Each fall, right as Annual Enrollment opens, people shopping for Medicare Advantage or Part D plans see a star rating next to each plan. CMS published the 2027 ratings on October 8. Do the stars actually help you pick the right plan? Sometimes. Here’s how to use them without letting them make the decision for you.
What’s New in the 2027 Star Ratings
- CMS published the 2027 ratings on October 8, 2026, and they appear in Medicare’s Plan Finder for this enrollment period.
- About 71% of Medicare Advantage drug plan members are in contracts rated four stars or higher.
- Fifteen contracts earned five stars, and four carry the low-performing icon.
- Ratings can move up or down from year to year. That’s normal, so check the current number for your plan, not last year’s.
See also what else is changing in Medicare for 2027 and how to read your ANOC.
What Are Medicare Star Ratings?
Medicare uses a five-star quality scale for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D drug plans. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans don’t get star ratings.
- 5 Stars = Excellent
- 4 Stars = Above Average
- 3 Stars = Average
- 2 Stars = Below Average
- 1 Star = Poor
That’s the headline. But what goes into those stars?
How Medicare Advantage Plans Are Rated
MA plans are graded in five areas:
- Staying healthy (preventive screenings, vaccines)
- Managing chronic conditions (like diabetes or heart disease)
- Plan responsiveness and care (how well the plan helps when you need it)
- Member complaints and turnover (how many people leave the plan)
- Customer service
If a plan consistently keeps members healthy, responds quickly, and keeps complaints low, it’ll land closer to five stars.
How Part D Drug Plans Are Rated
Drug plans are scored in four buckets:
- Customer service
- Complaints and member turnover
- Member experience
- Drug pricing and patient safety
Translation: Medicare looks at how smoothly the plan runs, how members feel about it, and whether the drug prices and safety checks are on point. If you’re unsure about your drug coverage, it’s worth using tools like the Medicare Doctor Search Tool before choosing a plan.
Why Star Ratings Matter (and Why They Don’t)
Here’s the blunt truth: star ratings aren’t everything.
- Why they matter:
- A five-star plan earns bonus money from Medicare. Plans often use this to cut premiums or add benefits.
- If a plan hits five stars, it gets a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). That means you can switch into it once a year outside of normal enrollment windows. Learn more about timing in how to read your Medicare ANOC.
- Why they don’t:
- Most people don’t pick a plan based on star ratings alone.
- A four-star plan might actually fit your needs better than a five-star one. Why? Networks. A “perfect” plan doesn’t help if your doctor or hospital isn’t included. If you’re losing coverage, check out what happens when a Medicare Advantage plan ends.
“Too New to Rate” Plans
Ever see a plan listed as “Too New to Rate”? That just means it’s new — not enough data yet. Medicare gives it a behind-the-scenes placeholder of about three and a half stars. Don’t read too much into it.
Bottom Line
Stars are a quality snapshot, not a fit test. Start with whether your doctors and hospitals are in-network, whether your prescriptions are covered and what your worst-case year could cost. Then use stars to break a tie.
Star ratings give you a snapshot of quality, but they’re not the whole story. Here’s what to really pay attention to when choosing a plan:
- Are my doctors and hospitals in-network?
- Are my prescriptions covered — and affordable?
- What will my out-of-pocket costs be?
Stars are nice, but your coverage and costs matter more.
Check Your Plan’s Rating
Want to know how your plan stacks up? Look up your plan’s current Star Rating on Medicare.gov before making any changes.
When Stars Really Matter
Star Ratings should be a tie-breaker, not the first thing you look at. Use them if you’re choosing between two similar plans and want to know which one delivers better service.
Don’t Forget the Basics
Even a five-star plan isn’t worth much if:
- Your doctor isn’t in-network
- Your drugs aren’t covered affordably
- Your out-of-pocket costs are too high
Always check these first.
Too New to Rate? Here’s What It Means
If you see “Too New to Rate,” don’t panic. It just means Medicare doesn’t have enough data yet. Treat it like a middle-of-the-road option and dig deeper into benefits, networks, and costs.
FAQs
When are the 2027 Medicare Star Ratings released?
CMS released them October 8, 2026, ahead of Annual Enrollment, which runs October 15 to December 7.
Should I pick a plan just because it has 5 stars?
No. A 5-star plan can still leave your doctor out of network or cost you more. Check your doctors, drugs and out-of-pocket maximum first.
Do Medigap plans have star ratings?
No. Star ratings apply to Medicare Advantage and Part D plans only.
The plan doesn’t have enough data to be scored. Treat it as middle-of-the-road and look closely at benefits, networks and costs.