Medicare Advantage
Anthem's Medicare Advantage plans in Santa Ana for 2027: how to check yours before Dec. 7
SANTA ANA, Calif. — If you have an Anthem Medicare Advantage plan in Santa Ana, or you are thinking about one for 2027, this fall is the time to look. Anthem is offering 12 Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County, the county Santa Ana sits in, for the plan year that starts January 1, 2027. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any change you make inside that window takes effect on New Year's Day.
Compare Medicare Advantage options near you
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Advantage listings from licensed insurance partners.
What’s your ZIP code?
Plan availability is set by your county, so we start here.
How old are you?
This helps match you with options you’re eligible for.
Do you have Medicare Parts A & B?
This affects which Medicare Advantage options you can choose.
These listings are provided by licensed insurance partners.
Medicare Advantage plans in your area are changing or leaving for 2027.
One call tells you whether your plan is on the list — before enrollment opens.
Available now — current wait: 0 min
A real person answers. No phone menu, ever.
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.
Available now — current wait: 0 min
A real person answers. About 5 minutes, no obligation.
Agents available Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm CT
Want to see more plan options?
Answer a few more questions to continue to additional options from licensed partners.
Continue →Advertising disclosure: MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated when you contact a partner or licensed agent. Listings are not ranked or endorsed by us, and we do not recommend specific plans. You can also contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240Found a plan you like online?
One free call confirms it's actually right for you — online directories are wrong more often than you'd think.
- Your doctors — confirmed in-network for 2027
- Your prescriptions — checked against the plan's 2027 drug tiers
855-729-3240 · free · about 5 minutes
Key takeaways
- Anthem is offering 12 Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County for 2027: 1 HMO and 11 HMO-POS, and all 12 include drug coverage.
- Six of those plans are Special Needs Plans — five Chronic Condition SNPs (C-SNPs) and one Institutional SNP (I-SNP) — meant for people who meet specific health or living-situation rules.
- Anthem has 0 new plans, 0 plans not returning, and 0 renamed plans in the county for 2027, but existing plans can still change benefits; the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) spells out what is different.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, and any change takes effect January 1, 2027; if you do nothing, your current plan renews if it is offered next year.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Orange County (2026) | 104 | CMS |
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Orange County (2027) | 111 | CMS |
| Plans not returning for 2027 / new for 2027 | 21 / 28 | CMS |
| Organizations offering Medicare Advantage in Orange County (2026) | 17 | CMS |
| Share of eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage, Orange County | 56% | CMS |
| Residents age 65 and older, Orange County | 514,824 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Part B standard monthly premium (2026) | $202.90 | Medicare.gov |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2026) | $2,100 | CMS |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2027) | $2,400 | CMS |
| Annual Enrollment Period (for 2027 coverage) | October 15 – December 7, 2026 | Medicare.gov |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1 – March 31 | Medicare.gov |
Area counts are for the county as a whole and are not a recommendation of any plan. Program figures are set nationally.
MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent news and education site. We are not Anthem, and we do not sell its plans. What follows is a plain-English look at what Anthem's 2027 lineup includes in the county, so you can compare it to your own doctors and prescriptions before the deadline.
What Medicare Advantage plans does Anthem offer in Santa Ana for 2027?
Anthem is offering 12 Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County, which is the county Santa Ana is in, for 2027. By plan type, that breaks down as 1 HMO and 11 HMO-POS plans. All 12 include Part D prescription drug coverage. The full plan-by-plan list is in the table below on this page.
CMS groups the carrier as Elevance Health (Anthem). In alphabetical order, the 2027 plans are Anthem I CareMore Chronic Care, Anthem I CareMore Chronic Care 2, Anthem I CareMore Home Care, Anthem I CareMore Kidney Care, Anthem I CareMore Lung Care, Anthem I CareMore Lung Care 2, Anthem I CareMore Medicare Advantage, Anthem I CareMore Medicare Advantage 2, Anthem I CareMore Premium Savings, Anthem Medicare Advantage, Anthem Prime, and Anthem Select.
Anthem is one of 16 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in the county next year; together, all carriers offer 111 plans. So if an Anthem plan is not a fit, there are other options in the same county.
Which Anthem plans in Orange County are Special Needs Plans?
Six of Anthem's 12 plans in the county for 2027 are Special Needs Plans (SNPs). Five are Chronic Condition SNPs (C-SNPs) and one is an Institutional SNP (I-SNP). Anthem does not offer a Dual-Eligible SNP (D-SNP) in the county for 2027.
A C-SNP is built for people living with a specific chronic condition — the plan name usually hints at what it is designed around (for example, kidney care or lung care). An I-SNP is built for people who live in, or need the level of care provided by, a long-term care setting. You have to meet the SNP's eligibility rules to join one; a plain Medicare Advantage plan has no such requirement beyond having Medicare Parts A and B and living in the service area.
The six Anthem SNPs in the county for 2027 are Anthem I CareMore Chronic Care, Anthem I CareMore Chronic Care 2, Anthem I CareMore Home Care, Anthem I CareMore Kidney Care, Anthem I CareMore Lung Care, and Anthem I CareMore Lung Care 2.
What is new or not returning in Anthem's 2027 lineup?
Nothing is leaving and nothing brand-new is arriving on paper: Anthem has 0 plans not returning in Orange County for 2027, 0 new plans, and 0 renamed plans compared with 2026. Every plan on this year's Anthem lineup in the county is on next year's lineup too.
