Medicare Part D
Medicare Star Ratings for 2027: Sacramento, CA
With Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period running Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has once again published its yearly Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. If you live in Sacramento and you're weighing your coverage for 2027, you'll see those little star icons on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder — and it helps to know what they actually mean before they influence a decision.
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Key takeaways
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, and CMS has published new Star Ratings for 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D plans on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.
- Star Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars and roll up dozens of measures, but they reflect past performance, not real-time data, so they act like a report card rather than a live feed.
- A high star rating does not mean a plan fits your needs, since it can't tell you if your doctors, drugs, or pharmacy are covered, so it's best used alongside your own personal situation.
- You can check plan options for your ZIP code at Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE anytime, or reach California's HICAP program at 1-800-434-0222 for free, unbiased help.
Sacramento, Calif. — Star Ratings are back in the spotlight as fall enrollment opens
Here's the honest version: Star Ratings are a quality snapshot, not a shopping shortcut. They're most useful when you understand what CMS is measuring, when the numbers are refreshed, and what they don't tell you about your own situation.
What Star Ratings actually measure
CMS rates Medicare Advantage and Part D plans on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the highest. The score is a rolled-up average of dozens of individual measures. Broadly, they fall into a few buckets:
- Staying healthy: whether members get recommended screenings, vaccines, and check-ups.
- Managing chronic conditions: how well plans support members with diabetes, heart disease, and similar ongoing care.
- Member experience: survey results on how easy the plan is to use and how members rate their care.
- Member complaints and changes in plan performance: how often people leave the plan, and complaints filed with Medicare.
- Customer service: call center performance, appeals handling, and access to needed care.
- Drug plan performance (for Part D): pricing accuracy, medication safety, and adherence for common drug classes.
The rating you see on Plan Finder is the plan's overall score. There are also sub-scores for specific categories if you want to look under the hood.
When the 2027 ratings are published
CMS releases updated Star Ratings each fall, timed so that the numbers you see on Medicare.gov during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) reflect the most recent data. The ratings displayed for the 2027 plan year come from measurement periods that ended earlier — think of it as a report card issued after the school year, not a live feed.
That timing matters. A plan's rating for 2027 tells you how it performed in the recent past. It's a useful signal, but it's still a rearview mirror.
Why the ratings matter this year in particular
2027 brings some notable changes to Medicare that don't depend on Star Ratings but do change the stakes of picking coverage:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
- The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- The coverage gap ("donut hole") remains eliminated, as it has been since 2025 — Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is available for anyone who wants to spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
- IRMAA — the income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D — kicks in above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026, based on 2024 tax data.
None of those figures are set by Star Ratings. But when you're evaluating a plan's quality, it makes sense to look at the ratings alongside the real dollars-and-cents rules that apply to everyone.
What availability looks like in the Sacramento area
Sacramento is in Sacramento County, where Medicare beneficiaries generally have a wide range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D options each year. For 2027, the county has 23 Medicare Advantage plans from 10 carriers. Because Medicare plan availability is set at the county level — not the city level — the specific plans on your Plan Finder results depend on your ZIP code within the county. For an exact list for 2027, run your ZIP through the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.
What Star Ratings won't tell you
This is where readers get tripped up. A high star score does not mean a plan is the right fit for you. It can't tell you:
- Whether your doctors and hospitals are in the network.
- Whether your prescriptions are on the formulary.
- Whether your preferred pharmacy is considered "preferred" by the plan.
- Whether the plan covers extras you care about.
Two people in the same neighborhood can look at the same 4-star plan and reach opposite conclusions — and both can be right. Ratings are one input. Your own doctors, drugs, and budget are the others.
How to use the ratings without letting them decide for you
A reasonable approach during AEP:
1. Start at Medicare.gov's Plan Finder, enter your ZIP, and enter your prescriptions. 2. Look at the star icons, but also click through to see the sub-ratings for the categories that matter to you (drug pricing, customer service, etc.). 3. Confirm your doctors, hospital, and pharmacy work with any plan you're seriously considering. 4. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (available 24/7) with specific questions. 5. For free, unbiased, one-on-one help, contact the California Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) — California's SHIP. Sacramento-area residents can reach a local counselor through the statewide HICAP line at 1-800-434-0222.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Sacramento County
(MA penetration in Sacramento County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Try it
How the 2026 Part D drug cap works
Slide to your estimated yearly prescription costs and see how the new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap protects you. This illustrates the standard Part D benefit; your plan may structure costs differently.
Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for the rest of 2026. Confirm details at Medicare.gov.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do Star Ratings change during the year?
If I'm already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, can I switch based on ratings?
Is a 3-star plan a bad plan?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.