Medicare Advantage Plans in California: 2026 Top Picks & Costs

California is the largest state for Medicare with over 7 million beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, and the Medicare Advantage market is no exception. As carriers streamline offerings and pull out of certain counties, there are fewer Medicare Advantage plans available for Californians in 2026 than there were in 2025. Even as the market shrinks a bit, it is still very deep — almost everyone who is Medicare-eligible in California has access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 premium. Kaiser dominates the state by having the highest member satisfaction score in the region at 675, followed by SCAN Health Plan at 672 and Alignment Health Plan at 658, both of which are above the regional average of 634. In Los Angeles County, alone, there are 463,081 members in HMO plans, with Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage LA/Orange County having 180,321 members, followed by SCAN Classic with 83,566 members and AARP Medicare Advantage from UnitedHealthcare with 40,936 members. In 2026, all Medicare Advantage plans will be required to not only maintain current cost-sharing for behavioral health services, but also offer better coverage than Original Medicare does. The Part D out-of-pocket maximum rises to $2,100 in 2026, as well. This is relevant to California in particular because many low income individuals are eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal, and in that case Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) and Medi-Medi Plans are pertinent.

Medicare Advantage plan options in California 2026, best carriers in each area, and costs and what to look for. Information is from Medicare.gov, CMS, J.D. Power and California Department of Managed Health Care. 

The California Medicare Advantage landscape

The California Medicare Advantage market is the largest and most competitive in the country. The state has 7 million+ Medicare enrollees and is a favorite of all major national carriers and regional companies.

Availability of plans is quite different from county to county. The deepest plan menus are in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, the Bay Area and Sacramento. Fewer options may be available in rural counties in the Central Valley, North Coast and Sierra areas.

The 2026 decrease from 421 to 402 plans is consistent with national trends, as carriers concentrate on those plans that are profitable, limit benefits on some plans, and drop out of unprofitable counties. A non-renewal notice was sent to some California beneficiaries for 2026 plans and they were required to switch during the Annual Enrollment period.

Kaiser Permanente operates only where it has medical groups (Northern and Southern California metropolitan areas) that it has integrated into its plans. Most other major carriers (UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, Blue Shield, Alignment, SCAN) have wider county networks that include PPO and HMO.

For a comparison to Medigap plans in California, check out our Medigap guide. 

Top California carriers and plans

Kaiser Permanente is the largest Medicare Advantage carrier in California. The integrated HMO model ensures Kaiser members get the majority of their medical care from Kaiser medical groups, hospitals, and pharmacies. The carrier has the highest J.D. Power member satisfaction score and CMS Star Ratings (4.5) in California. Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage LA/Orange County is the largest single plan in California with 180,321 enrollees.

SCAN Health Plan is a nonprofit plan in California that offers seniors Medicare coverage. SCAN reports a J.D. Power score of 672, and is focused on community care, transportation, and additional benefits. There are 83,566 enrolled in SCAN Classic in LA.

UnitedHealthcare (AARP) is the biggest national carrier in California, and offers a wide selection of PPO and HMO plans. AARP Medicare Advantage CA-004P is one of LA's best HMO-POS plans with 40,936 members.

Humana provides a wide range of Medicare Advantage plans throughout California that provide PPO options. Humana continues to aggressively grow in California's Medicare market.

A tech-heavy carrier, Alignment Health Plan (California) ranks 658 on J.D. Power and focuses on digital tools and chronic care management.

Anthem Blue Cross of California has broad PPO networks throughout California. Blue Shield of California also provides solid PPO and HMO plans and extensive provider networks.

Aetna Medicare has competitive PPO plans in California, with a strong presence in Southern California metros.

Humana Medicare Advantage 2026 Information can be found in our Humana guide. 

Costs and what to expect in California

With a large California Medicare Advantage market, premiums are very competitive. In most counties in California, beneficiaries are able to select a plan with a $0 premium, especially in the metropolitan counties.

Don't base your cost assessment on the premium. The following are cost factors to consider:

A $0 premium for the MA plan doesn't mean the Part B premium doesn't apply, and in 2026 it will be $202.90/month (paid directly to Medicare rather than the MA plan).

The plan deductible, which can range up to $1,000 or more but is often $0 for many California MA plans, particularly in competitive metropolitan areas.

The cost of copay and coinsurance for office visits, hospital stays and specialists will differ among plans. They generally charge $0-$20 for primary care, $25-$50 for specialist care, and $300-$500/day for hospital care (this drops to $0 for the rest of the stay after the first 5-7 days).

The formulary and tier system affect the price of prescription drugs. The out-of-pocket maximum is $2,100 for the 2026 Part D plan year, after which there is no cost to you for the drugs you cover.

In 2026, the Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) for Medicare Advantage in-network will be $9,250 (the same as the national MOOP for most Medicare Advantage plans). MOOP is up to $13,900 for PPO plans, when combined in-network/out-of-network.

There is a wide range of additional benefits. Most California MA plans offer dental, visual, hearing and over-the-counter (OTC) coverage. Some even cover transportation, meal delivery for chronic conditions and fitness programs through SilverSneakers. Carrier-specific benefits such as reimbursement for healthy food purchases with the Healthfirst Healthy Foods card or the Kaiser wellness programs offer extra benefits.

See our Part B premium guide for premium information for Part B for 2026. 

How to choose a California Medicare Advantage plan

Start with provider access. Your existing doctors and specialists must accept your chosen plan. Kaiser Permanente requires using Kaiser physicians. Other plans have network requirements that affect cost and access.

Consider your prescription drug needs. Check each plan's formulary for your medications. A plan with low premiums but a poor formulary for your specific drugs could cost significantly more.

Evaluate annual maximum out-of-pocket. Plans with low premiums often have higher MOOPs ($9,250 maximum in 2026). Plans with higher premiums may offer lower MOOPs and protect you from major medical events.

Check CMS Star Ratings. Higher-rated plans (4 stars or above) typically provide better quality care and customer service. California has several top-rated plans.

For Medicare Advantage vs Medigap comparison, see our MA vs Medigap guide.

Annual Enrollment runs October 15-December 7. Make changes before December 7 for January 1, 2026 effective date. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1-March 31) allows additional switches.

Medi-Medi Plans for dual eligibles

California has approximately 1.5 million people enrolled in both Medicare and Medi-Cal (called dual eligibles). The state offers Medi-Medi Plans designed specifically for this population.

Medi-Medi Plans available in 2026 include Anthem, Blue Shield, Kaiser, L.A. Care Medicare Plus, Molina, SCAN Connections, and Wellcare. These plans coordinate Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits into one combined plan with $0 monthly premiums.

Medi-Medi Plans provide enhanced benefits including comprehensive dental, vision, hearing, transportation, and OTC items beyond what either Medicare or Medi-Cal would provide alone.

For Medi-Cal eligibility and coverage, see our California Medicaid guide.