Best Cheap Medicare Advantage Plans in California
SCAN Health Plan has the best Medicare Advantage plans in California.
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
SCAN's plans cost $3 per month, on average, and are highly rated. Kaiser Permanente is the best choice if you really want good customer service, and Alignment sells the best PPO plans, which let you see any doctor and still have some coverage.
Best Medicare Advantage plans in California
ValuePenguin compared all the Medicare Advantage companies in California to find the best options for most people. Our experts reviewed the companies by looking at average costs, Medicare star ratings, drug deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, availability and added perks. The best company for you will depend on your specific medical needs and budget.
Where to buy 5-star plans in CA
There are no 5-star plans in California in 2025.
Where to buy 4.5-star plans in CA
- Kaiser Permanente
- SCAN
- Aetna
- Alignment
Where to buy 4-star plans in CA
- Alignment
- Astiva
- Providence
- Sharp
Compare Medicare Advantage plans in California
Senior Care Action Network, or SCAN, has the best California Medicare Advantage plans because of its low rates and high-quality coverage.
Kaiser Permanente is the best for customer satisfaction. And if you want a plan that lets you see any doctor without a referral, Alignment Health Plan is best.
The best Medicare Advantage companies in California have a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars or more from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
Medicare Advantage plans in California cost an average of $13 per month. But nearly everyone in California, more than 99% of people who can get Medicare, can get a plan with no monthly cost. A plan that costs $0 per month can be a good choice, but be sure to review more than just a company's average cost. Review Medicare star ratings, plan features and customer satisfaction to find the right option.
Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C, is a plan that bundles all your medical coverage into one. That means your Medicare Part A (hospital coverage), Part B (doctor coverage) and usually Part D (prescription drug coverage) all come from one plan.
Medicare Advantage plans also usually have extra perks, like coverage for vision and hearing care.
But Medicare Advantage plans have downsides, too.
For example, you have to use certain doctors and hospitals to have coverage with a Medicare Advantage plan. If you just have Medicare Parts A and B from the government, without bundling them in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can see any doctor who takes Medicare.
Additionally, some doctors and hospitals have stopped taking Medicare Advantage plans, saying the plans often take too long to pay for medical care or deny coverage.
Before you buy a Medicare Advantage plan, compare it to a Medigap plan. These plans often cost more each month, but give you much better coverage and don't have the same issues that Medicare Advantage plans can have.
Overall best Medicare Advantage plans in California: SCAN Health Plan
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Overall rating
- Average monthly cost: $3
SCAN sells the best cheap Medicare Advantage plans in California.
Pros
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Most plans have no monthly cost
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Most plans let you pay a low amount for medical care
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Medication coverage starts right away
Cons
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Not everyone in CA can get a plan
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No coverage if you go out of the network
SCAN sells cheap, highly-rated Medicare Advantage plans with great coverage
Several of the company's plans offer out-of-pocket maximums of less than $1,000, which is very low compared to other companies. That means you'll pay less than $1,000 for your medical care before your plan starts to pay for all your covered medical bills.
The SCAN Classic, the company's most popular plan, helps keep your medical costs down while providing useful coverage benefits. The plan has no monthly cost, which means you don't have to pay anything each month besides the $185 for Medicare Part B.
The SCAN Classic includes $0 doctor visits, so you can get medical care without worrying about a copay. Some plans also include coverage for dental exams and routine cleanings, eyeglasses and wellness programs.
SCAN also offers California's only Fully Integrated Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). This helps keep your coverage simple and easy to navigate if you can get both Medicare and Medicaid.
If you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, SCAN could be a good choice for a Dual-Eligible SNP. To enroll, you have to be eligible for Medicare and get full Medi-Cal benefits.
The SCAN Affirm plan is a good option for LGBTQ+ adults. SCAN partnered with Included Health to create the plan, which has no monthly rate, no drug deductible and a $739 average out-of-pocket maximum. The plan has lower copays than other SCAN plans for HIV treatment and gender-affirming medical care.
The SCAN Inspired plan is a good option for coverage tailored to women's health care needs. The plan costs $25 per month and gives you access to a women's health coach to help you make health decisions.
SCAN only sells HMO plans, though. If the restriction of certain doctors bothers you, SCAN isn't the right choice. Alignment is a better option if you want a plan that lets you go to any doctor and still have some coverage.
About 70% of people in California who can get Medicare can buy a SCAN plan. SCAN sells plans in 13 counties in CA. That includes most major cities, like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco.
- Alameda
- Fresno
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Orange
- Riverside
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara
- Stanislaus
- Ventura
Best Medicare Advantage customer service: Kaiser Permanente
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Overall rating
- Average monthly cost: $27
Kaiser Permanente has the best Medicare Advantage customer service in CA.
Pros
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Highly-rated customer service
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Coverage for medications starts right away
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Nearly everyone can get a Kaiser plan
Cons
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Rates are higher than average
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No coverage if you go outside the network
If customer service is the most important feature to you in a Medicare Advantage plan, consider Kaiser Permanente.
The company has the highest-rated service in California, which means its customers are often happy with the service and quality of care they get from Kaiser. That might be partially because Kaiser owns health care offices and hospitals. This can make getting care faster and easier, since your insurance and medical care come from the same company.
If you're willing to pay a monthly rate for your Medicare Advantage plan, the Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Enhanced plans offer robust coverage. The plans cover prescriptions right away because they have a $0 drug deductible. There's also no copay for primary care visits and a low, $20 copay for specialist visits. Plan benefits vary by county, though, so be sure to review what's available in your county to know if it's right for your needs.
