Medicare star ratings explained
A useful signal, but not the whole story.
Medicare rates Medicare Advantage and Part D plans from 1 to 5 stars each year, based on quality and performance. The ratings are published in October, ahead of Open Enrollment, and shown in the Medicare Plan Finder.
What the stars measure
- Staying healthy: screenings, tests and vaccines.
- Managing chronic conditions.
- Member experience with the plan.
- Member complaints and choosing to leave the plan.
- Customer service.
- For drug plans: drug safety and pricing accuracy.
Stars and your enrollment rights
- 5-star Special Enrollment Period: you can switch to a plan rated 5 stars once between December 8 and November 30 of the following year.
- Low-performing plans: if a plan has been rated below 3 stars for 3 years in a row, Medicare flags it and you can switch out at any time.
Their limits
Ratings reflect averages across a plan's members, often from earlier years. They don't tell you whether your doctors are in network, whether your drugs are covered, or what you'll pay. Use them alongside those checks, not instead of them.
Common questions
In the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, and in the plan's materials.
Not necessarily. A highly rated plan may not include your doctors or cover your drugs well.
Want help with your own choices?
Every state runs a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with trained counselors who give free, unbiased Medicare help and do not sell plans. Find yours on our Medicare by state pages, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Planning the rest of your coverage in retirement? We can help with life insurance later in life and final expense coverage.
Sources
- Special Enrollment Periods, Medicare.gov. Checked September 29, 2026.
- Joining a health or drug plan, Medicare.gov. Checked September 29, 2026.
General information about the federal Medicare program, not advice about your situation. Figures are for 2026 unless stated and change every year; last reviewed September 29, 2026. Quote My Policy is a private company. Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
Quote My Policy does not sell Medicare plans on this site. For plan-specific help, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.