We dive deep into the 2026 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings Results
About The Podcast:
Millions of Americans feel confused and frustrated in their search for quality healthcare coverage.
Between out-of-control costs, countless inefficiencies, a lack of affordable universal access, and little focus on wellness and prevention, the system is clearly in dire need of change.
Hosted by healthcare policy and technology expert Marc S. Ryan, the Healthcare Labyrinth Podcast offers accessible, incisive deep dives on the most pressing issues and events in American healthcare.
Marc seeks to help Americans become wiser consumers and navigate the healthcare maze with more confidence and certainty through The Healthcare Labyrinth website and his book of the same name.
Marc is an unconventional Republican who believes that affordable universal access is a wise and prudent investment. He recommends common-sense solutions to reform American healthcare.
Tune in every week as Marc examines the latest developments in the space, offering analysis, insights, and predictions on the changing state of healthcare in America.
About The Episode:
On this episode, Marc dives deep into the 2026 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings results.
Key Takeaways:
Star ratings in Medicare Advantage peaked in 2022, and in the next three years we saw steep declines in results.
2026 results are mixed. We saw ratings stabilize but results are still among the lowest in many years.
Some measure performance is improving: Some cut points, average measure values, and average measure ratings seem to show plans doing better over the past few years coming out of the COVID pandemic.
Contracts 4 Star or greater are stable: In SY 2025, about 40% of all rated contracts were 4 Star or greater. For SY 2026, about the same 40% are in contracts with 4 Star or greater.
Enrollment in 4 Star or greater is stable: In SY 2025, about 62% of all MA enrollment was projected to be in contracts with 4 Stars or more. That grew to 64% as of late. For SY 2026, it appears about 64% of all MA enrollment will be in contracts with 4 Stars or more.
Average Star ratings are slightly higher: Both the contract average rating and enrollment weighted average rating improved. The contract average rating went from 3.63 in 2025 to 3.65 in 2026. The enrollment weighted average rating went from 3.92 in 2025 to 3.98 in 2026. The 2025 enrollment-weighted average has grown to 3.96.
The continuation of poor performance is driven by the inconsistent performance of big plans, which are about three-quarters of all enrollment.
United, Elevance, Kaiser, and Centene saw positive results. Humana, Aetna, and HCSC went down. Performance across big plans is still very different.
On the Insurtech side, Devoted and Alignment continued to do well. Clover Health, though, saw its largest contract dip below 4 Star. That contract has 97% of its members.
Star Year 2026 had 45 MA-PD measures — 33 Part C and 12 Part D. Three measures were new and did not have ratings in SY 2025.
In terms of Part C measures from 2025 to 2026: 13 measures increased, 6 stayed the same, and 11 dropped.
In terms of Part D measures: 6 measures increased, 2 stayed the same, and 4 dropped.
There are significant challenges moving forward with tougher measure specifications, new measures, and the new Excellent Health Outcomes For All (was the Health Equity Index).
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Resources:
The Healthcare Labyrinth: A Guide to Navigating Health Plans and Fixing American Health Insurance
