Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Pasadena-Based Kaiser Permanente Southern California Earns Top Scores in National Health Plan Ratings

Kaiser Permanente has been recognized as providing some of the highest quality healthcare in the nation

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

Kaiser Permanente, whose Southern California Region with nearly 5 million members is based in Pasadena, continues to provide some of the highest-rated healthcare in the nation. 

In the 2026 National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 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. Locally, these include Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare plan and the Medi-Cal plans in Southern California.

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 across the country, including in Southern California, received 4.5 stars or higher. 

Medicaid plans 

Kaiser Permanente’s eligible Medicaid plans — in Southern California, Northern 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 in the country for the 11th ratings cycle in a row. 

“We’re honored to receive these outstanding NCQA ratings, which underscore our commitment to delivering high-quality care and exceptional service,” said Michelle Gaskill-Hames, regional president, Kaiser Permanente Southern California & Hawaii. “This achievement belongs to our entire healthcare delivery team whose dedication, collaboration and focus on our patients enable us to consistently achieve excellence. We thank our physicians, nurses, clinicians and staff for their extraordinary commitment to improving the health and well-being of our members and communities.” 

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. 

“Receiving these exceptional NCQA ratings is a powerful affirmation of our physicians’ and care teams’ unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding care for every patient, every day,” said Dr. Ramin Davidoff, executive medical director and chair of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, and chair and CEO of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group. “Being the only health plan in Southern California to earn a 5-star rating for our Medicare and Medi-Cal plans, while also achieving the highest-rated commercial plan in the region, reflects the dedication, expertise and compassion our physicians bring to the practice of medicine.” 

Learn more about NCQA’s ratings and other awards and recognition Kaiser Permanente has earned for quality and service.

Kaiser Permanente advertises in Pasadena Now