--- title: What Does It Mean If a Medicare Plan Has a 5-Star Rating? description: If a Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan has a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), you may change to that plan any time between Dec. 8 and Nov. 30. image: https://www.kuzneski.com/hubfs/CMS%205%20stars.jpg --- - [724-717-6004](tel:7247176004) [![Getting Started is Easy](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6680537/4daca9d5-4d43-4aac-bdcd-30d781af3c89.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6680537/4daca9d5-4d43-4aac-bdcd-30d781af3c89) [tel:7247176004](tel:7247176004) [![](https://www.kuzneski.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kuzneski%20Logo.%20Final-2.jpg?width=1441&height=282&name=Kuzneski%20Logo.%20Final-2.jpg)](https://www.kuzneski.com) - [ARE WE A FIT?](https://www.kuzneski.com/are-we-a-fit) - [EMPLOYEE BENEFITS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/employee-benefits) - [HR & COMPLIANCE](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/hr-compliance) - [PAYROLL & HRIS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/payroll-hris) - [BUSINESS INSURANCE](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/business-insurance) - [ABOUT](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [ABOUT US](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [CAREERS](https://www.kuzneski.com/careers) - [INTERNSHIPS](https://www.kuzneski.com/internships) - [LEARN](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [BLOG](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [Compliance Webinars](https://www.kuzneski.com/compliance-webinars) - [ARE WE A FIT?](https://www.kuzneski.com/are-we-a-fit) - [EMPLOYEE BENEFITS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/employee-benefits) - [HR & COMPLIANCE](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/hr-compliance) - [PAYROLL & HRIS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/payroll-hris) - [BUSINESS INSURANCE](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/business-insurance) - [ABOUT](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [ABOUT US](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [CAREERS](https://www.kuzneski.com/careers) - [INTERNSHIPS](https://www.kuzneski.com/internships) - [LEARN](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [BLOG](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [Compliance Webinars](https://www.kuzneski.com/compliance-webinars) [Medicare](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/medicare) # What Does It Mean If a Medicare Plan Has a 5-Star Rating? [Jason Levan](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/author/jason-levan) / March 23, 2022 ![Both UPMC and Highmark have earned 5-star ratings from the CMS for 2022.](https://www.kuzneski.com/hubfs/CMS%205%20stars.jpg) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=) [![Share on twitter](https://7528304.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/twitter-color.png?width=24&name=twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=&url=&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on pinterest](https://7528311.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528311/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/pinterest-color.png?width=24&name=pinterest-color.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=&media=) You’ve heard of a 5-star hotel. But what about a 5-star Medicare plan?  Normally, Medicare recipients can only change plans once during the open enrollment period, which is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 each year. (The new coverage begins Jan. 1.) And the open enrollment period for Medicare Advantage plans is Jan. 1 through March 31 each year. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or switch to an Original Medicare plan once during that period.  But with prestige comes privilege. Just like at a 5-star hotel, there are certain perks that come with a 5-star Medicare plan. If a Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan has a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), you may change to that plan **any time** – but just once -- between Dec. 8 and Nov. 30, which, when you think about it, is nearly all year. This is known as the *5-Star Special Enrollment Period.*  Coincidentally, the CMS awarded two local, prominent insurance carriers 5-star ratings for 2022 – the first time that Vickie Davidson, KIG’s Medicare guru, has seen that occur in her nearly 20-year career. After all, in 2022, just 16% of Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage earned a 5-star rating, according to [Healthcare.gov](https://www.healthcare.gov/).   The CMS’ star ratings for Medicare plans are as follows:  - 5-star rating: Excellent - 4-star rating: Above average - 3-star rating: Average - 2-star rating: Below average - 1-star rating: Poor ### What do they measure?  The CMS uses information from member satisfaction surveys, plans and health care providers to bestow overall performance star ratings. The ratings are designed to help you compare plans based on quality and performance. Medicare updates these ratings each fall for the following year, and the ratings can change each year.  