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Medicare Advantage

Medicare Plan Finder Opens for 2027 Shopping Today, With Star Ratings Following Around October 8

CMS updated Medicare.gov with 2027 plan data as of October 1 and will add the official star ratings on or around October 8, one week before the annual enrollment period opens on October 15.

By the Goodsurance editorial teamOctober 1, 2026

The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov was updated with 2027 plan information on October 1, 2026, allowing beneficiaries, counselors, and agents to begin comparing coverage options before the annual enrollment period opens on October 15.

CMS will add the 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D star ratings on or around October 8, according to the 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape fact sheet. Star ratings are the agency's annual quality scores, running from one to five stars. They guide beneficiary shopping and determine whether a plan earns a quality bonus payment in 2028: plans at four stars and above qualify, and plans below that threshold do not.

Medicare.gov is already live with 2027 plan data. Star ratings post around October 8. Open enrollment opens October 15.

The 2027 ratings reflect a significant overhaul to how scores are calculated. CMS tightened performance thresholds on approximately half of the remaining quality measures, meaning more plans than in recent years may see their star rating shift compared to their 2026 score. The agency also removed the Health Equity Index reward that previously lifted overall scores for some plans serving low-income and minority populations. Eleven quality measures are being phased out under the 2027 contract year rule, with the removals staggered across 2027, 2028, and 2029.

Beneficiaries who received an Annual Notice of Change showing upcoming premium, deductible, or benefit shifts may want to use the Plan Finder now to compare their current plan's 2027 terms against available alternatives. The annual enrollment period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, with coverage beginning January 1, 2027.

In plain words

Medicare.gov has been updated with 2027 plan information starting today. You can go to the website now and look at plans available in your area. The star ratings, which show plan quality on a scale from one to five, will be added to the website around October 8. You can start signing up for a new plan on October 15 and have until December 7. If your current plan sent you a letter saying your costs or benefits are changing for 2027, now is a good time to compare what else is available before you decide.

Understand the basics first

Source: CMS
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