Do you use customer ratings on Yelp or Google Reviews to help choose a restaurant or landscaper? Then why not use other CalPERS members’ health care experiences to guide you when choosing a health plan?
Unlike those websites, the CalPERS health team implements a scientific survey at the start of the year about members’ satisfaction with their health plan during the prior year. You can make an informed choice on whether to stay with, or switch, your health plan during Open Enrollment by comparing these reported health plan satisfaction ratings (in the table below).
Average Satisfaction Ratings* for Basic and Medicare Health Plans in 2023 and 2024.
| Average Rating | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | |
| Anthem Blue Cross Select | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Anthem Blue Cross Traditional | 7.6 | 7.7 |
| Blue Shield Access+ | 8.0 | 7.4 |
| Blue Shield Trio | 7.7 | 7.2 |
| CCPOA | 7.9 | 7.7 |
| Health Net Salud y Mas | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 7.6 | 8.0 |
| PERS Platinum | 7.7 | 7.6 |
| PERS Gold | 6.7 | 6.4 |
| Sharp Health Plan | 8.5 | 8.2 |
| UnitedHealthcare Signature Value Alliance | 8.1 | 7.5 |
| UnitedHealthcare Signature Value Harmony | 7.8 | 7.1 |
| Western Health Advantage | 8.1 | 7.9 |
| Overall Average Basic Rating | 7.6 | 7.6 |
| Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Preferred | 8.6 | 8.7 |
| Blue Shield of California Medicare | 8.6 | 8.8 |
| Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage | 8.6 | 8.9 |
| Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Summit | 8.7 | 8.7 |
| PERS Platinum Supplement to Medicare | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| PERS Gold Supplement to Medicare | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| Overall Average Medicare Rating | 8.8 | 8.8 |
*Average satisfaction ratings are calculated using the following question from the Health Plan Member Survey: Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst health plan possible and 10 is the best health plan possible, what number would you use to rate your health plan?
Tell Me More About This Health Plan Survey
CalPERS administers the Health Plan Member Survey, based on the federal Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems health plan survey, which provides a standardized way to compare health plans. The survey asks about members’ experiences with their personal doctor or specialist, ability to get care when they need it, overall satisfaction with their health care, and other health care experiences.
Additionally, we supplement the survey with questions that are specific to our members and our strategic goals. These questions include asking members about their experience with telehealth, care coordination, prescription drug plan, and smoking status.
For example, we learned in 2025 that roughly three out of four members report that their behavioral health access is stable, meaning members were able to get an appointment when they needed. In fact, this number has increased over the past two years from 68.7% to 71.7%. Results from the Health Plan Member Survey such as the prior example help inform the CalPERS health team about how to modify health care initiatives or services.
The mail and web-based survey uses a random sample of members in each plan. Participation is voluntary and the survey takes about 12 to 15 minutes to complete.
We appreciate your participation in the survey. Your responses help us make our health plan and health programs more responsive to your needs and help you make a more informed health plan choice.
Remember the health plan experience ratings and other resources are available on the CalPERS website.