CMS Star Ratings System

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) developed the Star Ratings program to measure the experiences of people on Medicare Advantage plans.

Health plans are given an overall rating of 1-5.

Excellent

Above Average

Average

Below Average

Poor

Plans rated 5 are the highest rated plans.

Why should you use Medicare Star Ratings?

  • Star Ratings can assist you in finding the best plan based on your health care needs and financial situation.
  • Star Ratings can help you understand how well a plan performed in specific categories, such as member experience and customer service.

The overall ratings are based on:

Staying Healthy

Screenings, tests, vaccines, and other check-ups to help people stay healthy

Member Experience

Includes member ratings of the plan

Managing Chronic Conditions

How often people with certain (long-term) conditions completed recommended tests and treatment

Plan Performance

How often Medicare and customers found problems with the plan and how much the plan improved

Customer Service

How well the plan handles a member's disagreement about a Medicare coverage or payment decision

Frequently Asked Questions

You may still have questions about Medicare Star Ratings and why they are important.

View FAQ
When you have a 5-star rated health plan in your area, you can enroll throughout the year.

In 2020, only 23 out of 600+ Medicare Advantage plans in the entire United States received a five star rating.

Want to find a 5-star plan in your area? Use the Plan Finder (Opens in new window) on Medicare.gov.