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News
CMS just dropped the 2027 Medicare Advantage star ratings, and the results are shaking up the industry. Humana is the clear comeback story, while Aetna and Alignment Healthcare took notable hits. Overall, star ratings slipped across the board as CMS raised the bar for quality scores.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its highly anticipated 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) star ratings, revealing a mixed bag of winners and losers among major insurers. Humana emerged as the standout success story, bouncing back from two difficult years to have 93% of its members in plans rated 4 stars or higher — up from just 20% in 2026. That rebound could translate to $3 billion or more in bonus revenue in 2028, and sent Humana's stock up nearly 13% in after-hours trading.
On the losing end, Alignment Healthcare saw a dramatic fall, with only 25% of its members now in 4+ star plans, down from 98% in 2026. Aetna also slipped, dropping from 81% to 69% of members in high-rated plans. Overall, just 37% of MA plans with drug coverage earned 4+ stars for 2027, down from 44% in 2026 — largely because CMS toughened its methodology, adding new measures and raising performance thresholds.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Star ratings are directly tied to bonus payments and plan competitiveness. Lower ratings could push insurers to cut benefits, raise premiums, or narrow networks for millions of seniors — making the upcoming open enrollment period (starting Oct. 15) especially consequential.
