2027 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings: What Changed

Fewer Medicare Advantage plans earned top marks for 2027. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) gave 5 stars to 15 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage, down from 22 for 2026. The average rating, weighted by enrollment, slipped to 3.99 from 4.01.

Star Ratings matter most right now because Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Here is what changed, which plans earned 5 stars and how to use the ratings when you compare plans.

2027 Star Ratings at a Glance

Fewer plans scored 4 stars or more this year. Even so, about 7 in 10 members are in a 4+ star plan, partly because Humana’s largest plans returned to 4 stars or higher.

Which Medicare Advantage Plans Earned 5 Stars for 2027?

These 15 contracts earned 5 stars for 2027. Many are regional or serve specific groups, so a 5-star plan may not be sold in your county.

Insurer Winners and Losers in the 2027 Star Ratings

The share of each insurer’s members in plans rated 4 stars or higher shifted a lot this year, according to Wall Street analyst figures reported by Fierce Healthcare.

Humana is the big story. After two years with most of its members in plans below 4 stars, 93% of its members are now in 4+ star plans, and its four largest contracts all scored at least 4 stars, according to Capstone analysts. Aetna moved the other way: three of its four largest contracts declined, and two fell below 4 stars.

If you are with one of these insurers, look up the rating of your exact plan. A company-wide share does not tell you how your plan scored. For a broader look at the big insurers, see our ranking of the best Medicare Advantage companies for 2027.

What CMS Changed in the 2027 Star Ratings

CMS updates the measures behind the ratings every year. For 2027, it:

• Added two drug safety measures: one on taking opioids and benzodiazepines together, and one on older adults using multiple anticholinergic drugs.
• Brought back a measure on functional status assessments for older adults, with updated specifications.
• Replaced the colorectal cancer screening measure with an updated version.
• Tripled the weight of two member survey measures on improving or maintaining physical and mental health.
• Retired the pain assessment and medication reconciliation after discharge measures.
• Moved the medication review completion measure for drug plans to display only. It is expected to return in the 2029 ratings.
• Added data checks on appeals reporting, with score reductions where data problems are found.

CMS also recalculates the cut points for each star level every year based on how plans performed, so a plan can do the same work and still gain or lose a star. Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage are rated on up to 43 measures.

Part D Drug Plan Ratings for 2027

No stand-alone Part D drug plan earned 5 stars for 2027. Three earned 4.5 stars and eight earned 4 stars, out of 41 rated. Still, drug plans improved overall: about 22% of stand-alone Part D members are in 4+ star plans for 2027, up from about 2% for 2026. The average Part D rating rose to 3.22 from 3.01.

If you have Original Medicare and a separate drug plan, compare ratings along with premiums and drug costs. Our guide to Medicare Part D costs explains what to look for.

How Medicare Star Ratings Work

CMS rates plans from 1 to 5 stars each fall, based on things like preventive screenings, how well chronic conditions are managed, member surveys, complaints, customer service and drug safety. A 5-star rating means excellent performance, and 3 stars means average.

Ratings are assigned by contract, not by plan or state. One insurer can have several contracts with different ratings in the same area, so always check the rating for the specific plan you are considering. The 2027 ratings also set the quality bonus payments plans receive in 2028.

The 5-Star Special Enrollment Period

If a plan rated 5 stars is available where you live, you can switch to it outside open enrollment using the 5-star Special Enrollment Period. You can use it once between December 8 and November 30 of the following year, according to KFF.

Be careful if you move from a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage to a 5-star plan without it. If you lose drug coverage that way, you may have to wait until the next open enrollment to add it and could owe a late enrollment penalty, according to CMS. Check how you will get Part D coverage first, and talk to a licensed agent or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) if you are unsure.

How to Use Star Ratings During Open Enrollment

Star Ratings are a good starting point, not the final word. Use them to narrow your list, then check that your doctors and hospitals are in the network, that your drugs are covered at a price you can afford and that the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum fits your budget.

Open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Our guide to comparing Medicare Advantage plans and our guide to changing plans during AEP cover each step. State guides, such as our look at the best Medicare Advantage plans in Texas, show the top-rated plans by state.

Frequently Asked Questions

When were the 2027 Medicare Star Ratings released?

CMS released the 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings on October 8, 2026, and posted them on Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder.

How many Medicare Advantage plans have 5 stars in 2027?

Fifteen Medicare Advantage contracts with drug coverage earned 5 stars for 2027, down from 22 for 2026. No stand-alone Part D plan earned 5 stars.

Is a 4-star Medicare Advantage plan good?

Yes. CMS considers 4 stars above average. About 71% of people in Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage are in plans rated 4 stars or higher for 2027.

Can I switch to a 5-star plan at any time?

You can switch to a 5-star plan in your area once between December 8 and November 30 of the next year, using the 5-star Special Enrollment Period. Otherwise, use the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7.

Why did my plan’s star rating drop?

Ratings can fall when a plan’s scores slip, when CMS changes measures or weights, or when the cut points for each star level move. A lower rating does not change your 2027 benefits, but it is worth comparing other plans during open enrollment.

Sources

• CMS, 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings
• CMS, 2027 Star Ratings fact sheet (PDF)
• Fierce Healthcare, Winners and losers in the 2027 MA star ratings
• Becker’s Payer Issues, 5-star Medicare Advantage plans for 2027
• Healthcare Finance News, See the list of 5-star plans for 2027
• KFF, 5-star Special Enrollment Period FAQ