Medicare Supplement

Medicare Star Ratings drop this fall ahead of Dec. 7 deadline

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — With the Annual Enrollment Period running Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, Medicare's updated Star Ratings for 2026 plans are hitting the Medicare Plan Finder this fall — giving Lakewood residents a fresh, public snapshot of plan quality just as they weigh coverage choices for next year.

Star Ratings aren't a marketing gimmick. They're published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and updated every October to reflect how Medicare Advantage and Part D plans performed on dozens of measures. Here's what they actually mean — and how to read them without getting overwhelmed.

What Star Ratings actually measure

CMS scores plans on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the highest. The rating isn't a single number pulled from thin air — it's a rollup of roughly 40 separate quality measures for Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage, and fewer measures for standalone Part D plans.

Broadly, the measures fall into these buckets:

• Staying healthy: screenings, vaccines, and preventive checkups.
• Managing chronic conditions: how well plans help members control diabetes, blood pressure, and similar long-term issues.
• Member experience: survey responses about getting care and coordination.
• Member complaints and plan performance: how often people leave the plan, and how many complaints CMS receives.
• Customer service: call center performance, appeals handled fairly and on time.
• Drug plan measures: medication adherence, drug pricing accuracy, and safe prescribing.

The point is that a Star Rating reflects the plan as an organization — not any single benefit or price.

Why the fall release matters this year

The 2026 rating year lands during an unusually busy season for Part D changes. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated in 2025, leaving three payment phases instead of four. For 2026, the annual Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,100, and the maximum Part D deductible is $615.

That means drug plan performance — pricing accuracy, medication adherence support, and customer service on appeals — is more consequential than it used to be. Star Ratings are one of the few standardized ways to see how a plan has handled those responsibilities.

How to find ratings for plans in your area

Lakewood is in Jefferson County, where plan availability — and therefore the ratings you'll see — is set at the county level. To look up ratings honestly and completely:

1. Go to medicare.gov/plan-compare. 2. Enter your ZIP code and, if you want, your prescriptions. 3. Each plan listing shows its overall Star Rating along with sub-ratings.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24/7, to have a representative walk you through the ratings for plans offered in Jefferson County.

What Star Ratings don't tell you

Ratings are a useful signal, not a verdict. They don't tell you:

• Whether your specific doctors and hospitals are in a plan's network.
• Whether your prescriptions are on the plan's formulary and at what tier.
• Whether the plan fits your travel patterns or specific health needs.

A high-rated plan can still be a poor personal fit if your cardiologist isn't in-network. A lower-rated plan may cover exactly what you need. Ratings are one input — not the whole decision.

Other 2026 numbers worth knowing

While you're comparing, keep these program-level facts in mind:

• AEP deadline: Dec. 7, 2025 for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2026.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Jan. 1 – March 31, 2026, for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan who want to switch once.
• IRMAA: Higher-income surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: An optional feature that lets you spread your Part D out-of-pocket costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.