72 MA contracts with 4,929,700 members fell below 4 stars

4,929,700 Medicare Advantage members are in contracts that fell below 4 stars for 2027, CMS data show.

Those members are in 72 contracts. CMS rated each one 4 stars or more for 2026. Each is under 4 stars for 2027.

35 contracts moved the other way. They went from under 4 stars to 4 stars or more. They have 4,736,591 members.

The ratings come from CMS’s 2027 Star Ratings data tables, dated Oct. 8, 2026, and its 2026 tables. Member counts come from CMS’s October 2026 enrollment by contract.

Where members stand for 2027

71.0% of rated Medicare Advantage members are in contracts with 4 stars or more for 2027. That is 24,807,227 of 34,918,668 members.

6,867,067 members are in 164 contracts rated 3.5 stars. That is half a star under 4.

Why 4 stars matters

4 stars is the line for a quality bonus from CMS. The 2027 ratings set the bonuses for 2028.

A contract is CMS’s unit for rating a plan company’s Medicare Advantage business. One contract can hold many plans.

How we got these numbers

We used each contract’s 2027 overall rating. Where CMS gave no overall rating, we used the Part C summary rating. We did the same for 2026.

We counted contracts rated 4 stars or more for 2026 and under 4 stars for 2027. Then we added up their October 2026 members.

Limits.

1. CMS enrollment is from October 2026. The ratings are for 2027.
2. Contracts with no 2027 rating are left out. They had 1,106,199 members.
3. Appeals and recalculations can still move a contract’s rating.
4. This story uses national counts only.

What it means for you

Some areas have a plan with a 5 star rating. If yours does, Medicare.gov says you can use a special enrollment period to switch to it. Check its doctors and drugs before you switch.

This story is general information from public sources. It is not insurance or enrollment advice, and we don’t recommend any plan or insurer.