Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage changes in Santa Rosa for 2027: two plans leaving, six new

People in Santa Rosa can choose from 13 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 9 in 2026. Two of this year’s plans are gone, 6 are new to Sonoma County, and 3 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — If you have a Medicare Advantage plan in Sonoma County, the 2027 lineup is going to look different, and it is worth a few minutes of your time this fall to see whether your plan is one of the ones changing.

According to CMS's 2027 Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File, two Advantage plans currently sold in Sonoma County will not return next year, six new plans are joining the market, and a new carrier — SCAN Health Plan — is entering the county. Three continuing plans have at least one change to premium, deductible, plan type or name that members will see spelled out in their Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Seven plans continue without those kinds of changes.

Here is what to look for, and how to decide what to do next.

What is changing in Sonoma County for 2027

Santa Rosa is in Sonoma County, where Medicare Advantage plan availability is set at the county level. Comparing the 2026 and 2027 CMS Landscape files for the county:

• Plans leaving after 2026: 2
• New plans for 2027: 6
• Plans with a change to premium, deductible, type or name: 3
• Plans continuing unchanged on those items: 7
• New carrier entering the county: SCAN Health Plan

The full roster of plans, with type and drug coverage, is in the table on this page.

The two plans leaving after 2026

If you are enrolled in one of these plans, you will get a non-renewal notice from the carrier, and you will need to take action for 2027:

• Alignment Health My Choice (PPO) — Alignment Health Plan
• Anthem Dual Advantage 2 (PPO D-SNP) — Elevance Health (Anthem)

Doing nothing means you would return to Original Medicare on Jan. 1, 2027, without a Part D drug plan attached — so most people in this situation will want to make an active choice.

New plans coming to the county for 2027

Six Medicare Advantage plans are new to Sonoma County next year, listed here alphabetically by carrier as CMS lists them:

• Anthem Chronic Care Advantage (PPO C-SNP) — Elevance Health (Anthem)
• Imperial Flex (HMO C-SNP) — Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc.
• SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP) — SCAN Health Plan
• SCAN Classic (HMO) — SCAN Health Plan
• SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP) — SCAN Health Plan
• Sutter Senior Advantage, a SCAN Medicare Plan (HMO) — SCAN Health Plan

Several of these are Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs), which are designed for people with specific qualifying conditions. If you think one might fit, ask the carrier whether you qualify before enrolling.

If your plan is being discontinued: your Special Enrollment Period

When a Medicare Advantage plan is not renewed, CMS gives affected members a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that runs from Dec. 8 through the end of February. During that window you can:

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

You do not have to wait for the SEP — you can also make the switch during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7), which is usually the cleaner path because your new coverage starts Jan. 1.

A separate note on Medigap: if you go back to Original Medicare after a plan non-renewal, you may have guaranteed-issue rights to buy certain Medigap policies. California also has a "birthday rule" that gives current Medigap enrollees a yearly window to switch. Check with your local SHIP counselor before you assume you can or cannot get a Medigap plan.

If your plan is continuing but "changing"

Three continuing plans in Sonoma County show a change in the CMS file on premium, deductible, plan type or name. CMS does not describe the change in the Landscape file, and we will not guess. The place to see exactly what is different is the ANOC your carrier mailed (or emailed) in late September. Compare it side by side with your current Evidence of Coverage before Dec. 7.

How to decide during Annual Enrollment

A simple checklist for the Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 window:

1. Read your ANOC. Note any change to premium, deductible, drug tiers, provider network or extra benefits. 2. Make a list of your doctors, hospitals and regular prescriptions. 3. Use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare 2027 plans side by side for your ZIP code and drug list. 4. Confirm that your doctors are in-network for any plan you are considering — networks can change year to year. 5. If drug costs are a concern, the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, the maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027, and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year at no extra charge.