Medicare Advantage Plans in California 2024
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Nearly 6.7 million people in California are signed up for Medicare, making it the largest U.S. state for Medicare beneficiaries. There are more than 450 Medicare Advantage plans available in California.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older. Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Medicare sold by private insurance companies. It offers all the same benefits and usually some extras, such as cost help with dental and vision coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare, and they're often cheaper than paying for Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan. However, they offer less flexibility since you’ll need to get care from within the plan’s network of providers. Weigh your options to determine what plan best suits your needs.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans in California
Insurance company | CMS Star Rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for size of network  UnitedHealthcare | 3.87 3.87 /5 | 49 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 89%) | 3.12 (Average) | GET A QUOTE from UnitedHealthcare |
Best for extra perks  Aetna | 3.98 3.98 /5 | 46 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 89%) | 3.79 (Above average) | 8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com GET A QUOTE from MedicareEnrollment.com |
Best for local support  Blue Cross Blue Shield | 3.86 3.86 /5 | 48 states and Puerto Rico | Medium (50% to 89%) | 3.39 (Above average) | 8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com GET A QUOTE from MedicareEnrollment.com |
Best for low-cost plan availability  Humana | 4.34 4.34 /5 | 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico | High (90% or more) | 3.97 (Above average) | 8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com GET A QUOTE from MedicareEnrollment.com |
Medicare Advantage companies in California
The following providers offer Medicare Advantage plans in California:
Alignment Health Plan.
Aspire Health.
Astiva Health.
Brand New Day.
CCA Health California.
Central Health Medicare Plan.
Chinese Community Health Plan.
Clever Care Health Plan.
Imperial Health Plan of California.
Molina Healthcare of California.
Providence Medicare Advantage Plans.
SCAN Health Plan.
Sharp Health Plan.
Western Health Advantage.
Top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in California
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awards every Medicare Advantage plan a star rating on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being a top-rated plan. Below are companies with plans that received top marks in California for the 2024 plan year. (Check out more information about Medicare star ratings.)
4.5-star plans
There are no 5-star rated plans available in California for 2024. The company below offers plans in California that are rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by CMS:
Sharp Health Plan.
4-star plans
The companies below offer plans in California that are rated 4 stars out of 5 by CMS:
Aetna Medicare.
Alignment Health Plan.
Humana.
Kaiser Permanente.
This list doesn’t include special needs plans, which restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics, such as having a chronic illness or living in a nursing home.
What to know about Medicare Advantage in California
Nearly 1 in 6 people in California are 65 and older, and there are a wide variety of Medicare Advantage plans in the state.
The average monthly premium in 2024 for a Medicare Advantage plan in California is $16.24. (This is down from $16.64 in 2023.)
There are 465 Medicare Advantage plans available in California in 2024. (This is down from 492 plans in 2023.)
All Medicare-eligible people in California have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan.
Third-party ratings
In its 2023 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study — the ninth it's done so far — J.D. Power measured member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans based on eight factors ranging from level of trust to how well a provider resolves problems or complaints. The study was fielded in the five biggest Medicare markets: California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.
In California, these Medicare Advantage providers scored above the regional average (669 points) on measures of member satisfaction (based on a 1,000-point scale):
SCAN Health Plan (708 points).
Humana (692 points).
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (680 points).
Medicare resources in California
California Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP): Offers assistance with understanding Medicare plans, comparing coverage, and filing appeals and challenging denials.
Department of Managed Health Care: A list of agencies that can help California residents with finding resources, choosing health care and aging in place.
California Senior Gateway: Provides information and resources on topics like health care, preventing fraud and reporting abuse.
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself. Here are some questions to consider asking:
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
Medicare Advantage companies
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage companies. These insurance companies offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
Looking for additional insurance in California? Check out these resources:
