Most agents glance at Star Ratings when they come out and move on. Clients are not calling to ask about them. But ratings can tell you something about where a carrier may be heading, and that matters when you decide which carriers to build your book around.
I'm Justin Brock. Brock has helped agents serve 250,000+ Medicare beneficiaries. For what I watch in the ratings, read 2027 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings: What Agents Should Watch Before AEP on justinbrock.com. This piece covers how your upline should help you use them.
Why ratings matter beyond the score
Star Ratings affect carrier finances, which can influence benefits, service areas and plan offerings in future years. A carrier slipping in ratings may tighten benefits later. That does not mean you should avoid it, but it is a signal worth watching when you plan your appointments.
What your upline should provide
- A plain-English summary. What changed in your markets and why it might matter.
- Context, not hype. Ratings are one factor, alongside networks, drug coverage and cost for each client.
- Appointment planning. Help deciding where to focus your appointments and product knowledge for the next few years.
- Client guidance. How to talk about ratings without overstating them. Medicare explains ratings on Medicare.gov.
Questions to ask an upline
- How do you brief agents on Star Ratings each year?
- How do you factor ratings into carrier appointment advice?
- What do you tell agents to say to clients about ratings?
How Brock helps
Brock covers ratings and market shifts in our State of Medicare webinar and helps agents plan carrier appointments. See our companion on building a carrier portfolio and our events.
Want help reading the market? Book a call with the Brock team.
Frequently asked questions
What are Medicare Advantage Star Ratings?
Star Ratings are CMS quality ratings for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans on a scale of one to five, based on measures such as member experience, health outcomes and customer service. They are published each year before AEP.
Should agents recommend plans based on Star Ratings?
Ratings are one factor. A plan's fit depends on the client's doctors, drugs, costs and needs. Use ratings as context and as a signal about carrier direction, but base recommendations on the full picture for each client.
How can Star Ratings affect future benefits?
Ratings affect carrier finances, which can influence benefits, plan offerings and service areas in later years. A drop does not guarantee changes, but it is worth watching when you plan which carriers to build your book around.
How should my upline help with Star Ratings?
A good upline summarizes changes in your markets, explains what they might mean, factors them into appointment planning and gives you careful language for client conversations. It should avoid hype and keep ratings in context.