Medicare Advantage

Medicare Star Ratings for 2026 Drop This Fall

PETERSBURG, Va. — As the Annual Enrollment Period nears, Medicare beneficiaries in Petersburg will soon see a familiar tool refreshed on medicare.gov: the Star Ratings. Each fall, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes updated ratings for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, giving people a plain-language snapshot of how plans performed on quality and service measures. Understanding what those stars actually measure — and what they don't — can help you shop with clearer eyes before December 7.

What Star Ratings actually measure

CMS uses a 1-to-5 star scale, with 5 being the highest, to summarize how a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan performed on dozens of quality measures. These fall into a few broad buckets:

• Staying healthy: whether members got recommended screenings, vaccines, and check-ups.
• Managing chronic conditions: how well plans supported members living with diabetes, heart disease, and similar issues.
• Member experience: survey results on how members rate their plan and their care.
• Member complaints and plan performance: how often people left the plan, filed complaints, or had problems getting needed care.
• Customer service: how the plan handles appeals and calls.

For Part D drug coverage, ratings also look at drug pricing accuracy, medication safety, and adherence for common conditions.

When the new ratings come out

CMS typically posts updated Star Ratings in early to mid-October, timed to the start of the Annual Enrollment Period on October 15. Once published, the ratings appear on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov and in the official "Medicare & You" handbook materials. They stay in effect for the full plan year that follows.

That timing matters: the ratings you'll see this fall are meant to inform 2027 coverage decisions, not describe last year's plan.

What Star Ratings don't tell you

Stars are a useful quality signal, but they're not the whole picture. A rating won't tell you:

• Whether your doctors or hospitals are in a plan's network.
• Whether your prescriptions are on the plan's formulary.
• What a plan costs you personally after IRMAA, employer coverage, or extra help.

Two people in the same ZIP code can have very different experiences with the same plan, depending on their health needs and providers. That's why CMS and consumer advocates suggest using Star Ratings alongside — not instead of — a careful look at networks, drug lists, and total costs.

Petersburg availability, in context

Petersburg is in Petersburg City, and Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability is set at the county level. When you use the Plan Finder, you'll enter your ZIP code and see the plans offered in Petersburg City, each with its current star rating displayed. The number of plans available in the county can shift from year to year, which is one reason CMS encourages every beneficiary to review their coverage each fall, even if they're happy with their current plan.

Other 2027 changes worth knowing

Star Ratings aren't the only thing new this fall. A few program-level facts to keep in mind as you compare coverage:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 for 2026.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old coverage gap (the "donut hole") was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments, at no extra charge.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31.

How to use the ratings well

A practical approach: start with your needs (doctors, prescriptions, travel, budget), then use Star Ratings as one of several filters. If two plans look similar on paper, the ratings can help you weigh which one has a stronger track record on customer service or drug safety. If you're unsure, don't guess — free help is available.