Ground for the Orchard Plaza project was broken in December 2023. Construction firm Swinerton built the four-story, 146,000 square-foot building located at 7150 N. Corporate Dr., in Fresno. Kaiser photo

Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare HMO health plan in California has again been named among the nation’s best for providing high-quality, coordinated care and exceptional service to its more than 1.4 million Medicare Advantage members.

The plan received 4.5 out of 5 stars in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ 2026 Star Ratings, tied for the highest rating in the state.

“Kaiser Permanente continues to lead the nation in quality measures, which reflects our ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes for our Medicare Advantage members, some of whom have complex health conditions,” said Mike Bowers, FACHE, interim president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Through a combination of high-quality care, affordability, and coordination across specialties we are providing our patients with needed support to lead healthy lives.”

The Medicare HMO health plan has retained high marks for years, with the plan earning 4.5- and 5- star marks since 2011.

“Our dedicated clinical teams provide our Medicare Advantage patients with seamless, personalized care that enables them to live full and active lives,” said Maria Ansari, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare Advantage California Plan is also highly rated on many measures, including colorectal cancer and breast cancer screening.”

Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services evaluates Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans nationwide based on a number of categories — patient experience, access to care, customer service and management of chronic conditions, among others.

Kaiser Permanente also recently earned praise from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, rating the Northern California Medicare and commercial plans five stars for overall patient experience and clinical quality, the highest possible score.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California has received that distinction ten times and is one of just 11 health plans nationwide to achieve a perfect score.

Medicare’s annual enrollment period for 2026 began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. Beneficiaries can learn more about star ratings and Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare health plans at kp.org/medicarestars.