Medicare Advantage

Comparing Medicare plan choices across Ventura County and its neighbors

People in Thousand Oaks can choose from 33 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 35 this year. Eight of this year’s plans are gone, 6 are new to Ventura County, and 25 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 11 of them under a new name.

Medicare AdvantageThousand Oaks, CA

If you live in Thousand Oaks and you're weighing your Medicare options, it helps to know how the local landscape compares with the counties next door. Plan availability is set at the county level by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), so where you live — not just your city — shapes what shows up in Plan Finder when you shop.

Thousand Oaks sits in Ventura County, tucked against the Los Angeles County line to the east and within a short drive of Santa Barbara County to the north. Here's a plain-language look at what's on the shelf locally, why the numbers can look different a few miles away, and how to use that information as you plan for 2027.

What's on the shelf in Ventura County

For 2026, Ventura County residents have 35 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from, offered by 10 different carriers. That's the pool a Thousand Oaks resident sees when they enter their ZIP code on medicare.gov.

A few things worth noting from the CMS Landscape data for the area:

• 22 Medicare Advantage plans available countywide for 2027.
• 7 carriers offering Medicare Advantage with drug coverage (MA-PD) for 2027.
• 0 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans listed in the area data used here.

That last number surprises people. In most of the country, stand-alone Part D plans are widely available for those who stay on Original Medicare. If it looks unusual for your ZIP code, double-check on medicare.gov's Plan Finder, which pulls a live list for your exact address.

Why nearby counties can look different

Even though Thousand Oaks sits close to Los Angeles County and Santa Barbara County, plan availability doesn't cross county lines automatically. Insurers file their service areas county by county with CMS, so:

• A carrier active in Ventura County may or may not offer the same plans one exit down the 101 in Los Angeles County.
• Provider networks — which doctors and hospitals are "in-network" — are built around each county's medical groups.
• Even the same insurer's plan can have different benefits and costs across county lines.

If you're moving, snowbirding, or splitting time with family in a neighboring county, that's a real thing to check before you enroll.

The Ventura County population picture

About 145,793 people age 65 and older live in Ventura County. That's a large, growing group, and it's one reason 10 different carriers compete here. More eligible residents generally attract more plan filings, though it doesn't guarantee any particular plan will be available in every ZIP code.

What "star ratings" mean — and don't mean

CMS rates Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on a 1-to-5 star scale. Ratings measure things like customer service, member complaints, and how well plans manage chronic conditions.

In the CMS data used for this snapshot, 0 contracts serving the area were rated 4 stars or higher. Star ratings can change year to year, and one contract can cover plans across many states, so the number in your county isn't the whole story about quality. Use ratings as one input — not the deciding factor — and weigh them alongside your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget.

2027 rules that apply no matter which county you're in

Some of the biggest changes for 2027 are program-wide, not local:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you hit it, you pay nothing for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• No more "donut hole": As of 2025, Part D has three phases, not four. The coverage gap is gone.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can choose to spread your drug costs into level monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D. For a single filer in 2026, IRMAA begins above $109,000 in income.

Dates to circle

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7: Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect Jan. 1.
• Jan. 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).