2025 Guide to Medicare Advantage Plans in California
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Uncovering the Top Medicare Advantage Plans in California
Are you considering enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan in California? You're in good company. This year, more than 31 million people enrolled in a private Medicare health plan. Some want lower costs. Some are looking for more benefits. Others need access to more healthcare providers and doctors.
This page is dedicated to assisting you in exploring the highest-rated Medicare Advantage (MA) plans available in California, highlighting the insurance providers that offer these plans, and providing guidance on locating suitable plans within your specific geographic region. This information is crucial as the availability of these plans varies by location, and it's essential to identify the options accessible in your area.
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Locating the Best Medicare Advantage Plans in California
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), reviews and rates California's Medicare Advantage plans based on a 5-star scale. The information used to create a plan's star rating comes from member input and data reported by the plan.
There are no 5-star plans in California in 2025. However, there are 4.5-star plans. This year, the highest rated Medicare plans available in California come from:
MedicareWire recommends that you evaluate the plans offered by these California health insurance companies, before all others, for this single reason. More stars awarded by CMS typically means members get better results. So, for instance, five-star plan members might receive better service, phone support, and care than those who have a four-star plan.
TIP: Everyone's personal situation is different. And so are California's Medicare Advantage plans. That's why it is so important to understand Medigap vs Medicare Advantage plans.
Complete List of California's Plan Providers
California has 23 providers that offer Medicare Advantage plans. They include:
- Aetna Medicare
- Align Senior Care
- Alignment Health Plan
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company
- Anthem Blue Cross Partnership Plan
- Aspire Health
- Astiva Health
- Blue Shield of California
- CCHP (Chinese Community Health Plan)
- Central Health Medicare Plan
- Clever Care Health Plan
- Humana
- Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc.
- Kaiser Permanente
- Molina Healthcare of California
- Providence Medicare Advantage Plans
- SCAN Health Plan
- Sharp Health Plan
- UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan
- UnitedHealthcare
- Wellcare
- Wellcare by Health Net
Top California Plans by CMS 5-Star Score
Here are the top-ranked Medicare Advantage plans in California, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:
Top Medicare Advantage Plans in California
| Provider | Plan ID | Plan Name | Premium | Limit | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The top providers listed above do not tell the full story. That's because your California County may or may not have one of the top-rated plans. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans are regional. Read How Does Medicare Advantage Work to learn more.
Top-Rated Medicare Advantage Plans in California by County
Choose your California County below to see the best (and the worst) plans.
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Navigating Your Options: How to Select the Best Medicare Advantage Plan in California
You may be looking at plans for several different reasons, including turning 65 or the Annual Enrollment Period. Or, perhaps you are navigating a special enrollment event, such as moving to a new area. In all of these cases, there are a few important details you need to consider.
1. Examine Your Projected Utilization Needs
Do you think you’ll take maximum advantage of your benefits (doctors, hospital inpatient care, tests, etc.)? If so, prioritize plans with lower out-of-pocket maximums and lower copayments, even if they have higher monthly premiums. Otherwise, look for plans with low monthly premiums. Just be aware that plans with low or no monthly premiums tend to have higher out-of-pocket maximums and/or higher deductibles.
2. Review Your Drug Costs
Prescription drugs, not doctors, are what many seniors blame for driving up their healthcare costs. Part D prescription benefits are included with most California Medicare Advantage plans. It would be best if you made sure that the plan you choose covers your drugs at a price you can afford.
3. Consider Your Needs for Additional Coverage
Original Medicare does not all health care costs. It covers your major medical and some preventive care services, but it does not cover dental, vision, hearing, or prescriptions. A growing number of Medicare Advantage plans cover many of the essential services that your Part A and Part B benefits do not.
4. Review Your Healthcare Network Considerations
Medicare Advantage plans use healthcare provider networks, and not all primary care doctors and specialists accept all plans. For many California shoppers, finding a plan that their doctors accept is exhausting. We can help!
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Next Steps
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Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? These common questions and answers might help.
What is the biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage plans can have some potential drawbacks. Many plans require members to use their provider network. Costs are also heavily influenced by how you use healthcare services. This makes it difficult to budget for healthcare expenses. Most plans require members to get referrals for specialists or authorization before they can receive healthcare services. Learn more about the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans.
Do Medicare Advantage plans pay 100% of all costs?
On average, the cost of a Medicare Advantage plan in California is $nan (based on 2025 rates). That's just the cost of the monthly premium to be in the plan. If you have chronic health conditions, the plan's out-of-pocket costs, including copays and deductibles, should also be considered. Additionally, Medicare Advantage plans often include Part D prescription drug benefits that have out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy.
What do Medicare Advantage plans include?
At a minimum, every Medicare Advantage plan sold in California must cover all of the benefits offered in Original Medicare. However, plans are not required to cover healthcare services in the same way. Medicare Part A covers 80% of hospital stays, skilled nursing, home health care, and hospice care. Part B covers 80% of doctor visits, lab tests, and other outpatient services. But, Medicare Advantage plans can set their own copays, and often charge more than 20%. On the positive side, plans must set an annual out-of-pocket limit.
Citations & References
- CMS.gov, 2023 Medicare Part C Landscape Source Files, Last Accessed January 13, 2023
- CMS.gov, "5-STAR PLAN RATINGS", Last Accessed October 22, 2022
- Medicare.gov, "Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans", Last Accessed October 16, 2022
- KFF.org, "An Overview of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit", Last Accessed October 19, 2022
- Medicare.gov, "How do Medicare Advantage Plans work?", Last Accessed October 13, 2022
- CMS.gov, Part C and D Performance Data, Last Accessed October 13, 2024
- CMS.gov, Monthly MA Enrollment by State/County/Contract, Last Accessed October 10, 2024
For details on how we research, analyze, and construct plan information for California using CMS data, see our Medicare Plan Research Methodology.
Plans Offered
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aspire Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Capital Blue Cross, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, Freedom Health, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, HealthSun, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Medica Central Health Plan, Optimum HealthCare, Premera Blue Cross, SCAN Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare(R), Wellcare, WellPoint.