Star Ratings value-at-stake calculator · Free · no sign-up
Star Ratings value-at-stake calculator
Enter your own numbers. The result is a buyer estimate, not a promise. Your numbers stay in this tab: they are not saved or added to the page address, and they are sent only if you choose to email them to yourself.
Your result
- Approximate yearly rebate from the 4-star quality bonus, at a 65% rebate share (context, not a payment or a saving) Buyer estimate
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- Rebate difference from 3 to 3.5 stars, 50% to 65% (context, not a saving) Buyer estimate
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- Rebate difference from 4 to 4.5 stars, 65% to 70% (context, not a saving) Buyer estimate
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Fill in the three required inputs to see your estimate.
How this is calculated
- Bonus rebate = members × benchmark × 12 × quality bonus (5%, or 10% in some counties) × 65% rebate share
- Rebate difference = members × monthly bid savings × 12 × the change in the rebate share (50% below 3.5 stars, 65% from 3.5 to under 4.5, 70% at 4.5 or more). A rebate funds extra benefits or lower premiums; it is not cash the plan keeps.
- These are amounts that depend on a rating, not payments. CMS adds the bonus as percentage points to each county's rate, so the first line approximates it on your average benchmark, at the 4-star share; a plan at 4.5 stars or more returns 70%. How much reaches the plan depends on its bid and benchmark caps. They are context, not savings, and are never added together.
- Example with illustrative inputs, not a market average: 50,000 × $1,100 × 12 × 5% × 65% = $21,450,000/year
Source: your inputs, with the program's public rules as KFF reported them on 2026-08-12. CMS can change them. This is money that depends on your rating, not projected savings. Clearer member documents support the measures; they do not set a rating.
Send a blank template, not a copy with a patient's or member's details.
How the estimate works
Enter numbers you already track. The calculator multiplies them and shows each step with your numbers. It is cost context for an evaluation, not a savings promise.
Numbers you enter
- Medicare Advantage members
- Average monthly benchmark per member, before any quality bonus
- Quality bonus for your counties
- + 1 optional input
What you get, labelled
- Approximate yearly rebate from the 4-star quality bonus, at a 65% rebate share (context, not a payment or a saving)Buyer estimate
- Rebate difference from 3 to 3.5 stars, 50% to 65% (context, not a saving)Buyer estimate
- Rebate difference from 4 to 4.5 stars, 65% to 70% (context, not a saving)Buyer estimate
The formula is printed under the result. Your numbers stay in this tab unless you choose to email them to yourself.
Questions
Is this a savings estimate?
No. It is arithmetic on your own inputs. An evaluation measures what actually changes, and whether it does.
Are my numbers sent anywhere?
Only if you ask. The calculation runs in your browser, and your numbers are not saved or added to the page address. If you choose "Email me my results", we send the numbers you entered to your email address, with a link that fills them in again. We do not keep them on file.
How do I share my numbers?
Download the CSV or print the page, then send it yourself, or email your results to yourself and forward that email. "Copy a shareable resource link" copies the page address only, without your numbers.