wide range of accreditation and certification programs for healthcare plans, insurance companies, individual physicians and other healthcare providers.