Medicare Advantage

Medicare Star Ratings in Kearney: what the scores measure

KEARNEY, Neb. — With the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period running through December 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has once again refreshed its Medicare Star Ratings — the yearly report card that scores Medicare Advantage and Part D plans on quality and service. Understanding what those stars actually measure can help Buffalo County residents make a calmer, more informed choice this fall.

What Star Ratings actually measure

The Medicare Star Ratings system is run by CMS to give people a consistent way to compare Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D drug plans on quality. Plans are scored from 1 star (poor) up to 5 stars (excellent).

For Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage, CMS looks at dozens of measures grouped into broad categories:

• Staying healthy — screenings, vaccines, and preventive checkups.
• Managing chronic conditions — how well the plan supports members with diabetes, heart disease, and similar long-term needs.
• Member experience — survey answers about ease of getting care and satisfaction.
• Member complaints and changes in plan performance.
• Customer service — including how quickly appeals are handled.
• Drug pricing and patient safety for the Part D side.

Standalone Part D plans are rated on a shorter list focused on drug plan service and safety.

When the new ratings come out

CMS publishes updated Star Ratings each fall, ahead of the Annual Enrollment Period. The 2027 ratings are loaded into the Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov, so when you look at plans available in Buffalo County, the star score next to each one reflects the newest data.

Ratings can move up or down from year to year, which is one reason CMS encourages people to review their coverage annually — even if they're happy with their current plan.

Why stars are not a ranking

It's tempting to treat Star Ratings like a leaderboard, but that's not quite what they are. Two plans with the same number of stars can look very different in terms of networks, drug lists, and extra benefits. And a plan's rating tells you about the plan overall — not about how well it will fit your doctors, your prescriptions, or your budget.

Think of stars as one useful input among several, alongside:

• Whether your doctors and Kearney-area hospitals are in the network.
• Whether your prescriptions are on the plan's formulary.
• How the plan handles referrals, prior authorization, and travel coverage.

How Kearney residents can use the ratings

Kearney is in Buffalo County, where multiple Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are offered each year. Star Ratings are one way to narrow a long list down to a manageable one before you dig into the details.

A practical approach:

1. Log in (or start a guest search) at Medicare.gov/plan-compare and enter your ZIP code and prescriptions. 2. Note the star score next to each plan, but also open the plan details. 3. Compare total estimated yearly cost, network, and drug coverage — not just the star number. 4. Confirm anything important by calling the plan directly before you enroll.

Program facts worth knowing for 2027

While you're reviewing plans, keep a few program-level numbers in mind. These come from Medicare itself and apply no matter which plan you choose:

• Part D has an annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs of $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly payments.
• IRMAA income-related surcharges start above $109,000 for a single filer.
• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31.

Where to get unbiased help

You don't have to sort through this alone, and you don't have to talk to a salesperson to get answers:

• Medicare.gov — official plan comparisons and Star Ratings.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — 24/7 help line.
• Nebraska SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) — free, one-on-one Medicare counseling for Kearney residents through the Nebraska Department of Insurance.