How many Medicare beneficiaries are in California?

California has approximately 6.4M Medicare beneficiaries. Roughly 57% are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, with the balance on Original Medicare — often paired with a Medigap plan and a standalone Part D drug plan.

When is California Medicare enrollment?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year, with changes effective January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs January 1 through March 31. New-to-Medicare beneficiaries use their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday.

Is Medigap available in California?

Yes. California has all federal Medigap letter plans (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and high-deductible G and F for those eligible) available from multiple carriers. Medical underwriting typically applies outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, so timing matters.

California · Medicare · 2026 plan year

California Medicare plans for 2026.

Q: What are the top Medicare Advantage carriers in California?

Leading Medicare Advantage carriers in California include Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Anthem Blue Cross, Humana, Aetna, Health Net (Centene), Blue Shield of California, SCAN, and Alignment. Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

California has approximately 6.4M Medicare beneficiaries — about 57% on Medicare Advantage, the rest on Original Medicare. We compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options from Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Anthem Blue Cross, Humana, Aetna, Health Net (Centene), Blue Shield of California, SCAN, and Alignment.

Talk to a licensed California Medicare advisor Medicare basics Browse plans yourself

6.4M

California Medicare beneficiaries

~57%

on Medicare Advantage in CA

All 58

California counties served

Carriers pay us — never you

Want to enroll yourself? Compare California Medicare plans online.

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The core decision

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in California

For most Californians, the choice between Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Original Medicare plus a Medigap (Supplement) plan is the biggest decision you'll make.

Medicare Advantage in California

Bundles Part A, Part B, and usually Part D into a private plan. Most California metros offer competitive $0-premium plans with dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation benefits.

Most California MA plans are HMOs with local networks including Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, Sutter Health, Stanford Health, Sharp HealthCare, Scripps Health. We verify your doctors before enrolling.

Medigap in California

Pairs with Original Medicare and covers the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays Medicare doesn't pay. Any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare accepts Medigap — no networks.

California Medigap premiums vary by ZIP and age, and carriers may medically underwrite outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window.

Carriers

Top Medicare carriers in California

Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Kaiser Permanente

California's largest Medicare Advantage carrier — vertically-integrated HMO with Kaiser-only doctors and facilities. Members love the integrated experience; the trade-off is you stay in the Kaiser network.

Blue Shield & Anthem Blue Cross

California's two Blue plans split the state — Blue Shield is the licensee for Northern California, Anthem Blue Cross for Southern California. Both have strong Medicare Advantage and Medigap presence.

Humana, Aetna & UnitedHealthcare

All three national carriers offer competitive $0-premium MA plans across LA, San Diego, the Bay Area, and Sacramento. UnitedHealthcare's AARP-branded Medigap is California's most popular Medigap choice.

SCAN Health Plan

California-founded nonprofit Medicare Advantage plan with a strong reputation for senior-specific service and lower-than-average member complaints in CMS Star Ratings.

Part D

Part D prescription coverage in California

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, 2026 Part D caps out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 per year and eliminates the old "donut hole."

Every California Medicare beneficiary needs prescription drug coverage (or creditable alternative coverage) to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty. California has dozens of standalone Part D plans plus drug coverage bundled into most MA-PD plans.

Formulary check: The same medication can land in very different tiers across plans. We run your drug list against every Part D plan in your ZIP.
Preferred pharmacy: Many California Part D plans offer lower copays at preferred pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, Albertsons/Vons). Which pharmacy you prefer can change which plan is cheapest.
Extra Help / LIS: California beneficiaries with limited income may qualify for the Low Income Subsidy that significantly reduces drug costs.

Timing

Medicare enrollment dates for California

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans; changes effective January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. One plan change allowed for members already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7 months around your 65th birthday — 3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after.
Medigap Open Enrollment: 6 months from your Part B effective date — the one-time window when California Medigap carriers cannot deny you or charge more for health reasons.
Special Enrollment Periods: Moving into California, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, or moving into or out of a nursing facility may each trigger a SEP.

Common questions

California Medicare FAQ

Are there California-specific Medicare rules?

Medicare is federal, so core rules match nationwide. What varies in California is plan availability, network depth, Medigap pricing, and carrier mix.

Can I switch from Advantage to Medigap later?

Sometimes. Outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window, California Medigap carriers can medically underwrite — which means they can decline you or charge more for health conditions. We walk through your specific options carefully.

What if my doctor is at a different network?

We verify every doctor and hospital you want to keep against each plan's network before recommending anything. Networks like Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, Sutter Health, Stanford Health, Sharp HealthCare, Scripps Health are common in California — but specifics vary plan by plan.

What does SilverEdge cost?

Nothing. Medicare carriers pay us a commission when you enroll. We earn the same regardless of which carrier you pick — our job is to find your best California fit.

Coverage

California counties we cover

All 58 California counties. A few of the counties where we have the most active members:

Los Angeles San Diego Orange Riverside San Bernardino Santa Clara Alameda Sacramento Contra Costa Fresno Kern Ventura San Francisco San Mateo San Joaquin Stanislaus Sonoma Tulare Marin Santa Barbara + 38 more

★★★★★

$2,310 / yr saved

on a Kaiser-to-Blue Shield Medicare switch · Los Angeles, CA

"I needed an out-of-network specialist Kaiser couldn't provide. SilverEdge moved me to a Blue Shield PPO that kept the same monthly premium and covered her — saved me thousands on what would have been out-of-pocket."

Maria V.

PPO switch · Los Angeles, CA

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