EDISON, N.J., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxford Health Plans (NJ) Inc. has
ranked number one in overall satisfaction when compared against seven other
leading HMOs and Point-of-Service (POS) plans in the state, reports CareData
Reports, Inc., an independent health care research company based in New York.
    The findings are based upon an independent survey of nearly 3,000 health
plan members that represent large employers and coalitions in New Jersey.  The
survey was conducted May through August of this year.  Oxford's New Jersey HMO
plan also took top honors in 1995.
    Oxford's HMO plan was selected number one in 10 of the 11 leading
categories surveyed (with one tie), including overall satisfaction with the
health plan, satisfaction with the quality of medical care and customer
service.  Oxford outranked the HMOs of Aetna-U.S. Healthcare, CIGNA
HealthCare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey, HIP Health Plan of New
Jersey and Prudential HealthCare.
    Oxford's New Jersey POS plan also was selected number one in 10 of the 11
leading categories surveyed.  Again Oxford finished first in overall
satisfaction, quality of care and customer service.  Oxford bested the POS
plans of Aetna-U.S. Healthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey and
Prudential HealthCare.
    "We believe that Oxford's number one ranking is a validation of our
commitment to providing patient-centered care that empowers the patient and
strengthens the doctor-patient relationship," said Kevin Hill, CEO of Oxford
New Jersey.  "We have given our Members the access, information and choice
that they asked for and the result is a very satisfied customer base."

    Oxford's HMO and POS plans ranked number one in the following categories:
    -- overall satisfaction with the health plan
    -- satisfaction with the quality of medical care
    -- overall satisfaction with the primary care physician
    -- overall satisfaction with specialists
    -- satisfaction with the quality and reputation of the plans hospitals
    -- overall satisfaction with customer service and plan administration
    -- satisfaction with the health plan's concern for the Member's well-being
      (tied in HMO plan)
    -- likelihood to recommend the current plan to a friend
    -- likelihood to re-enroll in the current plan

    In addition, in the HMO category, Oxford came in first in Member
satisfaction with its prescription drug plan, and, in the POS category, first
in improving Member health and well-being.
    Oxford is the fastest growing health plan in New Jersey, with more than
430,000 Members in its commercial health care business.  Oxford also provides
health care to more than 60,000 Members in its New Jersey Healthy Start
Medicaid Program and to more than 15,000 Members in its Medicare Advantage
Program, which offers seniors enhanced benefits over traditional Medicare
without any added costs.
    Satisfaction data are important on a couple of levels.  To the company,
they are a means to evaluate consumers' opinions about how it is doing
relative to various aspects of their service and/or product offerings.
"Health plans have their own subjective thoughts about whether or not they are
meeting consumers' expectations.  This survey allows them to see how their
subjective evaluation stands up to an objective examination," said Tony
Morgan, Vice President of Research, CareData Reports, Inc.  "In an industry
where retention is critical, health plans are particularly sensitive to
addressing weak spots in their satisfaction data."
    For consumers, satisfaction data are often the number one way to evaluate
and select among competing health plans.  "Consumers attach significant
importance to these measures because they represent the experiences of people
like themselves, as opposed to being arbitrary evaluative measures or the
opinions of alleged experts," Morgan added.
    Oxford Health Plans, Inc. is one of the fastest-growing managed care
companies in the country.  The company has nearly 2 million members in its
various health programs.  The company is also one of the fastest growing
Medicare managed care plans in the country with more than 130,000 seniors
enrolled in its Medicare Advantage plan.  Product lines include traditional
health maintenance organizations, point-of-service plans, third-party
administration of employer-funded benefits plans, Medicare and Medicaid plans,
and dental plans.  Oxford markets its health plans to employers in New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut through its direct sales force and
through independent agents and brokers.

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