That does not mean nothing has changed. Plans update their premiums, drug lists (formularies), provider networks and extra benefits every year. Those changes are detailed in the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that each plan mails in late September. If you keep the same plan, your coverage renews automatically — but the details inside may not look exactly like 2026.
How do I check an Anthem plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?
Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Enter your ZIP code, add your prescription drugs with the dose and how often you take them, and add your preferred pharmacy. The tool will show each plan's drug coverage and your projected drug costs for the year. For doctors and hospitals, check the plan's own online provider directory or call Anthem using the number on your member card.
A good checklist for the Santa Ana reader this fall:
- Read your 2027 ANOC and compare it to how you actually used your plan in 2026.
- Confirm every regular prescription is on the plan's 2027 formulary and at a tier you can afford.
- Confirm each doctor, specialist and hospital you use is in the 2027 network.
- If a plan is an HMO-POS, understand when "point of service" out-of-network coverage applies and what it costs.
- If you are considering a SNP, confirm you meet its eligibility rules.
If you want a person to walk you through options, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What 2027 Medicare numbers should Santa Ana residents know?
For 2027, CMS has confirmed a few Part D figures that apply nationwide. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026. The Part D maximum deductible a plan can charge is $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026. The Part D national base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33; that is a formula input Medicare uses, not what any specific plan charges.
The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, had not been announced as of early fall 2026. CMS usually publishes those later in the fall, typically in November.
The coverage gap — the old "donut hole" — was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic. If drug costs stretch your monthly budget, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread what you owe into monthly payments across the year, at no extra charge.
What happens if I do nothing by December 7, 2026?
Nothing dramatic. If you take no action by December 7, 2026, your current plan renews on January 1, 2027, as long as it is still offered — and based on the data above, every Anthem Medicare Advantage plan in Orange County for 2026 is being offered again in 2027. Your 2027 coverage will follow the terms in the ANOC your plan sent you in late September.
If you want to change plans or carriers after January 1, Medicare Advantage members get a second window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 – March 31, 2027. During that window, you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare (and add a stand-alone Part D plan).
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.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Orange County
(MA penetration in Orange 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.
2027 plan lineup
Anthem Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County for 2027
CMS lists 12 Anthem Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County for 2027, alphabetically by carrier. 15 other carriers also offer plans there.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | For 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevance Health (Anthem) 12 plans | |||
| Anthem I CareMore Chronic Care (HMO-POS C-SNP) | HMO-POS C-SNP | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem I CareMore Chronic Care 2 (HMO-POS C-SNP) | HMO-POS C-SNP | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem I CareMore Home Care (HMO I-SNP) | HMO I-SNP | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem I CareMore Kidney Care (HMO-POS C-SNP) | HMO-POS C-SNP | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem I CareMore Lung Care (HMO-POS C-SNP) | HMO-POS C-SNP | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem I CareMore Lung Care 2 (HMO-POS C-SNP) | HMO-POS C-SNP | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem I CareMore Medicare Advantage (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem I CareMore Medicare Advantage 2 (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem I CareMore Premium Savings (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem Medicare Advantage (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem Prime (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Anthem Select (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
The 2027 choices, by type
How Anthem Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County break down for 2027
HMO plans use a network and usually a primary-care doctor and referrals; HMO-POS plans add some out-of-network coverage; PPO plans also cover out-of-network care, at a higher share; PFFS plans pay any provider that accepts the plan’s terms. Special Needs Plans serve people with Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNP), certain chronic conditions (C-SNP) or living in an institution (I-SNP).
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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.
Explore
The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is Anthem leaving Santa Ana or Orange County in 2027?
How is Anthem's lineup different from other carriers in the county?
What is the difference between an HMO and an HMO-POS?
When do I need to decide by for 2027 coverage?
- CMS — MA Landscape Source File (plan-level availability by county)
- CMS — MA Landscape Source Files, current and coming plan year (year-over-year comparison)
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Also for Santa Ana
Sources and methodology
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape Source Files
- CMS, Medicare Advantage state/county penetration and enrollment files
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (table B01001, age 65 and older)
- Medicare.gov, Medicare costs (Part B premium)
- CMS, Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) program rules
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan-year announcements
- Medicare.gov, enrollment periods and plan rules
Figures cited in this article
- CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files (plan years 2026 and 2027): the plan counts, plan types, SNP counts, drug-coverage counts and year-over-year changes for Orange County, and Anthem's plan names.
- Medicare.gov: the Annual Enrollment Period dates, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, and the Plan Finder tool.
- CMS announcements on 2027 Part D parameters: the $2,400 Part D out-of-pocket cap, the $700 Part D maximum deductible, and the $41.33 national base beneficiary premium.
How we put this together: area counts come from the CMS files listed above for the county that contains this city, program figures come from CMS, Medicare.gov and the Social Security Administration, and no plan is ranked or recommended.
By The Medicare Desk · Published . For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Content Integrity Standards
- No invented figures. Program-level numbers come from CMS / Medicare.gov; we never use placeholder data.
- No plan recommendations. This is educational content. We don't score or recommend specific plans; any Star Ratings shown are Medicare's own CMS ratings, stated as published.
- AI-assisted, human-reviewed. Articles are produced with AI-assisted tools and reviewed by the responsible desk before publishing.
- Inline sourcing. Facts and figures are cited to primary sources — CMS, SSA, and Medicare.gov.
- Correction transparency. We fix errors openly and note when a page was last updated.
- Not a government site. MyMedicarePlans.org is privately owned and not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
This page was last updated: October 2026.