Medicare Advantage

Nine new Medicare Advantage plans land in Stockton for 2027: how to check one before Dec. 7

For 2027, Stockton is looking at 39 Medicare Advantage plans: 9 new, 14 gone since 2026, and 30 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 11 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in San Joaquin County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

STOCKTON, Calif. — Shoppers in San Joaquin County will see nine Medicare Advantage plans on the 2027 lineup that were not sold here for 2026, according to the CMS Landscape Source File for the coming plan year. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any change made in that window takes effect January 1, 2027.

A "new" plan is not a bad plan or a good one — it is simply one without a local track record yet. That changes how you vet it. Below is each new plan by carrier, what type it is, whether it covers drugs, and a short checklist for matching one to your doctors and prescriptions before the December 7 deadline.

Which Medicare Advantage plans are new in Stockton for 2027?

Nine Medicare Advantage plans are new to San Joaquin County — the county Stockton is in — for 2027, out of 39 Medicare Advantage plans offered for the year. Each is listed below in alphabetical order by carrier, with the plan type and whether it includes Part D drug coverage.

• Alignment Health Advantage 001 (PPO) — Alignment Health Plan — PPO, with drug coverage
• Alignment Health Balance Plus 004 (PPO) — Alignment Health Plan — PPO, with drug coverage
• Alignment Health Honor Plus 060 (HMO) — Alignment Health Plan — HMO, with drug coverage
• Alignment Health Platinum 059 (HMO) — Alignment Health Plan — HMO, with drug coverage
• Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) — Centene (WellCare) — HMO D-SNP, with drug coverage
• Wellcare Simple (HMO) — Centene (WellCare) — HMO, with drug coverage
• Anthem Kidney Care (PPO C-SNP) — Elevance Health (Anthem) — PPO C-SNP, with drug coverage
• Imperial Flex (HMO C-SNP) — Imperial Health Plan of California — HMO C-SNP, with drug coverage
• SCAN Costco Medicare Advantage (HMO) — SCAN Health Plan — HMO, with drug coverage

The full 2027 roster — the plans staying, the renamed ones and these new entries — is in the table below.

Which carriers are adding new plans in San Joaquin County for 2027?

Five carriers are behind the nine new plans in San Joaquin County for 2027. Alignment Health Plan is adding four; Centene (WellCare) is adding two; and Elevance Health (Anthem), Imperial Health Plan of California, and SCAN Health Plan are each adding one.

Some of these carriers already sell plans in the county, so a "new" plan can be a fresh option alongside their existing ones. Others may be stepping up their presence. Either way, the plan itself is new — benefits, network and drug list haven't been in market locally before.

Are any of the new Stockton plans Special Needs Plans?

Yes. Three of the nine new 2027 plans in San Joaquin County are Special Needs Plans (SNPs): Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP), Anthem Kidney Care (PPO C-SNP) and Imperial Flex (HMO C-SNP).

SNPs are built for specific groups. A D-SNP serves people who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid). A C-SNP serves people with a qualifying chronic condition — for example, certain kidney conditions in the case of Anthem Kidney Care. You have to meet the eligibility rules to enroll in an SNP.

Do the new 2027 plans include drug coverage?

All nine of the new Medicare Advantage plans in San Joaquin County for 2027 include Part D prescription drug coverage. None are medical-only ("MA-only") plans.

That matters because enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage will replace any standalone Part D plan you have. For 2027, Part D's out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026) and the maximum deductible rises to $700 (up from $615 in 2026), per CMS.

How is a new Medicare Advantage plan different from a renewing one?

A renewing plan has a history: it has a Star Rating, member reviews and a known provider network in the area. A plan new to San Joaquin County for 2027 does not have a local Star Rating history yet because CMS calculates ratings from prior-year performance.

That isn't a reason to pick a new plan or to rule one out. It just means you lean more on the current documents — the plan's Summary of Benefits, provider directory and formulary — and less on past ratings. If you already have coverage, read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your current plan mailed you in September; it spells out what is changing for 2027.

How do I check a new plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?

Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), to run any of the new plans against your own list. The site lets you enter your drugs and preferred pharmacies and shows plan-by-plan results. For doctors and hospitals, confirm the network two ways: check the plan's online provider directory, and call the office to ask whether they accept that specific plan for 2027.

A quick checklist before December 7, 2026:

• List every prescription with dose and quantity, and your preferred pharmacy.
• List every doctor, specialist and hospital you want to keep.
• Enter the drug list in Plan Finder and compare total yearly drug cost, not just the premium.
• For each plan you're considering, open the Summary of Benefits and the formulary (drug list).
• Call each provider's office to confirm they will be in-network with that plan for 2027.
• If you qualify for a D-SNP or C-SNP, confirm your eligibility before applying.

What happens if I don't do anything by December 7?

Nothing dramatic. If your current Medicare Advantage plan is offered again for 2027, you stay enrolled automatically, with whatever changes are listed in the ANOC. If your plan is one of those not returning to the county, your plan sent you a non-renewal notice and you have a Special Enrollment Period to pick another plan.

You also get a second window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31, 2027, lets anyone already in a Medicare Advantage plan switch to a different one or return to Original Medicare once.