The average cost of an Enhanced plan varies based on where you live, ranging from $26 per month in Kern County to $65 per month in Fresno and Stanislaus.
But like SCAN, Kaiser only sells HMO plans. This means you have to go to Kaiser doctors and hospitals. If you go outside the network, your plan won't pay for any of your medical bills, unless it was an emergency.
Most people in CA can get a plan from Kaiser Permanente. The company is available to about 91% of the Medicare-eligible population. But Kaiser doesn't sell plans in the far northern part of California or the central coast area.
- Alameda
- Amador
- Contra Costa
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Kern
- Kings
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Marin
- Mariposa
- Napa
- Orange
- Placer
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Stanislaus
- Sutter
- Tulare
- Ventura
- Yolo
- Yuba
Best Medicare Advantage doctor network: Alignment Health Plan
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Overall rating
- Average monthly cost: $13
Alignment sells well-rated plans that let you see any doctor and have coverage.
Pros
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Sells the highest-rated PPO plans in CA
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Many plans have no monthly rate
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Most people in CA can get a plan
Cons
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PPO plans are more expensive than average
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Total medical costs can be high
Alignment is a good choice if you want to be able to go to any doctor and still have some coverage.
That's because Alignment is only one of five companies in California that sells PPO plans. And of those companies, Alignment has the best rating and best customer service.
PPO plans let you see any doctor, whether or not they're in your plan's network, and you'll still have coverage. You'll pay less when you see an in-network doctor, but your plan will still pay for some of your medical care if you go outside the network. You also don't need a primary care doctor and you don't need a referral to see a specialist.
Because of the added flexibility, PPOs are usually more expensive than other Medicare Advantage plan types. On average, a plan from Alignment costs $13 per month. But Alignment's PPOs cost $61 per month, on average. The state average for a PPO is $32, so Alignment's plans are more expensive than some competitors.
All Alignment Health Plan members can use the company's 24/7 helpline. Called the ACCESS On-Demand Concierge Team, these professionals help you understand your coverage and make the most of your benefits. They can help you arrange transportation to health appointments, access your health records and even set up in-person and virtual doctor visits.
About 83% of the people in California who can get Medicare have access to Alignment plans. The company sells plans in 22 counties.
- Alameda
- Fresno
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Marin
- Merced
- Orange
- Placer
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Luis Obispo
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Sonoma
- Stanislaus
- Ventura
- Yolo
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
Best if you live in NorCal: Aetna
If you live in the far northern counties in California, you'll have fewer options for Medicare Advantage plans.
Aetna is the best company that offers plans in the northernmost counties in CA. On average, a plan from Aetna costs $15 per month. While it isn't the highest-rated company in CA, it does have a good overall rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
California Medicare Advantage statistics
Medicare-eligible residents in California: 5,996,685
Medicare Advantage enrollees in California: 3,322,163
Number of Medicare Advantage companies in California: 20
Average monthly cost of Medicare Advantage in California: $13
How to choose the best Medicare Advantage plan in California
When you're shopping for a Medicare Advantage plan, think about your monthly budget and how much health care you need.
Try to match the plan you buy to your healthcare needs. Even cheap or free Medicare Advantage plans can have great coverage, so it's important to look at more than just price.
- Compare the plans in your area. You can do this on Medicare.gov by putting in your ZIP code and searching for Medicare Advantage plans.
- Narrow down your options. You might want to only look at companies with good customer service. Or maybe you need coverage for a specific prescription; you can use the tools on Medicare.gov to find plans that cover your medication.
- Compare the plans. By clicking "Add to compare" at the bottom of each plan on Medicare.gov, you can compare up to three plans side-by-side. This lets you see how much you could pay for medical care in a year, how much you'll pay when you go to your primary doctor and if there are any extra perks.
- Decide on a plan and sign up. Once you've found a plan that works for you, you can click "enroll" and sign up right on Medicare.gov. Usually, you have to sign up between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, which is Medicare open enrollment. If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan and want to switch, you can do that between Jan. 1 and Mar. 31 each year.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the best Medicare Advantage plans in California?
SCAN and Kaiser Permanente have the highest-rated Medicare Advantage plans in California. Alignment is also a great choice because it sells the best PPO plans. But the best plan for you depends on your health needs and budget.
How much is Medicare Advantage in California?
A Medicare Advantage plan in California costs an average of $13 per month. Plans range from $0 per month to $336 per month. Your rate depends on the company you choose and the plan you pick, as well as where you live and what features you're looking for in a plan.
Is Covered California a Medicare plan?
No. Covered California is the state marketplace for health insurance, not Medicare. To learn which Medicare plans are offered in your California county, start your search with the Medicare Plan Finder.
Methodology and sources
Medicare plan and enrollment data is from the public use files provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Analysis of Medicare Advantage plans in California includes only plans that have prescription drug coverage. Rates for 2025 exclude employer group plans, Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs), medical savings account (MSA) plans, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) plans, prepayment plans (HCPPs), sanctioned plans and special needs plans (SNPs). Info about the Medicare-eligible population in California is from the University of Iowa College of Public Health.
Comparisons were made using cost data, CMS star ratings and availability. Our experts also analyzed plan features and coverage benefits.
About the Author
Insurance Writer
Cate Deventer is a ValuePenguin writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
- Wall Street Journal
Education
- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
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