Scroll through Medicare's Plan Finder tool and you'll notice a small row of stars next to every Medicare Advantage plan, usually somewhere between 2 and 5. Most people glance at the number, assume higher is better, and move on. That instinct is roughly right, but the rating itself measures far more than most people realize, and knowing what's behind it can change which plan you pick.
With AEP opening October 15, this is a good time to understand what star ratings actually track before you use them to compare plans available in your county.
What Medicare Star Ratings Actually Measure
Medicare assigns every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan a rating from 1 to 5 stars, recalculated each year using the most recent data available. The overall number is a weighted average across dozens of individual measures grouped into a few broad categories.
Staying Healthy
Screening rates, vaccinations, and other preventive care measures, tracking how well the plan gets members in for care before problems develop.
Managing Chronic Conditions
How consistently members with diabetes, heart disease, and other ongoing conditions receive recommended monitoring and follow-up care.
Member Experience and Complaints
Survey results on how members rate their care and services, plus how often members file complaints or leave the plan.
Customer Service
Call center responsiveness, appeal processing times, and how accurately the plan handles member requests.
Why the Overall Number Isn't the Whole Story
Two plans can both carry a 4-star rating for very different reasons. One might score high on preventive care and chronic condition management but lose points on customer service wait times. Another might have excellent member satisfaction but a lower score in a clinical measure that doesn't affect you personally. If a plan you're considering has a rating lower than you expected, it's worth looking at the category breakdown on Medicare's Plan Finder rather than ruling it out based on the overall number alone.
How Ratings Can Change Your Enrollment Timing
Star ratings aren't just informational. If a 5-star plan is available in your county, Medicare gives you a one-time Special Enrollment Period to switch into it, usable any time between December 8 and November 30 of the following year, completely separate from AEP. Very few plans reach 5 stars in any given year, so check availability by ZIP code rather than assuming one exists near you. Our plan comparison guide covers how to weigh a star rating alongside network and cost.
Before you compare ratings, check:
- The current year's rating, since Medicare updates it every October
- The category breakdown, not just the overall star count
- Whether a 5-star plan is actually available by your ZIP code
- How the rating lines up against your own priorities, such as chronic condition management or customer service
Ratings Change Every Year, Including for Your Current Plan
It's worth checking your own plan's current rating even if you're happy with your coverage. A plan that carried 4.5 stars two years ago can drop or rise based on a single year of updated data. If your plan's rating has fallen noticeably, that's a signal to compare it against other options during AEP rather than automatically renewing. Our Medicare in California overview is a good starting point if you want to see the full range of plan types available.
Worth knowing: star ratings apply to Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, not to Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies, which are regulated differently. If you're comparing Medigap against Advantage, our Medicare Advantage guide explains how the two paths differ.
If you're helping a Spanish-speaking family member compare plan ratings, our sister site Beneficios Medicare covers the same star rating system in Spanish.
Want help comparing star ratings for plans in your county?
A licensed Medicare specialist can walk through ratings, networks, and costs together, at no cost to you.
Schedule a Free Plan ReviewFrequently Asked Questions
What are Medicare Advantage star ratings?
A 1 to 5 scale Medicare assigns to every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan each year, based on preventive care, chronic condition management, member complaints, and customer service. Updated every October.
Do star ratings change every year?
Yes. Medicare recalculates ratings annually using the most recent year of data, so always check the current year rather than relying on a rating you remember.
Does a low star rating mean a plan is bad?
Not necessarily. A lower score might reflect one specific measure rather than overall care quality. Check the category breakdown before ruling a plan out.
Can I switch plans anytime because of a 5-star rating?
Yes. Medicare allows a one-time Special Enrollment Period to switch into a 5-star plan in your area, usable between December 8 and November 30 of the following year.
Where can I check a plan's star rating?
Medicare's Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov shows the current rating by ZIP code. A licensed agent can also pull ratings for every plan in your county.
One More Thought
Star ratings are one of the few standardized ways to compare plan quality side by side, but they work best as a starting point, not a final answer. Pair the rating with a check on your specific doctors, medications, and costs, and you'll have a much clearer picture before AEP opens.