Medicare changes in San Diego 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?#

San Diego County has 85 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, down from 93 in 2026.

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 San Diego County for 2027:

• Aetna Medicare Eagle (HMO), from Aetna Medicare (no drug coverage)
• Alignment Health Advantage 005 (PPO), from Alignment Health Plan
• Alignment Health Balance Plus 004 (PPO), from Alignment Health Plan
• Alignment Health Honor Plus 060 (HMO), from Alignment Health Plan
• Blue Shield Advantage (HMO), from Blue Shield of California
• Blue Shield Value Advantage Plan (HMO), from Blue Shield of California
• Humana Gold Plus H3767-001 (HMO), from Humana
• SCAN Costco Medicare Advantage (HMO), from SCAN Health Plan
• Aetna Medicare Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP), from Aetna Medicare (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)

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), H5521-580
  • Aetna Medicare Signature (HMO), H4982-004
  • Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO), H5521-422
  • Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (HMO), H0523-092
• Astiva Health
  • Astiva Health Premier Plan (HMO), H1993-015
• Central Health Medicare Plan
  • Central Health Classic Care Plan I (HMO), H5649-027
  • Central Health Embrace Care Plan (HMO C-SNP), H5649-025-001
  • Central Health Embrace Choice Plan (HMO C-SNP), H5649-026-001
  • Central Health Part B Savings Plan (HMO), H5649-029
  • Central Health Valor Care Plan (HMO), H5649-030
• Champion Health Plan
  • Champion Select (HMO-POS C-SNP), H6170-003
• Humana
  • HumanaChoice H5525-077 (PPO), H5525-077
• Molina Healthcare of California
  • Molina Medicare Choice Care (HMO), H5810-014
• Sharp Health Plan
  • Sharp Direct Advantage Gold (HMO), H5386-003
  • Sharp Direct Advantage Platinum (HMO), H5386-004
  • Sharp Direct Advantage VIP (HMO), H5386-005
  • Sharp Direct Advantage VIP Plus (HMO), H5386-006

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

Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company, Central Health Medicare Plan and Sharp Health Plan will have no Medicare Advantage plan in San Diego County in 2027.

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

• SCAN Affirm partnered with Included LGBTQ+ Health (HMO), H5425-096, merges into SCAN Alta (HMO).
• SCAN MyChoice (HMO), H5425-109, merges into SCAN Alta (HMO).

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

5 more plans are shrinking the area they serve and are no longer offered in San Diego County for 2027:

• Alignment Health Advantage PPO (PPO), H8832-001
• Alignment Health Freedom (PPO), H8832-003
• Alignment Health Honor+ Plan (HMO), H3815-052
• Alignment Health the ONE (HMO), H3815-034
• Humana Gold Plus H5619-148 (HMO), H5619-148

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 CalCare (HMO) is now Alignment Health My Choice 050 (HMO).
• Alignment Health Platinum + Instacart (HMO-POS) is now Alignment Health Platinum + Instacart 016 (HMO-POS).
• Alignment Health S.D. Premium Giveback (HMO) is now Alignment Health Smart 056 (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 from UHC CA-026P (HMO-POS) is now UHC Sharp Medicare Advantage CA-026P (HMO-POS).
• Wellcare Low Premium (HMO) is now Wellcare Low Premium Focus (HMO).

11 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?#

34 plans anyone can join continue into 2027. 2 cost more each month, 3 cost less and 29 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-0007 (HMO-POS): $53 to $52 a month
• Wellcare Low Premium Focus (HMO) (was Wellcare Low Premium): $30 to $27 a month
• Wellcare Low Premium (HMO): $50 to $47 a month

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 San Diego 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 San Diego 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.