Medicare Advantage

Sacramento Medicare Advantage in 2027: the carriers, the plan types, and how to choose

Sacramento County has 32 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 13 plans are not coming back, 7 are new, and 23 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 9 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Sacramento, not which plan to pick.

Medicare AdvantageSacramento, CA

For Medicare shoppers in Sacramento, the 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup comes down to two questions: which company do you want to hold your coverage, and which type of plan fits how you actually use care? Sacramento sits in Sacramento County, where the 2027 CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape lists 23 Advantage plans from 10 carriers — a mix of HMOs, HMO-POS plans, PPOs, and Special Needs Plans built for specific situations. Here is how those choices are shaped, and what the plan-type labels really mean.

Who sells Medicare Advantage in Sacramento County

Ten carriers are on the 2027 Sacramento County landscape, a mix that includes carriers continuing from 2026 and one new to the county. Compared with 2026, Central Health Medicare Plan is not offering plans in Sacramento County for 2027, and Blue Shield of California is new to the county for 2027. Across the ten carriers, 16 plans continue from 2026, 7 are new, 13 are not returning, and 9 have been renamed; 14 of the continuing plans change something in their terms — the specifics are in each plan's Annual Notice of Change.

A bigger plan count isn't automatically better. Some carriers offer many plans because they slice the market into narrow options (a general HMO, a chronic-condition SNP, a dual-eligible SNP). Others keep the menu short on purpose. The table below lists every plan by carrier so you can see the full picture side by side.

What the plan-type letters actually mean

The alphabet soup after each plan name is the single most important label to understand. Here is what each one does at the program level:

• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). You pick a primary care doctor, use the plan's in-network providers, and generally need a referral to see a specialist. Out-of-network care usually isn't covered except in emergencies. HMOs make up the largest share of Sacramento County's 2027 lineup.
• HMO-POS (Point of Service). An HMO with a narrow door to some out-of-network care, usually at a higher cost share. HMO-POS plans are among the options offered locally in 2027.
• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). More flexibility to see out-of-network providers, usually without a referral, though you'll typically pay less in-network. PPO plans are offered in Sacramento County for 2027.
• PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service). A plan that sets its own payment terms with providers, who can choose whether to accept them visit by visit. No PFFS plans are offered in Sacramento County for 2027 — worth knowing if you were told to look for one.

Nothing about these labels tells you the price or the doctor network — those vary plan by plan. But the label tells you the rules of the road for getting care.

Special Needs Plans: a different kind of choice

Of the 38 plans in Sacramento County, 16 are Special Needs Plans. SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans that only enroll people who fit a specific category:

• D-SNP (Dual Eligible). For people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid (in California, Medi-Cal). These plans coordinate benefits across the two programs.
• C-SNP (Chronic Condition). For people with one or more qualifying chronic conditions — commonly diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, or chronic lung conditions. The plan is designed around managing that condition.
• I-SNP (Institutional). For people who live in a nursing facility or need that level of care at home. No I-SNPs appear on the 2027 Sacramento County list.

You can't simply pick a SNP because it looks appealing; you have to meet the eligibility rules, and you may need to prove them (a Medicaid card, a doctor's confirmation of a chronic condition). If you don't qualify, a general HMO, HMO-POS, or PPO is the path.

How to narrow 38 plans down to a shortlist

A practical way to work through the list:

1. Rule plans in or out by type first. Do you want the flexibility of a PPO, or are you comfortable inside an HMO network with a primary care doctor coordinating care? That single question cuts the list significantly. 2. Check SNP eligibility. If you have Medi-Cal or a qualifying chronic condition, D-SNPs and C-SNPs may be options. If not, those plans come off your list. 3. Confirm your doctors and hospitals. Each plan has its own network. Availability tells you the plan exists in the county; it doesn't tell you your providers are in it. Call the plan or check its provider directory before enrolling. 4. Confirm your medications. All 23 Sacramento County plans include drug coverage, but formularies differ. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027; the Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027; the coverage gap is gone (there are now three phases). You can also opt into the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan to spread drug costs across the year.

Dates and deadlines that apply

• Annual Enrollment Period: Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. Any changes you make take effect Jan. 1.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: Jan. 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one change here (to another MA plan or back to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan).
• IRMAA note: Higher-income beneficiaries pay Part B and Part D surcharges. For 2026, IRMAA begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

Where to get personal help

The plan lists and program rules are public, but the right choice depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget. Free, unbiased help is available:

• medicare.gov — use the Plan Finder to compare plans with your drugs and pharmacies loaded in.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• California's SHIP, called HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) — free one-on-one counseling for Sacramento-area residents. Find your local office through the California Department of Aging.