Medicare changes in El Dorado County for 2027
New plans, plans that are ending, prices that change, and what to do before December 7.
At a glance
- 10Plans for 202710 in 2026
- 1New plans
- 3Ending or leaving2 are drug-only plans
- 3Cost lesslower premium
- 12Cost morehigher premium
The short version
- El Dorado County has 10 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, the same number as in 2026.
- 1 new special needs plan for 2027, for people who qualify.
- 1 plan is ending, from Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company. If yours is one, you do not lose Medicare. You do need to choose how you get it.
- Some plans that continue cost more. AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-0010 (HMO-POS) goes from $89 to $99 a month.
- Free, private help is available from HICAP, California’s Medicare counselors.
Key dates
- EveryoneOct 15 to Dec 7Change plans. The new plan starts January 1.
- If your plan is endingDec 8 to the last day of FebruaryExtra time to choose another plan. Ask when your new plan would start.
- Medigap, if your plan is leaving60 days before to 63 days after it endsApply in this window and an insurer cannot turn you down because of your health.
Is my plan changing?
Type the insurer, full plan name or number on your member card. For example: UnitedHealthcare, UHC or H0543.
Showing 4 of 23 plans in this guide. Type a name, or pick a button, to see more.
Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc.
New for 2027Medicare Advantage · 2027 plan number H5496-017
$2.70 a monthNew for 2027. A special needs plan, only for some people. The premium is $2.70 a month.
Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company
EndingAnthem Dual Advantage (PPO D-SNP)
Medicare Advantage · 2026 plan number H4704-001
Ends December 31. Choose a new plan by December 7, or by the last day of February. You may also have a right to buy a Medigap policy.
Health Plan of San Joaquin / Mountain Valley Health Plan Advantage D-SNP (HMO)
New name or numberAdvantage D-SNP (HMO) (HMO D-SNP)
Medicare Advantage · 2026 plan number H5734-001
$2.80 to $7.30 a monthNow HPSJ/MVHP Advantage D-SNP (HMO D-SNP). The premium goes from $2.80 to $7.30 a month. The drug deductible goes from $615 to $700. The yearly limit on what you pay for covered care goes from $9,250 to $9,850.
Anthem Blue Cross
ContinuingAnthem Full Dual Advantage Aligned (HMO D-SNP)
Medicare Advantage · 2026 plan number H4471-011
$12 to $0 a monthContinues. The premium goes from $12 to $0 a month. The drug deductible goes from $615 to $700. The yearly limit on what you pay for covered care goes from $9,250 to $9,850.
Plan names are as listed by Medicare. Your plan’s own letter is the final word.
If your Medicare plan sent you a letter about next year, keep it close while you read. It has your plan’s full name, its plan number and the date your coverage ends or renews.
Helping a parent, partner or friend? Sit down together with that letter and a list of their medicines. Ask which doctors and services matter most to them before you compare plans.
If your Medicare Advantage plan ends, you do not lose Medicare. If you do not join another plan, you go back to Original Medicare. You still need to decide how you will get your medical care and your drug coverage from January 1.
How many plans are there for 2027?#
El Dorado County has 10 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, the same number as in 2026.
| Kind of plan | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans anyone with Medicare can join | 5 | 5 |
| Special needs plans (only for some people) | 5 | 5 |
| Drug-only plans (Part D), the same across California | 12 | 10 |
Special needs plans are Medicare Advantage plans for people who also have Medi-Cal, have certain long-term health conditions, or live in a nursing home. Most people cannot join them, so the number of plans you can actually choose from is smaller than the total.
These counts are for plans you buy on your own. They do not include plans from a former employer or union, or Medigap policies.
What new plans are there?#
New Medicare Advantage plans in El Dorado County for 2027:
- Imperial Flex (HMO C-SNP), from Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc. (a special needs plan, only for some people)
Before you choose, check that your doctors, hospitals, medicines and pharmacy work with that exact 2027 plan.
Which plans are ending?#
These 2026 Medicare Advantage plans are not coming back in 2027. If yours is on the list, keep the letter your plan sent you and get help choosing your next plan.
- Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company
- Anthem Dual Advantage (PPO D-SNP), H4704-001
Not sure if yours is here? Use the plan search near the top of this page.
Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company will have no Medicare Advantage plan in El Dorado County in 2027.
Will my plan cost more in 2027?#
4 plans anyone can join continue into 2027. 3 cost more each month, 0 cost less and 1 stays the same. This is the monthly plan premium, on top of the Part B premium.
| Plan | Monthly premium | Extra a year | Yearly limit | Drug deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-0010 (HMO-POS) | $89 → $99 | +$120 | $6,700 → $7,150 | $600 → $685 |
| Kaiser Permanente Sr Advantage Basic Sac., Sonoma (HMO) | $24 → $29 | +$60 | $6,000 (same) | $0 (same) |
| Kaiser Permanente Sr Adv Enhanced Sac., Sonoma (HMO) | $95 → $99 | +$48 | $3,900 (same) | $0 (same) |
In the table, an arrow shows the 2026 figure, then the 2027 figure. “Extra a year” is the 2027 premium minus the 2026 premium, times 12. The yearly limit is the most you pay in a year for covered medical care in the plan’s network; premiums and drug costs do not count toward it. A drug deductible is what you pay for some medicines before the plan starts paying its share; some plans skip it for lower-cost drugs. Extra Help can lower drug costs for people with limited income and savings.
