Medicare Advantage in Bakersfield, California: 2027 Coverage, Explained
10 Medicare Advantage plans in Kern County are changing for 2027, 8 plans are leaving and 11 plans are new. Use this guide to see how the plans work in Bakersfield, California and what to compare, in plain terms.
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Medicare Advantage plans in your area are changing or leaving for 2027.
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Medicare Advantage plans in your area are changing or leaving for 2027.
Is your plan on the list? One call tells you — before enrollment opens.
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A real person answers. About 5 minutes, no obligation.
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New to Medicare around Bakersfield? Start with one fact that clears up a lot of confusion: what's available to you is decided at the county level, and Bakersfield falls in Kern County (part of Bakersfield area).
There, 42 Medicare Advantage plans are available for 2027. Roughly 47% of people with Medicare in the county have chosen Medicare Advantage over Original Medicare, among the roughly 108,560 residents who are 65 or older.
Below, we lay out the carriers serving the area, how Original Medicare, Advantage, Medigap and Part D relate, the 2027 numbers everyone shares, the enrollment calendar, and free help — all educational, with no plan rankings.
Medicare Advantage companies in Kern County
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare options near you from licensed partners.
| Company | Local enrollment | Plans offered | Local agents | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser PermanenteRegional | — | Yes | ||
| Elevance Health (Anthem)National | — | Yes | ||
| HumanaNational | — | Yes | ||
| UnitedHealthcareNational | — | Yes | ||
| Imperial Health Plan of CaliforniaRegional | — | Yes | ||
| Centene (WellCare)National | — | Yes |
Advantage or Original Medicare? The basic fork
Every Medicare decision in Bakersfield, California branches from one question: do you want your coverage delivered through a private Medicare Advantage plan, or do you want to stay with Original Medicare and build around it?
Go the Medicare Advantage route and a private plan (approved by Medicare) handles your Part A and Part B, typically folds in drug coverage — within a network and a county-based service area.
Stay with Original Medicare and you keep nationwide provider freedom, then usually add a stand-alone Part D drug plan and often a Medigap policy to cover what Original Medicare doesn't.
There's no single winner here — it comes down to your providers, your medications, and your budget. We explain the trade-offs and leave the choice to you; we don't rank plans.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Kern County
(MA penetration in Kern County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
The 2027 numbers, from shared to plan-specific
Start with what's fixed for everyone. The standard Part B premium is $202.9 per month in 2026 (2026 amount; 2027 figure will be posted when CMS releases it), and Part A is premium-free for most people who paid Medicare taxes long enough while working.
On the drug side, Part D has real guardrails for 2027: a deductible capped at $700 and, a hard $2,400 ceiling on your out-of-pocket costs for covered prescriptions — the old coverage gap is gone.
Higher earners pay more for Parts B and D through an income-related adjustment called IRMAA, which for 2026 starts above $109,000 in annual income for an individual and is based on your 2024 tax return. Most people fall below that line and pay the standard amounts. The 2027 brackets will be posted when CMS releases them.
Everything past that is plan-specific: the premiums, copays, and coverage details of an individual Advantage or Medigap plan change from plan to plan and year to year. Rather than quote or rank those, we point you to Medicare's Plan Finder and a licensed agent for your exact numbers.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
Your Medicare enrollment calendar
The dates that follow are set federally, so they don't change from state to state — only your personal timing does.
It starts with your Initial Enrollment Period — the 7-month window around your 65th birthday month — the window around turning 65 when you first sign up. Missing it can mean late penalties that stick around, so it's the one not to sleep on.
After that, the big recurring window is the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, when anyone can join, switch, or drop an Advantage or Part D plan for a January 1 start. And if you're already in an Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 – March 31) gives you one more chance to change course.
Life events — a move, a loss of other coverage — can also trigger a Special Enrollment Period. The calendar below shows the whole year at a glance.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Getting unbiased help in Bakersfield
You never have to make these decisions alone, and you don't have to pay for good help. A few free, trustworthy starting points:
Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) are the official sources for plan details and the Plan Finder. Licensed agents can also compare options with you and handle enrollment.
And to be clear about who we are: MyMedicarePlans.org is a privately owned, independent educational resource. We are not Medicare, not a government agency, and not affiliated with one. We publish plain-language information to help you get oriented — then point you to the official sources and licensed professionals for decisions about specific plans.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare Medicare Advantage options in Bakersfield?
When can I enroll or switch in Bakersfield?
What does Medicare cost in Bakersfield for 2027?
Do you recommend a specific plan or carrier?
Latest Medicare Advantage guides for Bakersfield
New Medicare Advantage guides from California
- Anaheim Medicare Advantage for 2027: how HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plans compare before you choose
- If your Anaheim Medicare Advantage plan isn't on the 2027 list, here's what to do
- Bakersfield's 2027 Medicare Advantage choices: who's in, who's out, who's new
- Bakersfield ANOC checklist for 2027 (what to check)
- Does Your Kaiser Doctor Take Your 2027 Oakland Plan?
- Got a non-renewal letter in Oakland? 10 Medicare Advantage plans end Dec. 31
- Kaiser Permanente in Long Beach: 2027 plan lineup (full list)
- Before AEP Ends Dec 7: What Changed for Long Beach