PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Vincent Staupe
vincent.p.staupe@kp.org
Updated: October 7, 2026
Kaiser Permanente leads the nation in top-rated health plans
In the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s 2026 ratings, only 18 health plans received the highest possible rating of 5 stars. Nine of those belong to Kaiser Permanente.
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kaiser Permanente continues to provide some of the highest-rated health care in the nation.
In the 2026 National Committee for Quality Assurance Health Plan Ratings, Kaiser Permanente’s commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health plans earned the highest rating or tied for the highest rating in every region Kaiser Permanente serves.
5-star plans
NCQA evaluated nearly 1,000 health plans. Only 18 received the highest possible rating of 5 stars. Nine of those belong to Kaiser Permanente.
These include Kaiser Permanente’s:
- Commercial plans in Northern California and the mid-Atlantic states area (Baltimore, suburban Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C.)
- Medicare plans in Northern California, Southern California, the mid-Atlantic states area, and Nevada
- Medicaid plans in Northern California, Southern California, and Maryland
Commercial plans with 4.5 stars
Kaiser Permanente’s commercial plans received 4.5 stars in these regions:
- Southern California
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Northwest (Oregon and southern Washington)
- Washington
Medicare plans with 4.5 stars
All Kaiser Permanente Medicare plans received 4.5 stars or higher.
Medicaid plans
Kaiser Permanente’s eligible Medicaid plans — in Northern California, Southern California, Hawaii, and Maryland — all were rated highest in their region or state.
More 5-star and 4.5-star plans than any organization
Only 1 out of every 13 plans (about 7%) earned a rating of 4.5 stars or higher. At Kaiser Permanente, 20 of 22 plans, or 91%, earned 4.5 stars or higher.
Kaiser Permanente has more 5-star and 4.5-star plans combined than any other health care organization for the 11th ratings cycle in a row.
High-quality care our members deserve
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization that measures and accredits health care plans. NCQA evaluates health plans on the quality of care patients receive, how happy patients are with their care, and health plans’ efforts to keep improving. The 2026 ratings are based primarily on 2025 data.
Learn more about NCQA’s ratings and other awards and recognition Kaiser Permanente has earned for quality and service.
Notes about Kaiser Permanente in Nevada:
- In 2025, Kaiser Permanente in Nevada was Hometown Health Plan, Inc., and Hometown Health Providers Insurance Company, Inc.
- In 2025, the Medicare plan was known as Hometown Health’s Senior Care Plus plan.
- The performance data reflected in these ratings is from a period before Kaiser Permanente and Renown Health formed their joint venture in February 2026. Hometown Health is now jointly owned by Kaiser Permanente and Renown Health. Plan offerings will transition to Kaiser Permanente branding in 2027.
