Medicare Advantage

How county lines shape your Anaheim plan menu

For 2027, Anaheim is looking at 111 Medicare Advantage plans: 28 new, 21 gone since 2026, and 51 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 19 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Orange County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

Anaheim retirees comparing Medicare coverage for 2027 have plenty to sort through — and where you live inside the metro matters more than many people realize. Because Medicare Advantage and Part D plan menus are drawn up county by county, a neighbor one freeway exit away in Los Angeles or Riverside County may see a very different list of options than you do in Orange County. Understanding that geography is the first step in deciding what fits.

Why the county line matters

Medicare is a federal program, but private Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are approved to operate in specific service areas — usually whole counties. Anaheim sits in Orange County, so the plans a local agent or the Medicare Plan Finder shows you are the ones cleared for Orange County residents. If you spend part of the year in another county or state, or you're helping a parent who lives elsewhere, don't assume the choices are identical. Each county has its own lineup, its own participating carriers, and often its own provider networks.

What the Anaheim-area numbers look like

For 2026, Orange County residents have 104 Medicare Advantage plans available to consider, offered by 17 different carriers with prescription drug coverage built in. That's a wide field by national standards, which is good news for choice but can feel overwhelming when you're staring at a long list on medicare.gov.

Stand-alone Part D drug plans, which people pair with Original Medicare, are counted separately by CMS. If you keep Original Medicare and want drug coverage, you'll want to look at those Part D options directly on the Plan Finder tool rather than assuming they're bundled in.

With more than 514,000 residents age 65 or older in Orange County, carriers compete hard here — which is one reason the plan count is so large.

How nearby counties compare

If you're weighing a move within Southern California, or your adult children live in a neighboring county and want to compare, keep in mind that Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties each have their own plan lineups. The number of plans, the participating carriers, and the doctor and hospital networks can all shift once you cross a county line. Even the star-rated contracts available in one county may not be sold in the next.

That's why it's worth checking availability by ZIP code rather than assuming what worked for a friend across town will work for you.

Using star ratings as one input

Medicare publishes Star Ratings each year to measure plan quality on things like customer service, member complaints, and preventive care. Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars. They're a useful piece of information — but only one piece. A plan's provider network, drug formulary, and total out-of-pocket exposure matter just as much for your day-to-day experience.

Key 2027 rules to know before you decide

A few program-wide updates apply no matter which county you're in:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: Your prescription drug spending under Part D is capped at $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• Part D deductible: No Part D plan can charge a deductible higher than $615.
• No more donut hole: As of 2025, the coverage gap was eliminated. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can opt in to spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums. In 2026, this begins above $109,000 for single filers.

When you can make changes

Mark two windows on the calendar:

• Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7): Anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for the following year.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan. 1 – March 31): If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (and pick up a Part D plan).

Outside those windows, Special Enrollment Periods may apply if you move, lose other coverage, or qualify for Extra Help.

Where to get unbiased help

Before you enroll, run your own numbers on medicare.gov/plan-compare using your ZIP code, your doctors, and your prescriptions. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.

For free, one-on-one counseling from a trained volunteer who doesn't sell insurance, contact California's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known locally as HICAP — the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program. Orange County has a dedicated HICAP office that serves Anaheim residents.