On October 8, CMS published 2027 Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans in Medicare.gov Plan Finder. CMS reported that about 37% of Medicare Advantage–Prescription Drug (MA-PD) contracts earned four stars or higher for the 2027 rating year, covering roughly 71% of MA-PD enrollees by enrollment. Those numbers describe the national picture; your county may look different.
Stars summarize how Medicare measures certain plan performance areas over time. They can influence marketing and, for some members, extra benefits—but a high star score does not automatically mean a plan is the lowest cost or the best fit for your doctors and prescriptions.
What Star Ratings are—and are not
- They are a standardized quality snapshot CMS publishes each fall for many contracts.
- They are not a personal recommendation, a guarantee of access to your providers, or a full picture of your out-of-pocket drug spend.
- New plans may show as “too new to be measured” until CMS has enough data—absence of stars is not the same as a bad plan.
Plan Finder may also show icons for contracts CMS flags as high- or low-performing in specific areas. Read those notices in context with the Summary of Benefits and formulary for any plan you are considering in Idaho, Oregon, Texas, or Washington.
Line stars up with your real costs
During Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7), compare at least these items side by side—not stars alone:
- Monthly premium and any medical or drug deductibles
- Out-of-pocket maximum for in-network care
- Formulary coverage for your prescriptions, including tiers and restrictions
- Provider network for primary care, specialists, hospitals, and pharmacies you use
For a refresher on Plan Finder timing and October updates, see Medicare Plan Finder for 2027. For network habits, see confirm your doctors before you lock in.
Where to look on Medicare.gov
- Open Plan Finder and enter your ZIP code for 2027 plan year.
- Compare plans you are considering; open Star Ratings and plan documents from the same screen.
- Re-run your drug list and doctors after any directory refresh—networks can change even when stars improve.
- Shortlist two or three plans, then read each Summary of Benefits before you enroll.
Want help weighing stars against costs?
We can walk through 2027 Plan Finder results with you for Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and Washington at no cost to you.
This article is for general education. It is not a plan recommendation, quote, or guarantee of coverage. Benefits, premiums, networks, and eligibility vary by plan and county and can change. CDA Insurance LLC is an independent insurance agency and is not connected with the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Official program information is available at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.