Results by Enrollee Population

This section presents a summary of results for each of the health plan enrollee populations included in the 2017 CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database. Results are presented in the form of bar charts that graphically show the distribution of scores for the four composites, the individual question items that compose each composite, and the four ratings. Appendix B lists the composites, individual items, and ratings for the 5.0 version of the CAHPS Health Plan Survey.

The bar charts are composed of colored segments that show the percentage of responses in each of the response categories. For questions and composites based on 4-point response scales (i.e., "always", "usually", "sometimes", "never"), the left-most segment combines the two lowest response categories (i.e., "sometimes" and "never").

All results presented in these charts are calculated at the respondent level. Survey results are presented in the following order:

Adult Medicaid
Child Medicaid
CHIP
Medicare

To provide context for the 2017 results, the percentage distribution of survey respondents by State for each population is shown graphically at the beginning of each section. The actual number of respondents by State is shown in Appendix A.

Trend data for the Adult and Child Medicaid and Medicare enrollee populations are presented for 2007 to 2017. Trend data for the CHIP enrollee population are presented for 2011 to 2017. The contract that supports the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) program expired during 2012, and a new contract was awarded in 2013; therefore, the CAHPS Database does not include CAHPS Health Plan Survey data for 2012.

Although the number and mix of health plans within each enrollee population vary slightly from year to year, there has been a fairly consistent level of participation during this time span within the Adult Medicaid, Child Medicaid, and Medicare populations. The number of plans and respondents shown in each table provides some indication of the variation in the data sources from year to year. And although the CAHPS Health Plan Survey instrument changed slightly during this period with the transition from the 4.0 to the 5.0 version, changes to individual question items were very minor, and there were no changes in the rating questions or the definition of the composites.

As noted earlier, detailed results for each question item are available through the CAHPS Database Online Reporting System.

Adult Medicaid

Percentage Distribution of 2017 Survey Respondents by State

Percentage distribution of 2017 survey respondents by state.

Adult Medicaid 2017 Results

Composites and Items with ratings of never/sometimes, usually, and always.

Getting care quickly composite as far as always, sometimes, and never.

The composite of how well doctors communicate with always, sometimes, and never responses.

The percent of respondents who answered always, sometimes or never for the composite item of health plan information.

The rating of medical professionals on a scale of 0 to 10.

Adult Medicaid Trends

Figure 1. Adult Medicaid Top-Box Composite Scores 2007–2017

Figure 1. Adult Medicaid top-box composite scores 2007 to 2017

Figure 2. Adult Medicaid Top-Box Rating Scores 2007–2017

Figure 2. Adult Medicaid top-box rating scores 2007 to 2017

Table 2. Adult Medicaid Composition of the CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database 2007–2017

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Number of Plans	109	120	126	186	148	124	149	133	157	152
Number of Respondents	45,979	59,840	63,391	97,626	73,820	60,249	68,234	61,369	73,155	65,053

Notes: (1) From 2007–2011, the Database reported Adult Medicaid version 4.0. (2) From 2013–2017, the Database reported version 5.0 for Adult Medicaid.

Child Medicaid

Percentage Distribution of 2017 Survey Respondents by State

Percentage distribution of 2017 survey respondents by state. Child Medicaid.

Child Medicaid 2017 Results

The percentage of respondents who answered never, usually, and always for getting the care a child needs.

Getting care quickly for a child with responses of never, usually, and always.

Responses of never, usually, and always for how well the child's doctors communicate.

The responses of never, usually, and always for health plan information and customer service composites.

The rating of 0 to 10 of a child's personal doctor, specialist, health care, and health plan.

Child Medicaid Trends

Figure 3. Child Medicaid Top-Box Composite Scores 2007–2017

Figure 3. Child Medicaid top-box composite scores 2007 to 2017

Figure 4. Child Medicaid Top-Box Rating Scores 2007–2017

Figure 4. Child Medicaid top-box rating scores 2007 to 2017

Table 3. Child Medicaid Composition of the CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database 2007–2017

Child Medicaid Composition

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Number of Plans	16	29	107	132	129	105	100	136	132	169
Number of Respondents	4,647	9,755	68,697	88,694	85,003	66,804	60,153	91,049	79,058	103,283

Notes: (1) From 2007-2011, the Database reported Child Medicaid version 4.0. (2) From 2013-2017, the Database reported version 5.0 for Child Medicaid.

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Percentage Distribution of 2017 Survey Respondents by State

CHIP percentage distribution of 2017 survey respondents by state

CHIP 2017 Results

Always, usually, and never responses for the composites of getting needed care for a child.

Always, usually, and never responses for the composite of getting care quickly for a child.

The responses of always, usually, and never for the composite of how well a child's doctors communicate.

The responses of never, usually, and always for the composite of health plan information and customer service.

The rating from 0 to 10 for the overall rating of a child's medical professionals.

CHIP Trends

Figure 5. CHIP Top-Box Composite Scores 2011–2017

Figure 5 shows the CHIP top-box composite scores from 2011 to 2017

Figure 6. CHIP Top-Box Rating Scores 2011–2017

Figure 6 shows the CHIP top-box rating scores from 2011 to 2017.

Table 4. CHIP Composition of the CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database 2011–2017

CHIP Medicaid Composition

	2011	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Number of Plans	41	12	15	19	21	23
Number of Respondents	26,232	9,149	11,762	13,466	14,999	15,221

Notes: (1) In 2011, the Database reported CHIP Medicaid version 4.0. (2) From 2013-2017, the Database reported version 5.0 for CHIP Medicaid.

Medicare

Percentage Distribution of 2017 Survey Respondents by State

Medicare map showing percentage distribution of 2017 survey respondents by state.

Medicare 2017 Results

The percentage of never, usually, and always for the composite of getting needed care.

The percentage of responses of always, usually, and never for the composite of getting appointments and care quickly.

The percentage of responses of always, usually, and never for the composite of doctors who communicate well.

The percentage of responses of always, usually, and never for the composite of customer service.

The rating from 0 to 10 for the overall rating of medical professionals.

Medicare Trends

Figure 7. Medicare Top-Box Composite Scores 2007–2017

Figure 7 shows the Medicare top-box composite scores from 2007 to 2017

Data not available for 2007 Health Plan Information and Customer Service composite.

Figure 8. Medicare Top-Box Rating Scores 2007–2017

Figure 8 shows the Medicare top-box rating scores from 2007 to 2017

Table 5. Medicare Composition of the CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database 2007–2017

Medicare Composition

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Number of Plans	296	343	405	431	445	451	443	431	382	397
Number of Respondents	115,910	207,366	206,647	221,120	163,182	198,350	195,748	155,095	147,908	194,916

Note: (1) From 2007-2017, the Database collected Medicare version 4.0 only

SHARE:

2017 CAHPS Health Plan Survey Chartbook