Data Sources & Methodology

Purpose and Scope

MedicareWire is an independent, non-government informational resource designed to explain Medicare accurately using publicly available, authoritative data. This page documents the data sources, update cadence, and methodological standards used across MedicareWire content.

MedicareWire does not sell insurance, provide enrollment services, or receive compensation for plan selection or enrollment decisions.

Primary Data Sources

MedicareWire relies on the following authoritative public datasets published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

CMS Medicare Advantage & Part D Data

• Landscape Source Files
  Used for plan availability, service areas, premiums, and basic plan attributes.
• Plan Benefits Package (PBP) Files
  Used for benefit design, cost sharing, supplemental benefits, and coverage rules.
• Medicare Part C & D Performance Data
  Used for Star Ratings, quality measures, and plan performance indicators.
• Monthly Enrollment by Contract / Plan / State / County
  Used for enrollment counts and historical participation trends.

All CMS datasets are accessed directly from CMS.gov and are used without modification to underlying values.

Secondary Reference Sources

In addition to CMS datasets, MedicareWire references:

• Medicare.gov
  For statutory explanations, enrollment rules, and program definitions.
• Official carrier documentation
  Used only for clarification of plan-specific language and benefit descriptions. Carrier materials are cited as official sources but are not treated as authoritative for eligibility or enrollment rules.
• Independent nonprofit and educational organizations (e.g., NCOA)
  Used for contextual explanations and consumer education, not as primary data sources.

Data Interpretation Methodology

MedicareWire follows a data-first, interpretation-second methodology:

1. Source integrity is preserved
   CMS data values are not altered, estimated, or normalized for marketing purposes.
2. Interpretation is rule-based
   Explanations are generated using deterministic logic tied directly to CMS definitions and program rules.
3. No plan ranking or optimization
   MedicareWire does not score, rank, or recommend plans based on perceived value or suitability.
4. Neutral framing
   Content is written to explain what is, not what to choose.

Update Cadence

• CMS datasets are reviewed and refreshed according to their published release schedules.
• Each page includes “Last accessed” or “Last updated” timestamps where applicable.
• Historical data may be retained for context but is clearly distinguished from current-year information.

Provenance and Accountability

MedicareWire maintains documentation aligned with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard, including:

• Data source identification
• Access dates
• Dataset scope and limitations
• Steward accountability

Editorial Stewardship

All MedicareWire content is independently curated and maintained by:

David W. Bynon
Editorial Steward, MedicareWire

Content is produced using a standardized, data-driven methodology for accurate, non-commercial Medicare interpretation and resolution.

During the current stewardship period, editorial standards and methodological governance are provided under a fixed-term agreement with Trust Publishing Institute, an independent nonprofit educational organization. Trust Publishing Institute does not own MedicareWire and does not participate in sales, enrollment, lead generation, or advertising activities.

CMS datasets are reviewed on a recurring basis according to their published release schedules. Content is updated when material changes affect plan availability, benefits, costs, eligibility, or enrollment rules.

Important Notice

MedicareWire is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program. For official enrollment and eligibility actions, users should consult Medicare.gov or contact Medicare directly.