Medicare 2026

Medicare in California for 2027: 74 Advantage Plans Leaving, 66 New, and What Else Changes

SACRAMENTO — Californians with Medicare will see a smaller but shuffled Medicare Advantage lineup for 2027, a slimmer stand-alone Part D menu, and a higher annual cap on out-of-pocket drug costs. Four carriers are leaving the state's Medicare Advantage market, one new carrier is coming in, and most changes will land during Annual Enrollment, which runs October 15 through December 7, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.

How many Medicare Advantage plans are offered in California for 2027?

California has 394 Medicare Advantage plans offered for 2027, compared with 402 in 2026, according to the CMS Landscape Source File for the state. Of those, 74 plans available in 2026 are not returning anywhere in the state, 66 are new, and 158 are changing in some way — a different premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name — across 56 counties.

Four carriers will not offer a Medicare Advantage plan anywhere in California for 2027: Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company, Central Health Medicare Plan, Providence Medicare Advantage Plans, and Sharp Health Plan. One carrier is new to the state's Medicare Advantage market for 2027: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Because Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, a plan counted in the statewide total may or may not be offered where you live. The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov shows exactly what is available by ZIP code.

What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving California in 2027?

If your plan is not returning for 2027, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that runs into February 2027 to join another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a stand-alone Part D plan). Your current insurer must send a non-renewal letter in advance explaining that the plan is ending and what your choices are.

If your plan is returning but changing, watch the mail in late September for the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). That document spells out what is different for 2027 — the premium, the drug deductible, the cost sharing, the network, the drug list — so you can decide during Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7, 2026) whether to stay or switch.

Which California counties have the most Medicare Advantage change for 2027?

The five counties with the most movement in California for 2027 are Los Angeles (23 plans leaving, 38 changing), San Diego (26 leaving, 28 changing), Orange (21 leaving, 32 changing), Riverside (17 leaving, 32 changing), and San Bernardino (17 leaving, 32 changing).

"Leaving" means a plan available in 2026 is not being offered in that county for 2027. "Changing" means the plan is still offered, but with a different premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name. Either way, members in those counties should expect a letter and should check that their doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions are still covered under the 2027 version of the plan.

How many stand-alone Part D drug plans are offered in California for 2027?

California has 10 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans for 2027, from 5 insurers, compared with 12 plans in 2026. These are the plans people on Original Medicare — or on a Medicare Advantage plan that does not include drug coverage — can use for prescriptions.

Two program-wide Part D rules matter for 2027. The out-of-pocket cap on covered prescriptions rises to $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026). And no Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700. Actual plan premiums, deductibles under that ceiling, and covered drug lists are set plan by plan and shown on the Medicare Plan Finder.

How many Medigap insurers are available in California for 2027?

Medicare.gov lists 15 Medigap (Medicare Supplement) insurers for a California ZIP code. Medigap works only with Original Medicare and helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Medicare does not cover.

Medigap is regulated differently from Medicare Advantage, and the rules about when you can switch or whether you can be medically underwritten vary by state and situation. The exact plan letters, prices and rules for your ZIP code are at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

What national Medicare numbers are confirmed for 2027?

For 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400, the maximum Part D deductible any plan may charge is $700, and the Part D base beneficiary premium used in the late-enrollment penalty calculation is $41.33. Individual plan premiums are still set plan by plan.

The Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for benefits payable beginning January 2027. The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, had not been announced at the time this was written; CMS typically releases those figures in the fall.

What should Californians do before December 7, 2026?

A short checklist for Annual Enrollment 2027 (October 15 – December 7, 2026):

• Read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from your current plan when it arrives.
• If you got a non-renewal letter, note that your Special Enrollment Period runs into February 2027.
• Run your 2027 drugs, pharmacy and doctors through the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.
• Confirm any choice directly with the plan or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE before December 7, 2026.

Where can Californians get free Medicare help?

Free, unbiased help is available at Medicare.gov and by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov shows every Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medigap option available for your ZIP code, with the plan's own 2027 premium, deductible, drug list and network.