The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published 2024 star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) and Medicare Part D.
In an Oct. 13 Fact Sheet, CMS said it publishes the star ratings annually “to measure the quality of health and drug services received by consumers enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs or Part D plans).
“The star ratings system helps Medicare consumers compare the quality of Medicare health and drug plans being offered so they are empowered to make the best healthcare decisions for them. An important component of this effort is to provide Medicare consumers and their caregivers with meaningful information about quality alongside information about benefits and costs to assist them in being informed and active healthcare consumers.”
The ratings range from two to five stars, in half-star increments.
In 2023, 57 MA-PD contracts (11.24 percent) had 5-star ratings. There was a drop in that top rating for 2024, with just 31 contracts (5.69 percent) earning 5-star ratings.
For both 2023 and 2024, four contracts had the lowest 2-star rating.
The average star rating dropped slightly from 2023 (a 4.14-star rating) to 2024 (4.04 stars). Weighted by enrollment, in 2023 the percentage of beneficiaries enrolled with 4.5- or 5-star programs was 47.79 percent. For 2024, the percentage of beneficiaries who will be enrolled in 4.5- or 5-star programs is 37.86 percent.
See the full star-rating report here.