The best question to ask is: what will we pay over the whole year, for the doctors and medicines we actually use? A $0 premium is only one part of the answer.
Do I need to check my drug plan if I have Original Medicare?#
Yes. If you have Original Medicare, with or without Medigap, look at your separate drug plan too. Drug-only plans are the same across California. 8 of the 10 that continue cost more each month in 2027 and 2 cost less.
See all 10 drug plans and their 2027 premiums
| Drug plan | 2026 | 2027 | Change per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC | $165.40 | $242.60 | +$926.40 |
| AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC | $109.40 | $170.80 | +$736.80 |
| Humana Value Rx Plan | $104.60 | $130.30 | +$308.40 |
| Blue Shield Rx Enhanced | $227.80 | $252.60 | +$297.60 |
| Humana Premier Rx Plan | $172.90 | $191.20 | +$219.60 |
| Blue Shield Rx Plus | $199.70 | $210 | +$123.60 |
| HealthSpring Assurance Rx | $0 | $9.30 | +$111.60 |
| Wellcare Classic | $6.20 | $7.30 | +$13.20 |
| Wellcare Value Script | $5.70 | $5.30 | −$4.80 |
| Humana Basic Rx Plan | $132.20 | $118.30 | −$166.80 |
2 drug plans are ending: SilverScript Choice (S5601-064) and HealthSpring Extra Rx (S5617-382). HealthSpring Assurance Rx continues with a new plan number, S5715-049. A new plan number does not always mean a plan is ending.
When you compare drug plans, bring a list of every medicine: the name, the strength, how often you take it, and the pharmacy you use. A lower premium can still cost more if your medicines cost more on that plan.
Can I switch to Medigap if my plan is ending?#
Often, yes. If your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving your area, Medicare gives you the right to buy certain Medigap policies when you go back to Original Medicare. During that window, an insurer cannot turn you down because of your health. This is called a guaranteed issue right.
Medicare says you must apply as early as 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends, and no later than 63 days after it ends. Medigap does not start on its own: you have to apply. See Medicare’s page on when you can buy Medigap.
Which policies you can buy, and by when, depends on your situation. Keep your plan’s letter, because it can prove your plan ended. UniHealth’s El Dorado County Medigap page shows the price information we hold. A HICAP counselor can check your rights and dates with you. Your drug coverage needs its own plan.
What should I do before choosing?#
- Read your 2027 letter. Is your exact plan continuing, merging or ending? Keep the letter.
- List what you want to keep. Doctors, specialists, hospitals, medicines and pharmacy.
- Compare the whole cost. Premiums, deductibles, copays and the yearly limit. Ask about help like Extra Help.
- Check before you sign up. Call your doctor’s office and ask if they take that exact 2027 plan.
Open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. A change you make then starts January 1. If your plan is ending, you also have from December 8 to the last day of February to choose a new plan. If you wait past December 7, ask when your new plan would start. See Medicare’s pages on enrollment dates and special enrollment periods.
If you have coverage from a former employer or union, talk to their benefits office before you change anything.
Where can I get free help?#
California’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, HICAP, gives free, confidential one-on-one Medicare counseling to people with Medicare and their families. A counselor can read your letters with you, compare your choices and check your rights. Find your local HICAP office. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE, or see Medicare’s contact page.
UniHealth can help you understand your letters, look up El Dorado County’s 2027 plans and get your questions ready for that conversation.
This guide covers plans sold to individuals and some of their published costs. It does not compare every benefit, drug list or doctor network. Check the details for your own situation before you enroll.
Not sure what your letter means?
Add a photo of it. UniHealth reads it and tells you the next step, the date and who to call.
Common questions
If my Medicare Advantage plan ends, do I lose Medicare?
No. If you do not join another plan, you go back to Original Medicare. You will still need to choose how you get drug coverage.
Is Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company leaving El Dorado County?
It has no Medicare Advantage plan in El Dorado County for 2027. If you are in one of its plans, your plan’s letter says when your coverage ends.
What is the last day to change plans for 2027?
December 7 for most people. If your plan is ending, you can also choose a new plan from December 8 to the last day of February.
Can I get Medigap if my plan is leaving?
Often, yes. Medicare says you can apply from 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends until 63 days after, and the insurer cannot turn you down because of your health.
Where can I get free help in El Dorado County?
HICAP, California’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, gives free, confidential Medicare counseling to people with Medicare and their families.
Where these facts come from
Every plan, price and date in this guide comes from these official sources. We checked them on October 25, 2026.
- CMS 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan list (Landscape file), September 22, 2026
- CMS 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan list (Landscape file), August 10, 2026
- CMS 2027 plan crosswalk: which plans end, merge or change, October 1, 2026
- Medicare.gov: joining a plan and enrollment dates, checked October 24, 2026
- Medicare.gov: special enrollment periods, checked October 24, 2026
- Medicare.gov: when you can buy Medigap, checked October 24, 2026
- Medicare.gov: HMO and HMO Point-of-Service plans, checked October 24, 2026
- Medicare.gov: special needs plans, checked October 24, 2026
- Medicare.gov: Extra Help with drug costs, checked October 24, 2026
- Medicare.gov: talk to someone, checked October 25, 2026
- California Department of Aging: HICAP, checked October 24, 2026