Choosing the right Medicare Advantage plan is a critical decision for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) understands this and prioritizes ensuring access to robust, stable, high-quality, and affordable coverage options. A key tool CMS provides to aid beneficiaries in this process is the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D Star Ratings system. These ratings are designed to help you compare the quality of different plans, empowering you to make informed healthcare choices. The 2025 Star Ratings are now available, offering insights into plan performance that will be crucial as you evaluate your options for the upcoming enrollment period. These ratings not only guide consumers but also drive continuous improvement within Medicare plans by linking quality to financial incentives in 2026.
Understanding the Medicare Advantage Star Ratings for 2025
Each year, CMS releases Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. These ratings serve as a comprehensive evaluation of a plan’s quality and performance. Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) contracts are assessed on up to 40 different quality and performance measures. MA-only contracts are judged on up to 30 measures, while stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) are rated on up to 12 measures. For each of these measures, CMS sets specific benchmarks, known as “cut points,” which determine the Star Rating a plan receives—ranging from 1 to 5 stars. These ratings are not static; they are recalculated annually to reflect the latest performance data and to encourage plans to consistently enhance their service quality.
Key Changes in the 2025 Star Ratings Methodology
For the 2025 Star Ratings, while there were no fundamental shifts in methodology, CMS implemented minor adjustments to refine the evaluation process. One notable change is the increased weight of the “Part C Plan All-Cause Readmissions” measure, which has been elevated from a weight of one to three. This adjustment emphasizes the importance of care coordination and reducing hospital readmissions within Medicare Advantage plans. Additionally, the Part D Medicare Plan Finder measure, now established, is subject to bi-directional guardrails to ensure rating stability if cut points fluctuate significantly year-over-year. These refinements are part of CMS’s ongoing efforts to ensure the Star Ratings accurately reflect plan performance and drive quality improvements in the Medicare program.
Overall Star Rating Distribution for 2025
The 2025 Star Ratings reveal important trends in Medicare Advantage plan quality. Approximately 40% of MA-PD contracts (totaling 209 contracts) achieved a rating of four stars or higher. Significantly, when weighted by enrollment, about 62% of MA-PD enrollees are in plans that will receive four or more stars in 2025. This indicates a substantial portion of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are enrolled in high-performing plans.
It’s important to note that year-over-year changes in Star Ratings are expected due to the dynamic nature of plan performance and annual recalculation of measure-level cut points. For 2025, many cut points increased, indicating that plans needed to achieve higher performance levels to maintain or improve their Star Ratings. This increase is influenced by several factors, including the removal of extreme outliers in performance data, the normalization of performance post-pandemic, a more concentrated distribution of scores, and improvements in high-scoring contracts, particularly in areas like cancer screenings.
| Overall Rating | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of Contracts | % | Weighted by Enrollment | # of Contracts | |
| 5 stars | 74 | 15.71 | 26.59 | 57 |
| 4.5 stars | 96 | 20.38 | 33.21 | 67 |
| 4 stars | 152 | 32.27 | 29.87 | 136 |
| 3.5 stars | 122 | 25.90 | 8.49 | 116 |
| 3 stars | 25 | 5.31 | 1.80 | 90 |
| 2.5 stars | 2 | 0.42 | 0.03 | 37 |
| 2 stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 471 | 100 | 507 | |
| Average Star Rating* | 4.37 | 4.14 | 4.07 | 3.92 |
Table 1: 2022-2025 Overall Star Rating Distribution for MA-PD Contracts
Alt Text: Trend of Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) contracts overall Star Rating distribution from 2022 to 2025, showing percentage and enrollment-weighted data.
Similarly, for stand-alone Part D plans, approximately 27% (11 contracts) achieved four or more stars in their 2025 Part D ratings. However, enrollment-weighted data indicates that only about 5% of PDP enrollees are in these higher-rated plans. This suggests that while high-quality PDPs exist, a majority of enrollees are in plans with lower star ratings compared to MA-PD plans.
| Part D Rating | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of Contracts | % | Weighted by Enrollment | # of Contracts | |
| 5 stars | 10 | 18.52 | 0.93 | 2 |
| 4.5 stars | 5 | 9.26 | 4.74 | 7 |
| 4 stars | 14 | 25.93 | 36.21 | 7 |
| 3.5 stars | 20 | 37.04 | 52.84 | 11 |
| 3 stars | 3 | 5.56 | 3.84 | 16 |
| 2.5 stars | 2 | 3.70 | 1.44 | 4 |
| 2 stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1.5 stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 54 | 100 | 52 | |
| Average Star Rating* | 3.70 | 3.25 | 3.34 | 3.06 |
Table 2: 2022-2025 Part D Rating Distribution for PDPs
Alt Text: Trend of stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) Part D rating distribution from 2022 to 2025, detailing contract numbers, percentages and enrollment-weighted figures.
5-Star and Low-Performing Contracts in 2025
For 2025, a select group of contracts have been recognized for exceptional performance. Eleven contracts received the high-performing icon on the Medicare Plan Finder, indicating a 5-star rating. These include seven MA-PD contracts, two 1876 Cost Contracts, and two PDPs. Notably, most of the 5-star MA-PD contracts include Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP), highlighting strong performance in plans serving vulnerable populations.
