More than 7 million people in California are signed up for Medicare, making it the largest U.S. state for Medicare beneficiaries. There are more than 400 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.
» MORE: Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: Which should I choose?
45+ Medicare companies and brands analyzed by our team of experts.
30+ years of combined experience covering Medicare and personal finance.
Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet’s Medicare content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in Medicare. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets. They have been cited in publications including Healthline, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast.
Compare the best 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 | ||||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.11 | 4.11/5 | 48 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.74 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
BEST MAJOR COMPANY | ||||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.79 | 3.79/5 | 46 states and Washington, D.C. | Low (49% or less) | 3.82 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
BEST FOR GOVERNMENT RATINGS | ||||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet | 4.20 | 4.20/5 | 43 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.89 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet |
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.00 | 4.00/5 | 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.85 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
NerdWallet’s picks in California
We analyzed Medicare Advantage plans to compare premiums, out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug coverage, quality ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), customer satisfaction and more.
Here are the companies that came out on top with plans available in the state:
Humana
Humana is NerdWallet’s pick as the best major Medicare Advantage company. Humana Medicare Advantage plans are widely available with low premiums and competitive drug costs. Many Humana plans also offer a Part B Giveback that covers some portion of your Medicare Part B premiums. Its quality ratings from CMS could be better, however.
» MORE: Humana Medicare Advantage review
SCAN Health Plan
SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage plans all get a quality rating of 4 out of 5 — which is good — from CMS. Nearly all of its plans have $0 premiums, and the company’s caps on out-of-pocket costs are much lower than average. Its member experience scores aren’t very good, though, and members have more problems with coverage of doctors and hospitals than average.
Aetna
Aetna makes NerdWallet’s list of the top Medicare Advantage companies as the best for government ratings. It gets the highest CMS quality ratings among large companies with near-nationwide availability. Aetna makes $0-premium plans available to most Medicare members, but it doesn’t have the best customer satisfaction, and some competitors have lower caps on out-of-pocket costs.
» MORE: Aetna Medicare Advantage review
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans are available in nine states and Washington, D.C. Kaiser uses an integrated HMO care model, so all providers are connected. The company gets great government quality ratings, but its member experience scores aren't as strong.
Alignment Health Plan
Alignment Health Plan gets above-average quality ratings from CMS and has cheaper out-of-pocket costs like copays, coinsurance and deductibles, on average. But its complaint rates and measures of member experience aren’t good.
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield is a collective of 33 different companies and often scores well on customer satisfaction surveys, but cost, quality and member experience vary by company and location.
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare stands out for its large network of providers and hospitals and is included on our list of the best Medicare Advantage companies. Its plans, which are sometimes co-branded with AARP, are available with $0 premiums in 46 states. However, UHC doesn’t always score well on customer experience surveys.
» MORE: Best Medicare Advantage plans
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 2026 for a Medicare Advantage plan in California is $13.99. (This is up from $12.61 in 2025.)
There are 402 Medicare Advantage plans available in California in 2026. (This is down from 421 plans in 2025.)
Nearly all Medicare-eligible people in California have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan.
Third-party ratings
JD Power releases an annual study measuring member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans. It uses eight factors, such as level of trust, ability to get health services, ease of doing business and resolving problems or complaints.
In California, these Medicare Advantage providers scored above the regional average (634 points) on measures of member satisfaction (based on a 1,000-point scale):
Kaiser Permanente (675 points).
SCAN Health Plan (672 points).
Alignment Health Plan (658 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.
More Nerdy Perspective
What Medicare Advantage plans are rated the best in California?
Humana is the highest-rated Medicare Advantage plan in California in 2026, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars in NerdWallet’s data-backed analysis. Several other companies also made our list of the best plans in the state by scoring at least 4 out of 5 stars: SCAN Health Plan, Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Alignment, Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare. However, not every plan from these companies gets high ratings. And a high rating alone doesn’t make a plan the right fit for you. Think about your coverage needs, doctors and prescriptions when you compare your options.
Humana is the highest-rated Medicare Advantage plan in California in 2026, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars in NerdWallet’s data-backed analysis. Several other companies also made our list of the best plans in the state by scoring at least 4 out of 5 stars: SCAN Health Plan, Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Alignment, Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare. However, not every plan from these companies gets high ratings. And a high rating alone doesn’t make a plan the right fit for you. Think about your coverage needs, doctors and prescriptions when you compare your options.
Elizabeth Aldrichlead writer covering MedicareFind 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 preferred medical 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?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
Looking for additional insurance in California? Check out these resources:
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Fact Sheet. Accessed May 4, 2026.
- 2.U.S. Census Bureau. Types of Health Insurance Coverage by Age. Accessed May 4, 2026.
- 3.JD Power. Medicare Advantage Plan Member Satisfaction Facing Headwinds; Digital Innovation an Emerging New Solution, J.D. Power Finds. Accessed May 4, 2026.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage ratings are based on premiums, out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug coverage, quality data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, consumer experience and more. We calculate each health insurance company’s rating on a curved 5-point scale.
NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed companies covering about 87% of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in the United States. We reviewed 25 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurance companies having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.)
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies. In many places, one company serves more than half of the market. At the national level, NerdWallet’s reviews include each of the 10 largest brands by enrollment.
At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in every state where Medicare Advantage plans are sold, and includes the top two insurers in 40 of those 49 states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
This roundup includes only insurers that sell Medicare Advantage in California.