---
title: "Medicare Advantage plans in Alameda County, CA for 2027"
description: "16 Medicare Advantage plans from 8 insurers in Alameda County, California for 2027: 9 with a $0 premium, out-of-pocket maximums $295 to $9,850. CMS data, local SHIP help and how to compare."
url: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/alameda-county/
updated: 2026-10-16
site: Senior Transition Assistance
---

Medicare Advantage · 2027 plan year

# Medicare Advantage plans in Alameda County, California for 2027

2027 plan year

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16 plans from 8 insurers, with CMS numbers for Alameda County, California and free local help.

Quick answer

CMS lists 16 Medicare Advantage plans from 8 insurers that people with Medicare can join in Alameda County, California for 2027. 9 have a $0 monthly premium and 14 include drug coverage. In-network out-of-pocket maximums run from $295 to $9,850 a year. 7 of the 16 plans with a 2027 star rating have 4 or more stars. Data last updated September 22, 2026 (CMS landscape 202609.1); star ratings October 8, 2026.

**We do not offer every plan available in your area.** Currently we represent a small number of insurance agencies and the plans they carry. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day / 7 days a week, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

We are an independent information and referral resource. We are not connected with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the United States government, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or the federal Medicare program. Calling a number on this page connects you with a licensed insurance agent or a third-party marketing partner.

## 2027 plan numbers for Alameda County

### Alameda County at a glance

Plans open to everyone
16

With a $0 monthly premium
9

With drug coverage
14

In-network out-of-pocket maximum
$295 to $9,850

Insurers with plans
8

Plans rated 4+ stars
7 of 16 rated

Special needs plans (qualifying members only)
16

Plans open to everyone means Medicare Advantage and Medicare Advantage with drug coverage plans that are not special needs plans. Premium means the plan premium; your Part B premium is separate.

Alameda County ranks #22 among US counties by population (Census estimate for July 1, 2025: 1,636,630 people). By number of plans offered it ranks #15 of the 55 counties in California that have plans, and #2089 of the 3,040 counties in the country that have plans.

### Plans by type

| Plan type | Plans | What it generally means |
|---|---|---|
| HMO | 15 | Care usually has to come from the plan's network. |
| HMO with point-of-service (HMO-POS) | 1 | An HMO that covers some out-of-network care. |

### Insurers with plans in Alameda County

| Insurer | Plans in Alameda County | Share of plans |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna Medicare | 3 | 19% |
| Alignment Health Plan | 3 | 19% |
| SCAN Health Plan | 3 | 19% |
| Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc. | 2 | 12% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 2 | 12% |
| Blue Shield of California | 1 | 6% |
| CCHP (Chinese Community Health Plan) | 1 | 6% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1 | 6% |

## How Alameda County compares with the rest of California

The state column is the average of the 55 California counties that have Medicare Advantage plans in the CMS file; each county counts once, whatever its population.

| Measure | Alameda County | Average California county |
|---|---|---|
| Plans open to everyone | 16 | 12.3 |
| Plans with a $0 premium | 56% | 69% |
| Insurers with plans | 8 | 4.9 |
| PPO and Regional PPO share of plans | 0% | 13% |
| Lowest out-of-pocket maximum | $295 | $745 |
| Highest out-of-pocket maximum | $9,850 | $7,155 |
| Rated plans with 4+ stars | 44% | 57% |
| Plans with drug coverage | 88% | 73% |

- 8 insurers sell plans in Alameda County, above the California county average of 4.9.
- In Alameda County, out-of-pocket maximums top out at $9,850 (above the California county average of $7,155).
- With 16 plans on offer, Alameda County sits 30% above the average California county (12.3 plans).
- 56% of the plans here (9 of 16) charge no monthly premium; the average California county is at 69%.

## What this means in Alameda County

At 16 plans from 8 insurers, Alameda County sits above the California county average of 12.3, so expect to compare in detail rather than pick the first plan that fits. More insurers means more provider networks to check against your doctors. Caps run higher than the state norm, so check the cap, not just the premium, before you choose. 9 of 16 plans have a $0 premium and the rest charge one, so weigh premium against the out-of-pocket maximum, which is $295 to $9,850. A $0 premium does not remove copays or coinsurance, and your Part B premium is separate.

100% of the plans are HMO or HMO-POS, which generally keep you in the plan's network; check that your doctors and hospital are in it. 7 of the 16 rated plans have 4 or more stars. CMS rates the insurer's contract, so look up the rating of the specific plan you are considering.

## How to compare plans in Alameda County

- **Doctors and hospitals.** Ask each plan whether your doctors, your hospital and any specialists are in its network today. 16 of 16 plans here are HMO or HMO-POS and 0 are PPO-type, so the rules differ.
- **Prescriptions.** 14 of 16 plans include drug coverage. For each drug, check the plan's formulary, the tier it sits on and the pharmacy you would use.
- **Out-of-pocket cap.** The in-network maximum runs $295 to $9,850 a year depending on the plan, a gap of $9,555. The cap is what limits a hospital stay or a run of treatments.
- **Extras and cost-sharing.** Compare copays for primary care, specialists and the emergency room, and any dental, vision and hearing benefits you would use.
- **Star rating.** 7 of the 16 rated plans have 4 or more stars. Ask for the rating of the exact plan, then see how it handles the doctors and drugs above.

