Medicare changes in Orange County for 2027

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?#

Orange County has 111 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, up from 104.

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 Orange County for 2027:

• Aetna Medicare Eagle (HMO), from Aetna Medicare (no drug coverage)
• Alignment Health Honor Plus 060 (HMO), from Alignment Health Plan
• Alignment Health Platinum Preferred 004 (HMO), from Alignment Health Plan
• Alignment Health Platinum Preferred+ 005 (HMO), from Alignment Health Plan
• Central Health Harmony 001 (HMO), from Alignment Health Plan
• Blue Shield Advantage (HMO), from Blue Shield of California
• Champion Anwell (HMO), from Champion Health Plan
• Humana Gold Plus H3767-002 (HMO), from Humana
• CareMore Health Plan by SCAN (HMO), from SCAN Health Plan
• SCAN Baekse (HMO), from SCAN Health Plan
• SCAN Costco Medicare Advantage (HMO), from SCAN Health Plan
• SCAN Inclusive (HMO), from SCAN Health Plan
• SCAN Select (HMO), from SCAN Health Plan
• AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-46 (HMO-POS), from UnitedHealthcare
• Aetna Medicare Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP), from Aetna Medicare (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Alignment Health Heart & Diabetes Plus 044 (HMO C-SNP), from Alignment Health Plan (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Central Health Harmony Plus 002 (HMO C-SNP), from Alignment Health Plan (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Astiva Health C-SNP Bloom (HMO C-SNP), from Astiva Health (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Astiva Health C-SNP Fountain (HMO C-SNP), from Astiva Health (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Champion Compass (HMO C-SNP), from Champion Health Plan (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Champion Home (HMO C-SNP), from Champion Health Plan (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Champion Secure (HMO C-SNP), from Champion Health Plan (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Clever Care Breathe Select+ (HMO C-SNP), from Clever Care Health Plan (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Clever Care Total Choice+ (HMO C-SNP), from Clever Care Health Plan (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• Imperial Flex (HMO C-SNP), from Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc. (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• SCAN Ansim Care (HMO C-SNP), from SCAN Health Plan (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• SCAN DaVita Dialysis Care (HMO-POS C-SNP), from VillageHealth (a special needs plan, only for some people)
• SCAN DaVita Dialysis Care Complete (HMO-POS C-SNP), from VillageHealth (a special needs plan, only for some people)

Aetna Medicare Eagle (HMO) does not include drug coverage. If you are thinking about it, plan how you will get your medicines covered first.

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.

• Aetna Medicare: Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO) (H5521-369), Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO) (H5521-578) and Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) (H5521-419)
• Astiva Health: Astiva Health Premier Plan (HMO) (H1993-015)
• Central Health Medicare Plan: Central Health Classic Care Plan I (HMO) (H5649-027), Central Health Dual Access Plan (HMO D-SNP) (H5649-024), Central Health Embrace Care Plan (HMO C-SNP) (H5649-025-001), Central Health Embrace Choice Plan (HMO C-SNP) (H5649-026-001), Central Health Medicare Plan (HMO) (H5649-001), Central Health Part B Savings Plan (HMO) (H5649-029) and Central Health Valor Care Plan (HMO) (H5649-030)
• Champion Health Plan: Champion Select (HMO-POS C-SNP) (H6170-003)
• Providence Medicare Advantage Plans: Providence Medicare Sycamore + Rx (HMO) (H9047-066)
• SCAN Health Plan: SCAN Affirm partnered with Included LGBTQ+ Health (HMO) (H5425-092) and SCAN MyChoice (HMO) (H5425-108)
• Wellcare: Wellcare Giveback (HMO) (H5087-032)

Not sure if yours is here? Use the plan search near the top of this page.

Providence Medicare Advantage Plans will have no Medicare Advantage plan in Orange County in 2027.

Some plans are merging into another plan. Your plan moves you over unless you choose something else:

• Alignment Health My Choice Select (HMO) (H3815-049) merges into Alignment Health My Choice 001 (HMO).
• Kaiser Permanente Dual Complete South P1 (HMO D-SNP) (H8794-001) merges into Kaiser Permanente Dual Complete South P10 (HMO D-SNP).

Read your letter to see what changes. The new plan may have different doctors, drugs or costs.

3 more plans are shrinking the area they serve and are no longer offered in Orange County for 2027:

• Alignment Health Advantage PPO (PPO) (H8832-001)
• Alignment Health Honor+ Plan (HMO) (H3815-052)
• Alignment Health the ONE (HMO) (H3815-034)

Your letter says what applies to you.

Which plans have a new name?#

These plans continue in 2027 under a new name or plan number. A new name does not mean the plan is ending, but the benefits may change, so read your letter.

• Aetna Medicare Prime (HMO-POS) is now Aetna Medicare Prime (HMO). It changes from HMO-POS to HMO.
• Aetna Medicare Signature (HMO) is now Aetna Medicare Signature Legacy (HMO).
• Alignment Health My Choice (HMO) is now Alignment Health My Choice 001 (HMO).
• Alignment Health My Choice CalCare (HMO) is now Alignment Health My Choice 050 (HMO).
• Alignment Health Platinum + Instacart (HMO) is now Alignment Health Platinum + Instacart 008 (HMO).
• Alignment Health ValorCare (HMO) is now Alignment Health ValorCare 053 (HMO).
• Alignment Health smartHMO (HMO) is now Alignment Health Smart 013 (HMO).
• Alignment Health smartSavings (HMO) is now Alignment Health Smart 047 (HMO).
• AARP Medicare Advantage Giveback from UHC CA-20 (HMO-POS) is now AARP Medicare Advantage Giveback from UHC CA-31P (HMO-POS).
• AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx CA-MA01 (HMO-POS) is now AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx CA-MA1P (HMO-POS).
• AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-43 (HMO-POS) is now AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-33P (HMO-POS).

8 special needs plans also have a new name. The plan search at the top shows them.

An HMO-POS may let you get some care outside the network for a higher copay. A regular HMO generally covers only emergency and urgent care outside its network. If you see doctors outside the network, ask how your 2027 plan covers that.

Will my plan cost more in 2027?#

44 plans anyone can join continue into 2027. 2 cost more each month, 2 cost less and 40 stay the same. This is the monthly plan premium, on top of the Part B premium.

Good news if you are in one of these plans: they cost less each month in 2027.

• AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-33P (HMO-POS) (was AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-43): $55 to $46 a month
• Wellcare Low Premium (HMO): $46 to $42 a month

“Extra per year” is the 2027 premium minus the 2026 premium, times 12. 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. Here is the monthly premium for each one that continues:

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 Orange 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?#

1. Read your 2027 letter. Is your exact plan continuing, merging or ending? Keep the letter.
2. List what you want to keep. Doctors, specialists, hospitals, medicines and pharmacy.
3. Compare the whole cost. Premiums, deductibles, copays and the yearly limit. Ask about help like Extra Help.
4. 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 Orange 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.