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Brand New Day Medicare Advantage 2024 Review
Brand New Day’s California-only plans have low maximum out-of-pocket costs, but they don't get good ratings.
Alex Rosenberg Lead Writer | Medicare, health care, legislation
Alex Rosenberg is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has more than 10 years of experience researching and writing about health care, insurance, technology, data privacy and public policy. His research has supported lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Legislature as well as health systems and national health authorities in the U.S. and more than 10 other countries. He is based in Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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Brand New Day
2.5
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Brand New Day sells Medicare Advantage plans only in California. Its plans don't score well for quality or member experience, but they do have low maximum out-of-pocket costs.
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
Low (49% or less)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
1.33 (Below average)
Pros
Maximum out-of-pocket costs are significantly lower than average.
Plenty of $0-premium options.
Cons
Available in only 22 California counties.
Below-average star ratings from CMS.
Poor member experience scores.
States available
1 state
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
Low (49% or less)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
1.33 (Below average)
Pros
Maximum out-of-pocket costs are significantly lower than average.
Plenty of $0-premium options.
Cons
Available in only 22 California counties.
Below-average star ratings from CMS.
Poor member experience scores.
Brand New Day Medicare Advantage plans are available in 22 counties in California. The company's plans have much lower maximum out-of-pocket costs than the average for major providers, but its ratings for quality and member experience are well below average.
Here’s what you should know about Brand New Day Medicare Advantage.
Brand New Day Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Brand New Day’s offerings have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
Low maximum out-of-pocket costs: The average maximum out-of-pocket cost for Brand New Day plans is significantly lower than the average among major providers.
$0-premium options: Most of Brand New Day’s Medicare Advantage plans have $0 premiums — and even the $0-premium plans have lower-than-average maximum out-of-pocket costs.
Cons
Limited area: Brand New Day serves only California. Its plans are available in 22 of California’s 58 counties.
Star ratings: Brand New Day’s rating of 2.5 stars from CMS is well below the national enrollment-weighted average.
Poor member experience: Brand New Day scores badly on ratings for member experience metrics such as getting needed appointments quickly, customer service and care coordination.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) releases annual star ratings that rank each plan from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction.
Based on the most recent year of data and weighted by enrollment, Brand New Day’s 2024 Medicare Advantage plans get an average overall rating of 2.5 stars
Costs for Medicare Advantage plans will depend on your plan, geographic location and health needs.
Premiums
One of the costs to consider is the plan’s premium. In 2024, about 65% of Brand New Day’s Medicare Advantage plans that aren’t special needs plans (SNPs) have $0 premiums
Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $174.70 per month in 2024, although some plans cover part or all of this cost
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out-of-network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and whether the plan charges for them.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Brand New Day plans or compare across carriers.
Brand New Day Medicare Advantage plan types
There are two kinds of Brand New Day Medicare Advantage plans, and they vary in structure, costs and benefits. Most Brand New Day Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.
Plan offerings include the following types:
HMO plans
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
SNPs
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members.
Brand New Day offers two kinds of SNPs for its members:
Chronic Condition SNP: Designed to meet the needs of members living with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and cardiovascular disease.
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Brand New Day Medicare Advantage service area
Brand New Day offers Medicare Advantage plans in 22 counties in California. The company covers about 61,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