Plan Finder at Medicare.gov shows every plan available at your address. If your ZIP code is in Alameda County, you can also [check plan counts for your ZIP code](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage-zip/) on this site.

## Dates that matter for 2027 coverage

- **Open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.** You can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan in that window.
- **Coverage changes take effect January 1, 2027.** Plans send an Annual Notice of Change in the fall listing what is different next year.

## Free local Medicare help in California

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling. In California it is run as California Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP).

### HICAP in California

Program
California Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)

Phone
[1-800-434-0222](tel:18004340222)

Website
[aging.ca.gov/Programs_and_Services/Medicare_Counseling](https://www.aging.ca.gov/Programs_and_Services/Medicare_Counseling/)

Program name, number and website as listed by the [SHIP National Technical Assistance Center](https://www.shiphelp.org/ships/california/), checked October 15, 2026.

The California Department of Aging page lets you find HICAP services in your county.

You can also reach Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) or compare plans at [medicare.gov/plan-compare](https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/).

## Questions about Medicare Advantage in Alameda County

### How many Medicare Advantage plans are in Alameda County for 2027?

CMS lists 16 general Medicare Advantage plans in Alameda County, California for 2027: 15 HMO and 1 HMO-POS. 14 of them include drug coverage. That count leaves out special needs plans (16 more, for people who qualify), cost plans and stand-alone drug plans.

### Are there $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans in Alameda County?

Yes. 9 of the 16 plans (56%) have a $0 monthly plan premium. You still pay your Part B premium, and the plan may charge copays or coinsurance up to its out-of-pocket maximum.

### Which insurers offer Medicare Advantage plans in Alameda County?

8 insurers offer plans in Alameda County, California. The five with the most plans are Aetna Medicare (3), Alignment Health Plan (3), SCAN Health Plan (3), Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc. (2), Kaiser Permanente (2).

### What is the most I could pay out of pocket in Alameda County?

In-network out-of-pocket maximums for the 16 plans run from $295 to $9,850 a year, depending on the plan. The maximum covers covered services in the plan's network; it does not include the plan's monthly premium.

### How many Medicare Advantage plans in Alameda County have 4 or more stars?

7 of the 16 plans with a 2027 star rating are rated 4 stars or higher. No plans are not yet rated or have too little data, and star ratings are given to the insurer's contract.

## Sources and what is counted

Source: [CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape source file, contract year 2027, release 202609.1](https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/cy2027-landscape-202609-1.zip) (file cy2027-landscape-202609-1.zip, CY2027_Landscape_202609.csv), data last updated September 22, 2026; [CMS 2027 Part C and D Star Ratings data tables](https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/2027-star-ratings-data-tables-oct-8-2026.zip) (Summary Ratings table), October 8, 2026; [U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 county population estimates](https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/counties/totals/co-est2025-alldata.csv) (July 1, 2025). Plans counted by Senior Transition Assistance.

A plan is one CMS contract and plan ID offered in Alameda County. Counts cover Medicare Advantage and Medicare Advantage with drug coverage plans that are open to everyone. Special needs plans, cost plans, employer-only plans and stand-alone Part D plans are not in the counts above. The $0-premium count uses the combined plan premium (Part C plus Part D) when the plan has drug coverage. Star ratings are CMS overall ratings for plans with drug coverage and Part C summary ratings for plans without. Out-of-pocket maximums are the in-network amounts CMS lists.

Figures are for plan year 2027 and come from CMS files dated as shown; the CMS landscape can change before January 1. Confirm any plan's details on Medicare.gov or with the plan.

## Keep reading

- [Medicare Advantage plans in 40 large US counties](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/)
- [Medicare open enrollment dates and changes](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/open-enrollment/)
- [Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/vs-original-medicare/)
- [Medicare Advantage guide](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/)
- [Plans in Los Angeles County, CA](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/los-angeles-county/)
- [Plans in San Diego County, CA](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/san-diego-county/)
- [Plans in Orange County, CA](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/orange-county/)
- [Plans in Riverside County, CA](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/riverside-county/)
- [Plans in San Bernardino County, CA](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/san-bernardino-county/)
- [Plans in Santa Clara County, CA](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/santa-clara-county/)
- [Plans in Sacramento County, CA](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/sacramento-county/)
- [Plans in Contra Costa County, CA](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/contra-costa-county/)

Other California counties with a page: [Los Angeles County](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/los-angeles-county/), [San Diego County](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/san-diego-county/), [Orange County](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/orange-county/), [Riverside County](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/riverside-county/), [San Bernardino County](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/san-bernardino-county/), [Santa Clara County](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/santa-clara-county/), [Sacramento County](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/sacramento-county/), and [Contra Costa County](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/medicare-advantage/counties/ca/contra-costa-county/).

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