Medicare Advantage

Before You Toss That Medicare Mail, Read This

For 2027, San Francisco is looking at 33 Medicare Advantage plans from 12 carriers: 7 new, 12 gone since 2026, and 22 continuing plans with changes to their terms, with 13 of the returning plans under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in San Francisco County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

San Francisco — If you have a Medicare Advantage plan in San Francisco, this fall's mail is worth opening. According to CMS's 2027 Medicare Advantage Landscape file, 12 plans offered in San Francisco County this year will not be back in 2027, seven new plans are joining the market, and 13 more are keeping the same basic idea under a new name. One carrier, Central Health Medicare Plan, is leaving the county entirely.

That means thousands of local members will need to make a decision before the Annual Enrollment Period ends on December 7 — or, in some cases, they'll qualify for extra time.

What's changing in San Francisco County for 2027

Medicare plans are approved county by county, so when we talk about San Francisco's options, we're really talking about San Francisco County. Here's what CMS's year-over-year comparison shows:

• 12 plans leaving after 2026
• 7 new plans for 2027
• 13 plans renamed (same plan, different name on your card and paperwork)
• 22 plans changing on premium, deductible, type or name — CMS's file shows a change exists, but your ANOC has the details
• 26 plans continuing with no CMS-flagged change

The table on this page lists every plan available in San Francisco County so you can find yours.

Plans that will not be offered in 2027

These plans appear in the 2026 landscape but not in 2027. If your card shows one of them, you'll need to pick something else — or you'll be automatically shifted, depending on your carrier's letter to you.

• Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO)
• Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO)
• Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO)
• Advantage Care (HMO) — Align Senior Care
• Alignment Health Honor+ Plan (HMO)
• Central Health Classic Care Plan IV (HMO)
• Central Health Dual Access Plan (HMO D-SNP)
• Central Health Embrace Care Plan (HMO C-SNP)
• Central Health Embrace Choice Plan (HMO C-SNP)
• Central Health Valor Care Plan (HMO)
• SCAN Affirm partnered with Included LGBTQ+ Health (HMO)
• SCAN MyChoice (HMO)

Central Health Medicare Plan is the one carrier leaving San Francisco County altogether. If you're on any of its plans, you will not have a Central Health option to renew into for 2027.

New plans arriving for 2027

Seven plans are joining the San Francisco County market:

• Aetna Medicare Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP)
• Aetna Medicare Eagle (HMO)
• Alignment Health Honor Plus 060 (HMO)
• Imperial Flex (HMO C-SNP)
• SCAN Costco Medicare Advantage (HMO)
• SCAN Inclusive (HMO)
• Sutter Senior Advantage, a SCAN Medicare Plan (HMO)

We can't tell you what these plans cost, cover or who's in their network — that's plan-specific marketing information. You can look each one up on medicare.gov's plan finder once 2027 details post.

Renamed plans — same plan, new label

Thirteen plans are keeping their structure but changing names. If your plan is on this list, you don't need to do anything to stay enrolled, but your new card and materials will look different. Notable renames include Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (HMO), several Alignment Health plans (BreathEasy Plus 041, Clarity Plus 042, Duals+ 030, and the Heart & Diabetes series), Wellcare Health Net Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP), and Wellcare Low Premium Focus (HMO). One plan — formerly Alignment Health Harmony — is now offered under a different carrier name as Central Health Harmony 031 (HMO).

What to do if your plan is leaving

If your plan is not being renewed for 2027, your carrier is required to send you a non-renewal notice. That letter triggers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that runs from December 8 through the end of February 2027. During that window you can:

• Join a different Medicare Advantage plan, or
• Return to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D drug plan.

You can also make a change during the regular Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), which is often the cleaner path because your new coverage starts January 1.

If you take no action and your plan is ending, you'll be returned to Original Medicare on January 1 — which means no drug coverage unless you add a Part D plan.

What to do if your plan is changing but not leaving

Every Medicare Advantage member should receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) by the end of September. It lays out what's different for the coming year — premium, deductible, copays, drug list, network, extra benefits. CMS's file flags 22 continuing plans in San Francisco County as changing on at least one item, so read yours even if the plan name looks familiar.

If the changes don't work for you, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) gives you one more chance to switch to another Advantage plan or move to Original Medicare.

A few rules worth knowing while you shop

Whichever direction you go, the drug side of Medicare looks different than it did a couple of years ago:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 for 2026.
• The Part D deductible cannot exceed $615.
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in level monthly payments, at no extra charge.
• IRMAA (the higher-income surcharge on Part B and Part D) starts above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.