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?
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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 | ||||||
4.10 | 4.10/5 | 48 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.76 (Above average) | (855) 821-0556 / TTY 711 Call UnitedHealthcarefrom UnitedHealthcare | |
BEST FOR PART B GIVEBACK | ||||||
3.61 | 3.61/5 | 46 states and Washington, D.C. | Low (49% or less) | 3.61 (Above average) | from Humana | |
BEST FOR 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 | 4.19 | 4.19/5 | 43 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.88 (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 | 3.97 | 3.97/5 | 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 |
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 2026 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 2026. The companies below offer plans in California that are rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by CMS:
4-star plans
The companies below offer plans in California that are rated 4 stars out of 5 by CMS:
Providence Medicare Advantage Plans.
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.
- See all Medicare Advantage providers in California.
Aetna.
Align Senior Care.
Alignment Health Plan.
Anthem Blue Cross Partnership Plan.
Aspire Health.
Astiva Health.
Blue Shield of California.
CCHP (Chinese Community Health Plan).
Central Health Medicare Plan.
Champion Health Plan.
Clever Care Health Plan.
Elite Health Plan.
Imperial Health Plan of California.
Kaiser Permanente.
Providence Medicare Advantage Plans.
SCAN Health Plan.
Sharp Health Plan.
UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan.
UnitedHealthcare.
Wellcare By Health Net.
» 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
J.D. 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
While there aren’t any 5-star Medicare Advantage plans in California in 2026, you can find 4.5-star plans from Aetna and Kaiser Permanente. And you can find 4-star plans from Alignment Health Plan, Blue Shield of California, Providence Medicare Advantage Plans, SCAN Health Plan 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.
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?
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:
Article sources
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 Oct 20, 2025.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2026 Landscape (202509) (ZIP). Accessed Oct 20, 2025.
- 3.U.S. Census Bureau. Types of Health Insurance Coverage by Age. Accessed Oct 21, 2025.
- 4.J.D. Power. Medicare Advantage Plan Member Satisfaction Facing Headwinds; Digital Innovation an Emerging New Solution, J.D. Power Finds. Accessed Oct 21, 2025.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies; in many places, one insurer serves more than half of the market. NerdWallet reviewed 26 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurers having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.) At the national level, these reviews include nine of the 10 largest brands by enrollment. At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in 47 of the 49 states that offer Medicare Advantage plans, and includes the top two insurers in 35 of those 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.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as pricing, plan availability by state, plan types available, consumer experience, extra benefits offered and more. 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.