For Medicare plans providing health coverage, plans are rated based on five categories. From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:   1. Staying healthy: Whether members had access to preventive services to keep them healthy. This includes physical exams, vaccinations and preventive screenings. 2. Chronic condition management: Care coordination and how frequently members received services for long-term health conditions. 3. Member experience: Overall satisfaction with the health plan. 4. Member complaints: How frequently members submitted complaints or left the plan, whether members had issues getting needed services, and whether plan performance improved year over year. 5. Customer service: Quality of call center services and timely processing of appeals and new enrollments. For Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage, ratings are also based on the following criteria:  - Member experience - Member complaints - Customer service - Drug safety and accuracy of drug pricing  *If you’re interested in switching to a 5-star Medicare plan, feel free to reach out to Vickie Davidson, Client Advisor, at (724) 717-6005.* ![Highmark 5 star](https://www.kuzneski.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Highmark%205%20star.png?width=406&name=Highmark%205%20star.png) ![UPMC 5 star](https://www.kuzneski.com/hs-fs/hubfs/UPMC%205%20star.jpg?width=234&name=UPMC%205%20star.jpg)    *We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.* *We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.* ### [Jason Levan](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/author/jason-levan) Jason Levan joined Kuzneski Insurance Group in 2021 as Director of Communications and Content after his first career as a newspaper reporter and editor. In Act II, he oversees the content marketing for the company, with the goal of making the insurance world easier to understand and navigate for our clients. When he’s not at work, you can often find him “banging and clanging” in the gym, or spending time with his family. [Follow me on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/jason.levan.1) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/levanjason/) ### Share Your Thoughts ## You may also like [Medicare](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/medicare) ## [Medicare 101: What You Really Need To Know](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/medicare-101-what-you-really-need-to-know) [Jason Levan](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/author/jason-levan) / February 28, 2022 [Read more](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/medicare-101-what-you-really-need-to-know) [Health Insurance](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/health-insurance), [FAQs](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/tag/faqs) ## [Checklist: What Should I Do Before My Medical Plan Renews?](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/checklist-what-should-i-do-before-my-medical-plan-renews) [Jason Levan](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/author/jason-levan) / March 3, 2022 [Read more](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog/checklist-what-should-i-do-before-my-medical-plan-renews) ## Subscribe to our freshest ideas ## Headquarters 27 North Sixth Street Indiana, PA 15701 Phone: (724) 349-1919 [Contact Us](https://www.kuzneski.com/contact-us) ## Pittsburgh 6401 Penn Ave., 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Phone: (724) 349-1919 [Contact Us](https://www.kuzneski.com/contact-us) ## Solutions - [Are We A Fit?](https://www.kuzneski.com/are-we-a-fit) - [Employee Benefits](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/employee-benefits) - [HR & Compliance](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/hr-compliance) - [Payroll & HRIS](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/payroll-hris) - [Business Insurance](https://www.kuzneski.com/services/business-insurance) ## About - [About Us](https://www.kuzneski.com/about-kuzneski-insurance-group) - [Careers](https://www.kuzneski.com/careers) ## Learn - [Blog](https://www.kuzneski.com/blog) - [COVID-19 Response](https://www.kuzneski.com/covid-19) - [COVID-19 Webinars](https://www.kuzneski.com/covid-19-webinars) ### Subscribe to our freshest ideas ## Follow [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/kuzneskigroup/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/kuzneski-financial-group/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/KuzneskiGroup) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kuzneskiig/?hl=en) --- [![Kuzneski Logo](https://www.kuzneski.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kuzneski%20Logo.%20White.png?width=250&height=143&name=Kuzneski%20Logo.%20White.png "Kuzneski Logo")](https://www.kuzneski.com/) Copyright © 2026 Kuzneski Insurance Group - [Legal Stuff](https://www.kuzneski.com/legal-stuff) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.kuzneski.com/privacy-policy-kuzneski)