Medicare Advantage

Medicare Star Ratings Explained for Leander Readers

LEANDER, Texas — As the Annual Enrollment Period approaches on October 15, many Medicare beneficiaries in Leander are starting to see references to "Star Ratings" pop up in mailers, TV ads, and online searches. Each fall, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes updated Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans — and those ratings are meant to help you judge plan quality, not to tell you which plan to pick.

Here is what the ratings actually measure, when they come out, and how to read them without getting steered.

What Star Ratings actually measure

Medicare Star Ratings are CMS's way of scoring Medicare Advantage (Part C) and stand-alone Part D drug plans on quality and performance. Plans are rated from 1 star (poor) to 5 stars (excellent), with half-star increments in between.

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

• Staying healthy — whether members get recommended screenings, tests, and vaccines.
• Managing chronic conditions — how well the plan supports members with ongoing health issues.
• Member experience — survey feedback on how easy the plan is to use.
• Member complaints and changes in performance — how often people leave, complain, or have problems getting needed care.
• Customer service — how well the plan handles calls, appeals, and new-member questions.

Stand-alone Part D plans are rated on drug-related measures, including pricing accuracy, drug safety, and member satisfaction.

Why the timing matters this fall

CMS typically posts updated Star Ratings on the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov in early October, right before the Annual Enrollment Period opens on October 15 and closes on December 7. That timing is deliberate — the ratings are refreshed so you can factor quality into any decision to switch, join, or stay put for 2027.

If you make a Medicare Advantage change during AEP and later want to adjust, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, giving you a second window.

How Leander residents can look up ratings

Leander sits in Williamson County, and Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability is set at the county level. That means the plans — and the Star Ratings tied to them — that appear for a Leander ZIP code are the same ones offered across Williamson County.

To see the ratings for plans available in your area:

1. Go to Medicare.gov and open the Plan Finder. 2. Enter your ZIP code and, if you'd like, your prescriptions. 3. Each plan card shows its overall Star Rating alongside coverage details.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (available 24/7) to have a representative walk through ratings with you.

What Star Ratings don't tell you

A rating is a snapshot of past performance across a large membership — it isn't a promise about your personal experience. A highly rated plan might not include your doctor. A plan with a lower rating might cover your specific medications more predictably. Ratings also don't reflect Part D program changes that apply across all Part D coverage, such as the out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs ($2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027), the maximum Part D deductible ($615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027), and the option to spread drug costs across the year through the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.

In other words, use Star Ratings as one lens — then compare networks, drug lists (formularies), and total costs before you decide.

Where to get unbiased help

If you'd rather talk to a human who isn't selling anything, Texas has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known locally as the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). Trained counselors offer free, one-on-one Medicare guidance — including help reading Star Ratings and using Plan Finder. You can find your nearest counselor through the Texas Health and Human Services website or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE for a referral.