Medicare Advantage Plans in San Diego County, CA:
Your Complete 2026 Guide
For 2026, residents of San Diego County, CA can choose from 60 Medicare Advantage plan options. Of these, 51 cost nothing beyond the Part B premium. Enrollment in the County stands at approximately 218,804, with 46% of plans achieving 4 stars or better. This page and its statistics exclude Special Needs Plans (SNPs). See Medicare Special Needs Plans available in San Diego County, CA.
Last update: . Enrollment data last updated: May 2, 2026
* CMS rates Medicare Advantage plans annually using a 5-star system. Data sources
Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans allow members to choose care from both in-network and out-of-network providers. While using out-of-network doctors or hospitals usually means higher costs, PPOs may appeal to people who want more flexibility in how they access their healthcare.
- Total PPO Plans
- 8
- Average Premium
- $14.50/mo
- Beneficiaries Enrolled
- 10,112
- $0 Premium PPOs
- 5
- Average MOOP
- $6,269
- Most Popular PPO
- HumanaChoice H5525-077 (PPO) with 3,232 enrollees
- PPOs Without Drug Coverage
- 2
| Plan Name | CMS Stars* | Premium/Mo | MOOP | Rx Ded. | CMS ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna Medicare Eagle | $0 | $6,750 | N/A | H5521 369 0 | |
| Aetna Medicare Enhanced | $59 | $5,500 | $615 | H5521 580 0 | |
| Aetna Medicare Signature | $0 | $6,350 | $615 | H5521 422 0 | |
| Humana USAA Honor Giveback | $0 | $6,750 | N/A | H5525 078 0 | |
| Humana USAA Honor Giveback with Rx | $0 | $6,400 | $615 | H5525 057 0 | |
| HumanaChoice H5525-077 | $0 | $5,700 | $615 | H5525 077 0 | |
| Alignment Health Advantage PPO | $45 | $4,201 | $0 | H8832 001 0 | |
| Alignment Health Freedom | $12 | $8,500 | $615 | H8832 003 0 |
- What is the average monthly premium for PPO plans in San Diego?
- On average, PPO plans in San Diego cost $14.50 per month.
- Which PPO plan has the highest enrollment in San Diego?
- The most popular PPO in San Diego is HumanaChoice H5525-077 (PPO), covering 3,232 beneficiaries.
- How many PPO plans in San Diego do not include prescription drug coverage?
- 2 PPO plans available in San Diego do not include Part D benefits.
Medicare Advantage HMO Plans
HMO plans are designed around a set network of doctors and hospitals. Staying within that network is usually required for coverage, but this arrangement often results in lower overall costs, including both premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, for plan members.
What is the total number of HMO plans offered in San Diego?
There are 40 HMO plans in 2026, covering 144,835 beneficiaries.
How much do HMO plans cost on average in San Diego?
The average HMO premium is $5.43, with 36 costing $0.
What is the top HMO by enrollment in San Diego?
Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage San Diego (HMO) is the most popular HMO plan in San Diego, with 67,640 enrollees.
What is the number of HMO plans without Part D coverage in San Diego?
3 HMO plans in San Diego do not include prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage HMO-POS Plans
HMO-POS plans are structured like HMOs, requiring in-network care for the lowest costs, but they also permit some use of out-of-network doctors and hospitals. Those services are generally more expensive, but the added access can be valuable for people who don’t want to be fully limited to a single network.
- Total HMO-POS Plans
- 12
- Average Premium
- $6.83/mo
- Beneficiaries Enrolled
- 63,857
- $0 Premium HMO-POS
- 10
- Average MOOP
- $3,000
- Most Popular HMO-POS
- UHC Sharp Medicare Advantage ValueRx CA-12P (HMO-POS) with 20,789 enrollees
- HMO-POS Without Drug Coverage
- 1
| Plan Name | CMS Stars* | Premium/Mo | MOOP | Rx Ded. | CMS ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-0001 | $29 | $5,300 | $355 | H0543 013 0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-0007 | $53 | $3,800 | $355 | H0543 060 0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-0012 | $0 | $2,500 | $355 | H0543 152 0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC CA-026P | $0 | $2,900 | $355 | H0543 225 0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx CA-MA2 | $0 | $4,900 | N/A | H0543 258 0 | |
| Alignment Health Platinum + Instacart | $0 | $998 | $0 | H3815 016 0 | |
| UHC Sharp Medicare Advantage CA-001P | $0 | $3,300 | $355 | H0543 145 0 | |
| UHC Sharp Medicare Advantage ValueRx CA-12P | $0 | $2,900 | $355 | H0543 204 0 | |
| Aetna Medicare Prime | $0 | $1,500 | $300 | H0523 075 0 | |
| Anthem Medicare Advantage | $0 | $3,400 | $0 | H0544 065 0 | |
| Anthem Prime | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | H4161 003 0 | |
| Anthem Select | $0 | $2,500 | $200 | H0544 091 0 |
What is the average monthly premium for HMO-POS plans?
