Quick answer
CMS lists 46 Medicare Advantage plans from 14 insurers that people with Medicare can join in San Diego County, California for 2027. 37 have a $0 monthly premium and 41 include drug coverage. In-network out-of-pocket maximums run from $295 to $9,850 a year. 20 of the 44 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.
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2027 plan numbers for San Diego County
San Diego County at a glance
- Plans open to everyone
- 46
- With a $0 monthly premium
- 37
- With drug coverage
- 41
- In-network out-of-pocket maximum
- $295 to $9,850
- Insurers with plans
- 14
- Plans rated 4+ stars
- 20 of 44 rated
- Special needs plans (qualifying members only)
- 39
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.
San Diego County ranks #5 among US counties by population (Census estimate for July 1, 2025: 3,282,248 people). By number of plans offered it ranks #5 of the 55 counties in California that have plans, and #202 of the 3,040 counties in the country that have plans.
Plans by type
| Plan type | Plans | What it generally means |
|---|---|---|
| HMO | 31 | Care usually has to come from the plan's network. |
| HMO with point-of-service (HMO-POS) | 11 | An HMO that covers some out-of-network care. |
| PPO | 4 | Out-of-network care is allowed, usually at a higher cost. |
Insurers with plans in San Diego County
| Insurer | Plans in San Diego County | Share of plans |
|---|---|---|
| Alignment Health Plan | 9 | 20% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 7 | 15% |
| Humana | 6 | 13% |
| Blue Shield of California | 4 | 9% |
| SCAN Health Plan | 4 | 9% |
| Aetna Medicare | 3 | 7% |
| Anthem Blue Cross | 2 | 4% |
| Clever Care Health Plan | 2 | 4% |
| Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc. | 2 | 4% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 2 | 4% |
| Wellcare | 2 | 4% |
| Anthem Blue Cross Partnership Plan | 1 | 2% |
| Astiva Health | 1 | 2% |
| Champion Heath Plan | 1 | 2% |
How San Diego 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 | San Diego County | Average California county |
|---|---|---|
| Plans open to everyone | 46 | 12.3 |
| Plans with a $0 premium | 80% | 69% |
| Insurers with plans | 14 | 4.9 |
| PPO and Regional PPO share of plans | 9% | 13% |
| Lowest out-of-pocket maximum | $295 | $745 |
| Highest out-of-pocket maximum | $9,850 | $7,155 |
| Rated plans with 4+ stars | 45% | 57% |
| Plans with drug coverage | 89% | 73% |
- With 46 plans on offer, San Diego County has roughly 3.7 times as many as the average California county (12.3).
- 14 insurers sell plans in San Diego County, above the California county average of 4.9.
- In San Diego County, out-of-pocket maximums top out at $9,850 (above the California county average of $7,155).
- 89% of the plans here include Part D drug coverage, versus 73% in the average California county.
What this means in San Diego County
46 plans from 14 insurers puts San Diego County well above the California county norm (state county average: 12.3). Cut the list by doctors and prescriptions first, since a plan that leaves out either is not a fit at any premium. 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. 80% of the plans (37 of 46) charge no monthly premium, so premium will not separate most of them. The out-of-pocket maximum, $295 to $9,850, shows what a bad year could cost. A $0 premium does not remove copays or coinsurance, and your Part B premium is separate.
91% 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. The 4 PPO-type plans allow out-of-network care, usually at a higher cost. 20 of the 44 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 San Diego County
- Doctors and hospitals. Ask each plan whether your doctors, your hospital and any specialists are in its network today. 42 of 46 plans here are HMO or HMO-POS and 4 are PPO-type, so the rules differ.
- Prescriptions. 41 of 46 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. 20 of the 44 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 San Diego County, you can also check plan counts for your ZIP code 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
- Website
- aging.ca.gov/Programs_and_Services/Medicare_Counseling
Program name, number and website as listed by the SHIP National Technical Assistance Center, 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.
Questions about Medicare Advantage in San Diego County
How many Medicare Advantage plans are in San Diego County for 2027?
CMS lists 46 general Medicare Advantage plans in San Diego County, California for 2027: 31 HMO, 11 HMO-POS, and 4 PPO. 41 of them include drug coverage. That count leaves out special needs plans (39 more, for people who qualify), cost plans and stand-alone drug plans.
Are there $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans in San Diego County?
Yes. 37 of the 46 plans (80%) 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 San Diego County?
14 insurers offer plans in San Diego County, California. The five with the most plans are Alignment Health Plan (9), UnitedHealthcare (7), Humana (6), Blue Shield of California (4), SCAN Health Plan (4).
What is the most I could pay out of pocket in San Diego County?
In-network out-of-pocket maximums for the 46 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 San Diego County have 4 or more stars?
20 of the 44 plans with a 2027 star rating are rated 4 stars or higher. 2 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 (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 (Summary Ratings table), October 8, 2026; U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 county population estimates (July 1, 2025). Plans counted by Senior Transition Assistance.
A plan is one CMS contract and plan ID offered in San Diego 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.
Other California counties with a page: Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Sacramento County, and Contra Costa County.