Conversely, eight contracts have been identified as consistently low performers and will carry a low-performing icon on the Medicare Plan Finder. This designation is given to seven MA-PD contracts and one PDP, signaling areas needing significant improvement.
Impact of Tax Status and Program Experience on Star Ratings
The 2025 Star Ratings data also reveals trends related to organizational characteristics. Non-profit organizations tend to achieve higher ratings more frequently than for-profit organizations. Approximately 50% of non-profit MA-PD contracts received four or more stars compared to 36% of for-profit MA-PDs. A similar trend is observed in PDPs, with 41% of non-profit PDPs achieving four or more stars versus 17% of for-profit PDPs.
| 2025 Overall Rating | Number of Contracts that are For-Profit | % For-Profit | Weighted By Enrollment For-Profit | Number of Contracts that are Non-Profit | % Non-Profit | Weighted By Enrollment Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 6 | 1.66 | 2.09 | 1 | 0.63 | 0.75 |
| 4.5 stars | 48 | 13.30 | 21.04 | 38 | 23.75 | 55.87 |
| 4 stars | 75 | 20.78 | 33.31 | 41 | 25.63 | 25.12 |
| 3.5 stars | 118 | 32.69 | 32.06 | 47 | 29.38 | 12.71 |
| 3 stars | 95 | 26.32 | 10.43 | 28 | 17.50 | 4.80 |
| 2.5 stars | 18 | 4.99 | 1.07 | 5 | 3.13 | 0.74 |
| 2 stars | 1 | 0.28 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 361 | 160 |
Table 3: Distribution of 2025 Overall Star Ratings for For-profit and Non-profit MA-PDs
Alt Text: Comparison of 2025 Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) overall Star Ratings distribution between for-profit and non-profit contracts, showing contract counts, percentages, and enrollment weighting.
| 2025 Part D Rating | Number of Contracts that are For-Profit | % For-Profit | Weighted By Enrollment For-Profit | Number of Contracts that are Non-Profit | % Non-Profit | Weighted By Enrollment Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 1 | 4.35 | 0.01 | 1 | 5.88 | 1.27 |
| 4.5 stars | 2 | 8.70 | 0.46 | 4 | 23.53 | 19.02 |
| 4 stars | 1 | 4.35 | 3.48 | 2 | 11.76 | 9.09 |
| 3.5 stars | 6 | 26.09 | 48.51 | 4 | 23.53 | 21.96 |
| 3 stars | 5 | 21.74 | 8.45 | 5 | 29.41 | 47.94 |
| 2.5 stars | 6 | 26.09 | 30.03 | 1 | 5.88 | 0.73 |
| 2 stars | 2 | 8.70 | 9.06 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 23 | 17 |
Table 4: Distribution of 2025 Part D Ratings for For-profit and Non-profit PDPs*
Alt Text: 2025 Part D Star Ratings distribution comparison for for-profit versus non-profit Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs), detailing contract numbers, percentages, and enrollment-weighted data.
Furthermore, experience in the Medicare program appears to correlate with higher Star Ratings. MA-PD contracts that have been in the program for 10 or more years are more likely to achieve four or more stars compared to newer contracts.
| 2025 Overall Rating | Number of Contracts with Fewer than Five Years | Percent Fewer than Five Years | Number of Contracts with Five years to Fewer than 10 Years | Percent Five Years to Fewer than 10 Years | Number of Contracts with 10 or More Years | Percent 10 or More Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 2 | 1.37 | 0 | 0.00 | 5 | 1.76 |
| 4.5 stars | 14 | 9.59 | 11 | 12.09 | 61 | 21.48 |
| 4 stars | 25 | 17.12 | 23 | 25.27 | 68 | 23.94 |
| 3.5 stars | 49 | 33.56 | 35 | 38.46 | 81 | 28.52 |
| 3 stars | 42 | 28.77 | 20 | 21.98 | 61 | 21.48 |
| 2.5 stars | 13 | 8.90 | 2 | 2.20 | 8 | 2.82 |
| 2 stars | 1 | 0.68 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 146 | 91 | 284 |
Table 5: Distribution of 2025 Overall Star Ratings by Length of Time in Program for MA-PDs
Alt Text: Distribution of 2025 Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) overall Star Ratings based on contract longevity in the program, categorized by years of operation.
| 2025 Part D Rating | Number of Contracts with Fewer than Five Years | Percent Fewer than Five Years | Number of Contracts with Five years to Fewer than 10 Years | Percent Five Years to Fewer than 10 Years | Number of Contracts with 10 or More Years | Percent 10 or More Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 33.33 | 1 | 2.70 |
| 4.5 stars | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 33.33 | 5 | 13.51 |
| 4 stars | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 8.11 |
| 3.5 stars | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 33.33 | 9 | 24.32 |
| 3 stars | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 11 | 29.73 |
| 2.5 stars | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 7 | 18.92 |
| 2 stars | 1 | 100.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 2.70 |
| Total Rated Contracts | 1 | 3 | 37 |
Table 6: Distribution of 2025 Part D Ratings by Length of Time in Program for PDPs
Alt Text: 2025 Part D Star Ratings distribution in relation to the duration of Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) within the program, segmented by operational years.
