Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Fullerton: 104 Options for 2026 in Orange County

People in Fullerton can choose from 111 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 104 this year. 21 of this year’s plans are gone, 28 are new to Orange County, and 51 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 19 of them under a new name.

FULLERTON, Calif. — If you are shopping for Medicare coverage in Fullerton this fall, you have a lot to sort through. Fullerton is in Orange County, where 92 Medicare Advantage plans are available for 2027, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plan landscape data.

That is a large menu, and it is normal to feel unsure about where to start. This guide explains what those numbers mean, how the pieces of Medicare fit together, and where to get free, unbiased help before the December 7 deadline.

What "104 plans" actually means in Fullerton

Medicare plan availability is set at the county level, not the city level. So when we say Fullerton residents have 92 Medicare Advantage plans to consider for 2027, that count reflects everything offered across Orange County. Your ZIP code inside the county may narrow the list a bit, but the pool is the same.

Those 104 plans come from 17 different carriers doing business in the county. That mix is why two neighbors on the same street can end up with very different coverage — each person is matching plans to their own doctors, prescriptions, and budget.

One more local note: CMS lists 0 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans in the Orange County landscape file used for this article. Stand-alone Part D plans are typically paired with Original Medicare. If drug coverage is important to you and you want to stay on Original Medicare, this is a good question to bring to a SHIP counselor, who can confirm current options for your ZIP code.

The parts of Medicare, in plain English

Before comparing plans, it helps to know what you are comparing.

• Part A covers hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice, and some home health.
• Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and preventive services.
• Part C (Medicare Advantage) is a private plan that bundles Parts A and B, and usually Part D, into one plan. This is where the 104 Orange County options come in.
• Part D is prescription drug coverage, either built into an Advantage plan or purchased separately.
• Medigap (Medicare Supplement) helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind.

You are generally choosing between two paths: Original Medicare (often with a Medigap and a Part D plan) or Medicare Advantage (one bundled plan).

What is new for 2027

A few program-wide changes are worth knowing as you compare:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: Your prescription drug costs under Part D are capped at $2,400 for the year in 2027. Once you hit that limit, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible: The maximum allowed deductible is $700 in 2027. Plans can set theirs lower.
• No more donut hole: The old coverage gap was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three simpler phases.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: This optional program lets you spread your yearly drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay an extra amount for Parts B and D. In 2026, the surcharge starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

How to decide when you have this many choices

With 104 Advantage plans in the county, trying to read every brochure is a recipe for burnout. A better approach is to narrow first, then compare.

1. List your must-haves. Write down your doctors, your preferred hospital, and every prescription you take (name, dose, and how often). 2. Decide your path. Do you want one bundled plan (Advantage), or Original Medicare plus a Medigap and Part D? 3. Use the Plan Finder. At medicare.gov/plan-compare, enter your ZIP code and drug list. It will estimate your total yearly cost — premium plus drugs — for each plan. 4. Check the network. If you are leaning toward an Advantage plan, confirm that your doctors and preferred pharmacies are in-network. 5. Ask about Star Ratings. CMS rates plans on a 1-to-5 scale for quality and member experience. Ratings are one input among many — not a substitute for checking whether a plan fits your own care.

Key dates to circle

• October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Coverage starts January 1.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you are already in an Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.

If you miss these windows, you generally have to wait until next fall unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (for example, if you move or lose other coverage).

Where to get free, unbiased help

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you should not have to pay for the answer.

• medicare.gov — the official site, with the Plan Finder tool.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — available 24/7.
• California's SHIP, called HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) — free one-on-one counseling for Orange County residents. Call 1-800-434-0222 to find a local counselor.
• Social Security (1-800-772-1213) — for enrollment in Parts A and B and questions about IRMAA.