Health Outcomes Survey (HOS): What Is It and How Does It Help Your Healthcare?
July 09, 2026 | Tags:
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, you may receive a survey from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) called the Health Outcomes Survey, or HOS. If you receive this survey, please complete it! The information received from the HOS can help shape the future of healthcare for millions of MA members. Here’s how your participation helps.
What is the Health Outcome Survey?
The HOS is an annual survey that is specific to Medicare recipients enrolled in MA health plans. The survey collects information to help make widespread improvements to the care, health outcomes and the patient experience for members like you.
How does the HOS work?
Medicare members are randomly selected to participate in the survey. If you’re selected, you’ll receive the survey by mail or be contacted by phone to complete it. You’ll then receive the same survey two years later; this helps measure health changes and challenges over the long term. Think of the HOS like a health check-in for a garden – it looks at growth made over time, not just one moment, and works to make improvements for better progress.
Why does the HOS matter?
The HOS gathers feedback from MA members to understand how well health plans are supporting their health. The results show whether members are maintaining or improving their physical and mental well-being over time. This information helps health plans and healthcare providers improve the services and care they offer.
What questions are in the HOS?
The number of questions in the HOS varies but cover a wide range of health topics related to a member’s physical and mental health, daily activities, sleep patterns and more. Questions types include a simple yes/no, scales for frequency, or degree of difficulty, or multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank.
Your voice makes a difference
The HOS is an important tool for understanding the care MA members receive. Health plans like Medical Mutual use these results to find new and meaningful ways to support our members, and CMS uses it to gauge plan performance and assign star ratings. By completing the survey, you are improving health-care and patient experiences for you and others.
Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) about any health concerns or recent changes to your physical, mental, emotional or cognitive health. Remember, your PCP wants to understand what you’re experiencing, and sharing details helps them support you in ways that genuinely improve your life.
To find a PCP near you, use our Find a Provider search tool or call the Customer Care phone number listed on your member ID card.
Medical Mutual also offers our Nurse Line*, a free call-in service for 24/7 access to highly trained and experienced registered nurses who can help answer your specific health-related questions. Call the Nurse Line toll free at 1-888-912-0636 (TTY: 711 for hearing impaired).
*Refer to your health plan to see what is covered.