Average Star Ratings Across Measures
Analyzing average Star Ratings for specific measures provides further insights into areas of strength and weakness across Medicare plans. Tables 7, 8, and 9 show the average ratings for Part C and D measures from 2022 to 2025. These averages reflect performance across a range of healthcare services and operational aspects, offering a detailed view of where plans are excelling and where improvements are needed.
| Measure | 2022 Average Star | 2023 Average Star | 2024 Average Star | 2025 Average Star |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer Screening | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.4 |
| Colorectal Cancer Screening | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.4 |
| Annual Flu Vaccine | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| Monitoring Physical Activity | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.1 |
| Special Needs Plan (SNP) Care Management | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Care for Older Adults – Medication Review | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Care for Older Adults – Pain Assessment | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Osteoporosis Management in Women who had a Fracture | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes Care – Eye Exam | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes Care – Blood Sugar Controlled | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.7 |
| Controlling Blood Pressure | NA | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.0 |
| Reducing the Risk of Falling | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| Improving Bladder Control | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.0 |
| Medication Reconciliation Post-Discharge | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| Plan All-Cause Readmissions | NA | NA | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| Statin Therapy for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| Transitions of Care | NA | NA | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Follow-up after Emergency Department Visit for People with Multiple High-Risk Chronic Conditions | NA | NA | 3.0 | 3.2 |
| Getting Needed Care | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Getting Appointments and Care Quickly | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Customer Service | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.5 |
| Rating of Health Care Quality | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
| Rating of Health Plan | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| Care Coordination | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Complaints about the Plan | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| Members Choosing to Leave the Plan | 4.1 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Health Plan Quality Improvement | 3.7 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.6 |
| Plan Makes Timely Decisions about Appeals | 4.6 | 4.6. | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Reviewing Appeals Decisions | 4.6 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Call Center – Foreign Language Interpreter and TTY Availability | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
Table 7: 2022-2025 Average Star Rating by Part C Measure
Alt Text: Trend of average Star Ratings for Part C measures from 2022 to 2025, showing performance shifts in various healthcare service and quality metrics.
| Measure | 2022 MA-PD Average Star | 2023 MA-PD Average Star | 2024 MA-PD Average Star | 2025 MA-PD Average Star |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call Center – Foreign Language Interpreter and TTY Availability | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Complaints about the Plan | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| Members Choosing to Leave the Plan | 4.1 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Drug Plan Quality Improvement | 4.2 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Rating of Drug Plan | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| Getting Needed Prescription Drugs | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| MPF Price Accuracy | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| Medication Adherence for Diabetes Medications | 3.7 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.2 |
| Medication Adherence for Hypertension (RAS antagonists) | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Medication Adherence for Cholesterol (Statins) | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 |
| MTM Program Completion Rate for CMR | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
| Statin Use in Persons with Diabetes (SUPD) | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.8 |
Table 8: 2022-2025 Average Star Rating by Part D Measure for MA-PDs
Alt Text: Average Star Rating trends for Part D measures within Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans from 2022 to 2025, highlighting drug plan performance metrics.
| Measure | 2022 PDP Average Star | 2023 PDP Average Star | 2024 PDP Average Star | 2025 PDP Average Star |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call Center – Foreign Language Interpreter and TTY Availability | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Complaints about the Plan | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Members Choosing to Leave the Plan | 4.2 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| Drug Plan Quality Improvement | 4.1 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Rating of Drug Plan | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 |
| Getting Needed Prescription Drugs | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 |
| MPF Price Accuracy | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.1 |
| Medication Adherence for Diabetes Medications | 3.9 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| Medication Adherence for Hypertension (RAS antagonists) | 3.5 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.9 |
| Medication Adherence for Cholesterol (Statins) | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.9 |
| MTM Program Completion Rate for CMR | 3.7 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.0 |
| Statin Use in Persons with Diabetes (SUPD) | 3.3 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.7 |
Table 9: 2022-2025 Average Star Rating by Part D Measure for PDPs
Alt Text: Average Star Rating trends for stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Part D measures from 2022 to 2025, focusing on drug plan specific performance indicators.
Conclusion: Using 2025 Star Ratings to Compare Plans
The 2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings are a valuable resource for anyone looking to compare Medicare plans. These ratings offer a clear, standardized way to assess plan quality across various dimensions of care and service. As you approach the Medicare open enrollment period, reviewing these ratings can help you identify plans that are not only affordable but also committed to delivering high-quality care. By understanding how Star Ratings are calculated and what they signify, you can make a more informed decision, ensuring you choose a Medicare plan that best meets your healthcare needs and preferences for 2025 and beyond. For a detailed view and further exploration, you can refer to the comprehensive 2025 Star Ratings Data from CMS. This resource, available as a PDF, provides an in-depth look at plan performance and rating methodologies, helping you to thoroughly compare Medicare Advantage plans and make the optimal choice for your health coverage.
