Humana said Thursday that about 20% of its members are currently enrolled in plans that will have at least four stars, based on preliminary data on the 2026 star ratings for Medicare Advantage (MA).
The full star ratings data have not yet been released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, but Humana said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the result “was inadvertently accessible on CMS Plan Finder for a period of time” on Wednesday.
Based on those data, 1.2 million individuals enrolled with Humana are in plans with at least four stars, with 14% of members currently enrolled in plans with 4.5 stars. The average star rating was 3.61, according to the insurer.
“Importantly, the Company’s preliminary 2026 MA Star Ratings are generally in line with the assumptions utilized in its multiyear financial planning,” the insurer said in the filing.
Humana said in the filing that while it is “not satisfied” with the 2026 results, it had limited time to effectuate significant change in performance following a downturn for the 2025 plan year. For the 2026 plan year, the company is putting a focus on diversifying its MA contracts, which it expects to see pay dividends down the line.
Performance in the 2027 star ratings, for example, should be “meaningfully higher” as a result, as the 2026 scores are based on the current plan distribution and enrollment. The company also expects the diversification efforts to have a positive impact on 2026.
The company said in the filing that based on the information it has and the efforts it’s made around plan design and benefits, it expects to see a return to membership growth in 2026.
With the star ratings data as a backdrop, Humana reaffirmed its 2025 guidance of approximately $17 per share.
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