On average, HMO-POS plans in San Diego cost $6.83 per month.
Which HMO-POS plan is most popular in San Diego?
The leading HMO-POS in San Diego is UHC Sharp Medicare Advantage ValueRx CA-12P (HMO-POS), with 20,789 members.
How many HMO-POS plans in San Diego do not include drug coverage?
There are 1 HMO-POS plans in San Diego without Part D benefits.
The table below shows the quality ratings for Medicare Advantage plans offered in San Diego County, CA for 2026.
| Rating Category | Number of Plans | Percent of Plans |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Stars | No 5-star plans available. | 0% |
| 4 Stars (includes 5 Stars) | 26 | 46% |
| 3 Stars | 31 | 54% |
| Below 3 Stars | 0 | 0% |
| Not Rated | 3 | 5% |
| Average Rating | 3.64 | |
Medicare Advantage comes with strict enrollment windows. By knowing when and how to sign up, you’ll avoid missed deadlines and keep your healthcare coverage aligned with your needs.
Key Medicare Enrollment Periods
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): This seven-month window starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. It’s the first time you can sign up for Medicare and, if you choose, a Medicare Advantage plan. Learn more
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): Each year from January 1 through March 31, you may change to another Medicare Advantage plan or drop your plan and return to Original Medicare. Learn more
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): This yearly window, running October 15 to December 7, gives you the opportunity to join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Learn more
- Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Outside the standard enrollment dates, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if specific circumstances apply, including relocation or coverage loss. Learn more
Enrollment Options Explained
- Talk with a Licensed Agent: Licensed agents at HealthCompare can explain your Medicare Advantage choices. Reach them at 1-833-748-3201 (TTY 711), Monday–Friday 5am–6pm and Saturday 6am–5pm PST.
- Contact the Plan Provider Directly: Enrollment can also be completed by calling the plan provider’s customer service line or visiting their official website.
- Use Medicare.gov: The official Medicare website, Medicare.gov, lets you review available plans and complete enrollment online.
The MA and MAPD plans on this page are available to people on Medicare enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B living in Alpine, Bonita, Boulevard, Campo, Chula Vista, Descanso, Imperial Beach, Jamul, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Pine Valley, Potrero, Spring Valley, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Cardiff By The Sea New, Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Julian, La Jolla, Lakeside, Oceanside, Camp Pendleton, Pala, Pauma Valley, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Santa Ysabel, Santee, Solana Beach, Vista, Valley Center, Warner Springs, San Diego, Coronado, San Ysidro, and all other areas of San Diego County, California.
Plans Offered for Enrollment through Medicare.org
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aspire Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Capital Blue Cross, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, Freedom Health, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, HealthSpring℠, HealthSun, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Medica Central Health Plan, Optimum HealthCare, Premera Blue Cross, SCAN Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare(R), Wellcare, WellPoint
- CMS.gov, Landscape Source Files — Last accessed September 26, 2025
- CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance — Last accessed October 10, 2025
- CMS.gov, Plan Benefits Package — Last accessed October 13, 2025
- CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage/Part D Contract and Enrollment Data — Last accessed May 2, 2026
Some facts and percentages shown on this page (such as average premiums, distribution of plan types, and percentage of $0 premium plans) are calculated by Medicare.org using data from the CMS Landscape file, Plan Benefits Package (PBP) files and Part C & D Performance files. All underlying values originate from CMS, and calculations are refreshed whenever CMS issues updated data. Enrollment counts and rankings (such as Top 3 plans by enrollment) are derived from CMS monthly enrollment files and aggregated at the county level.
Medicare.org separates Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs) into different pages for clarity. As a result, plan counts, percentages, and other calculations shown here may differ from the aggregate totals published in the CMS Landscape files. All plan availability and benefit details originate from CMS.
Learn more about how we use CMS data.
- Medicare.gov, "Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- Medicare.gov, "Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- NCOA.org, "5 Steps to Choosing the Right Medicare Plan for You" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
Some facts and percentages shown on this page (such as average premiums, distribution of plan types, and percentage of $0 premium plans) are calculated by Medicare.org using data from the CMS Plan Benefits Package (PBP) files and Part C & D Performance files. All underlying values originate from CMS, and calculations are refreshed whenever CMS issues updated data.
To explore how 2026 Medicare Advantage plans available in San Diego County compare with plans offered elsewhere, you can search the Medicare Advantage plan directory to review options nationwide using the same authoritative data sources.
Medicare.org is owned and operated by Health Network Group, LLC, an Allstate company. Medicare.org provides information only and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.
Data provenance documentation is maintained in alignment with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard.
Page content independently curated and maintained by David W. Bynon, Medicare Technical Operator, using a standardized, data-driven methodology designed for accurate, non-commercial Medicare plan interpretation and resolution.