Medicare Advantage

San Rafael Medicare Shoppers: 2027 Lineup

San Rafael Medicare shoppers: how many 2027 Medicare Advantage plans and carriers serve Marin County, plus key dates and Part D figures.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — If you're turning 65 soon or rethinking your Medicare coverage for 2027, the first question is usually the simplest: how many choices do I actually have? In San Rafael, the answer is bigger than many people expect, and knowing the size of the field makes the rest of the decision easier.

San Rafael is in Marin County, where 23 Medicare Advantage plans were available for the 2026 plan year, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Landscape files. Those plans came from 6 carriers offering Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD). The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. With more than 61,000 residents age 65 and older in the county, this is a decision a lot of neighbors are working through right now.

What the count actually means

Plan availability is set at the county level, not the ZIP code or the city. So when you see "23 Medicare Advantage plans in Marin County," that's the pool a San Rafael resident can generally choose from. Some plans may serve the whole county; others may have narrower service areas or networks. The number tells you the size of the menu — not which item is right for you.

The 6 carriers figure matters too. It tells you how many different insurance companies are competing for your business locally. More carriers usually mean more variety in networks, drug formularies, and extra benefits.

What about stand-alone drug plans?

The CMS Landscape data shows 0 stand-alone Part D plans listed at the county level for Marin. That doesn't mean people with Original Medicare can't get drug coverage — stand-alone Part D plans are sold on a regional basis, and you can always check medicare.gov's Plan Finder using your ZIP code to see what's offered to you specifically.

For most people in Marin County who want their medical and drug coverage in one package, the practical path is one of the 23 MA-PD plans available locally.

The Part D numbers everyone should know

Regardless of which plan you look at, some Medicare rules are the same nationwide:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that amount in a given year, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of that year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027). Plans can charge less, but not more.
• The donut hole is gone. As of 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four — no more coverage gap.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This optional program lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA. Higher-income enrollees pay surcharges on Part B and Part D. Those begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Star Ratings in the area

CMS rates Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on a 1-to-5 scale to measure things like customer service, care quality, and member complaints. In Marin County for 2026, 0 contracts in the local pool carried a rating of 4 stars or higher. The 2027 ratings are published separately; Star Ratings are one tool among many — they're worth understanding, but they shouldn't be the only thing you look at when comparing plans.

Key dates to circle

• October 15 – December 7, 2026: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. This is when most people join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for 2027.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to a different MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

Missing these windows usually means waiting a full year, so mark your calendar.

How to compare without getting overwhelmed

With 23 plans on the table, don't try to read every brochure. Instead:

1. Make a list of your doctors and the pharmacies you actually use. 2. Write down every prescription, with the dose. 3. Go to medicare.gov/plan-compare and enter your ZIP code and drugs. The tool will show you which plans cover your medications and which include your providers. 4. If you want free, unbiased help, call California's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known as HICAP, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).