Jenn Kerfoot wraps up 2025 with an unfiltered look at what really happened in Medicare Advantage this year—and what's coming in 2026 that should have your attention.

This year stripped the varnish off MA. With 2 million+ members scrambling to find new plans after carrier exits, star ratings becoming balance sheet emergencies, and the proposed 2027 rule threatening to drop most plans by a full star, "good enough" isn't cutting it anymore.

In this episode, Jenn breaks down:

→ Why AEP 2025 was unlike anything we've seen (7% of MA beneficiaries needed new plans vs. the typical 2%)

→ The proposed 2027 rule changes: Health Equity Index reverting to Reward Factor, administrative measures on the chopping block, and what the industry mapping actually shows

→ Her honest take on CAHPS, triple-weighted measures, and why member experience remains a leading indicator

→ What to do if you feel like your health equity work was "wasted" (spoiler: reframe how you're thinking about it)

→ Why AI won't save us—and what actually will

Plus: Jenn gets real about balance, burnout, and why this work is hard. Because sometimes you just need someone to say it out loud.

🎧 Stars Unscripted is produced by Press Ganey.

Stars Unscripted | Plan Preview 2 Deep Dive with Nate Lucena & Reva Sheehan

In this episode of Stars Unscripted, host Jenn Kerfoot is joined by Nate Lucena (President & Managing Director at Rex Wallace Consulting) and Reva Sheehan (SVP of Health Solutions at Duos) for a timely breakdown of Plan Preview 2 and what it means for Medicare Advantage Star Ratings in 2026.

They explore:

The difference between Plan Preview 1 and Plan Preview 2 and why Preview 2 is the "dress rehearsal" for final ratings.

How cut points shape performance outcomes and what health plans must watch closely.

Real-world stories of surprises, challenges, and last-minute saves during preview season.

Strategic insights on leveraging Preview 2 results to drive improvement, avoid pitfalls, and prepare for October’s final release.

Leadership lessons on cross-functional accountability, data rigor, and turning setbacks into opportunities.

👉 Whether you’re on a Stars team, a senior leader, or a solutions partner, this episode provides practical advice and insider perspectives to help navigate one of the most critical times of the year for Medicare Advantage organizations.

Join host Jenn Kerfoot as she breaks down HR1 - the "One Big Beautiful Bill" that just passed by the narrowest margin and could strip healthcare from 18 million Americans.
What's really in this bill:

$860 billion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years
Work requirements that cost more than they save
$35 copays that force impossible choices
10-16 million people losing coverage

The brutal math:
Medicaid covers 1 in 5 Americans, costs 22% less than private insurance, and keeps rural hospitals alive. So why are we trying to break what actually works?
From the supervisor who had to refuse a raise to keep her healthcare, to 1.8 million veterans on Medicaid, to rural communities facing hospital closures - this isn't policy, it's cruelty dressed up as economics.
"You cannot build a great nation on an empty stomach."
No spin. Just the truth about what happens when we mistake budget cuts for leadership.
#Medicaid #HealthcareReform #HR1 #PolicyAnalysis #Healthcare

On this episode of Stars Unscripted, Jenn Kerfoot is joined by Archie Dey, VP of Consumer Experience and Insights at SCAN Health Plan. They discuss SCAN’s powerful origin story—founded by older adults in the community who believed healthcare could and should be better—and how that same spirit lives on today through innovations like SCAN’s new Community Center in Nevada. Archie shares how he’s combining research, design, and real-world empathy to redefine what it means to engage Medicare Advantage members meaningfully and the role that AI plays in accelerating advancements and delivering on the promise to members.

What do global trade disputes have to do with your Medicare Advantage bid? More than you might think.

You’ve probably heard about tariffs in the news—but did you know they could shake up Medicare Advantage strategies?

In this episode, Jenn breaks down how the latest round of tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada might impact your 2026 CMS bid, pharmacy costs, and—yep—even your Star Ratings. Add in the Inflation Reduction Act and the new Part D redesign, and things start to get spicy real fast.

If you’re in the weeds with benefit design, predicting costs and impact, or member experience strategy, this 15-minute download is for you. Jenn walks through the real-world impacts, why generics could get more expensive, and what members might notice in their plans next year.

In this episode of Stars Unscripted, host Jenn Kerfoot and guest Courtney Best discuss the importance of dreaming big and the journey of bringing their vision, Connections for Cause, to life. They explore the challenges faced, the power of collaboration, and the significance of surrounding oneself with supportive people. The conversation emphasizes the need to embrace an abundance mentality, overcome roadblocks, and manifest dreams into reality through teamwork and community engagement.

Learn more about Connections for a Cause: https://www.getduos.com/connectionsforacause

In this episode Jenn is joined by Mick Twomey, CEO of Hyperlift and Nate Lucena, Chief Strategy Officer of Rex Wallace Consulting to talk Advance Notice, among other timely topics for Stars professionals.

Jenn Kerfoot welcomes the sponsor of Stars Unscripted, Mick Twomey, CEO of Hyperlift and Phill Collins, also from Hyperlift to take a deeper look at the 2025 Stars Ratings.