Medicare
Medicare star ratings: what they measure and how to use them
Star ratings summarize how well a plan scores on things like customer service, member satisfaction and managing chronic conditions. They are a useful signal, but they do not tell you whether your own doctors and medicines are covered.
How to use them
- Treat a higher rating as one reason to look closer, not as the whole answer.
- Check the plan's rating alongside your doctors' network status and your drug list.
- Compare the rating year over year if you can, since plans move.
The five-star option
There is a special enrollment period that lets you switch into a five-star Medicare Advantage plan once between December 8 and November 30, if one is offered where you live. Whether it helps you depends on whether the plan fits the rest of your needs.
Have this ready when you call
- Your doctors' names
- Your medicine list
- Your current plan's name
- Your ZIP code
Common questions
Does a five-star plan mean it is right for me?
Not necessarily. It still needs to include your doctors and cover your medicines.
Where does the rating come from?
Medicare publishes ratings based on plan data and member surveys. Ask about the most recent ones.
Related answers
Rather talk it through?
Call 855-367-1095 and a licensed agent will go through your situation with you. There is no charge to ask, and no obligation to enroll.
- Licensed insurance help
- No guaranteed eligibility, pricing, or availability
- Educational starting point
GetFastRates.com is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Calling connects you with licensed insurance help. Plan availability, costs, benefits, and enrollment rules can vary by state, carrier, and individual situation.