New to Medicare California? What You Need to Know

If you’re new to Medicare or thinking about a change in Medicare plans, you’re likely considering your options for your Golden Years in the Golden State.

In California, we’re lucky to benefit from many insurance companies competing for Medicare Advantage enrollees. In 2026, California offers the second-highest total number of Medicare Advantage plans (402), just behind Florida. Here are five steps for getting covered by Medicare in California.

1) Medicare Coverage Basics

Medicare is a type of health insurance or medical insurance. It’s available for US citizens 65 years and older and to individuals who meet specific disability or chronic disease requirements.

The program consists of “parts” that cover your different health services.

• Part A Hospital insurance: Covers bills related to being admitted to a hospital or registered healthcare facility. This includes nursing homes offering specialized healthcare and hospices. In some cases, this component may also cover home-based care. Usually, without a premium if you paid enough in payroll taxes.
• Part B Doctor services: This Medicare coverage covers direct doctor fees, outpatient care, preventive services, and more. It can also cover the costs of medical supplies needed for your care.
• Part C Medicare Advantage: This plan combines Part A and Part B under a single plan and may sometimes include additional plans. Private insurance companies offer these plans, but Medicare generally administers them.
• Part D medication and prescription drugs: There are about 12 stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans available to Californians as of 2026. You must enroll in Plan D separately. To be eligible for Part D, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B. You do not need to be enrolled in both parts at the same time, Enrolling in Medicare online starts at the Social Security Administration website. 

Depending on your situation, one Medicare option may be better than another. For example, depending on your needs, you could get:

• Original Medicare with a Medigap Supplement and an optional Part D plan, then add on dental coverage.
• All-in-one Medicare Advantage plan: Medicare Advantage plans offer Part A, Part B, and Part D benefits, plus dental cleanings and fitness memberships.

It’s smart to talk to an expert to explore your options long before you sign up.

2) Calculate Your Enrollment Period

There are several ways to sign up for Medicare depending on your situation. Medicare is not automatic for all Medicare parts, even if you’re 65 or older or receive medicare benefits. You can enroll in Medicare at 65, whether you plan to retire or continue working.

For most people, your first Medicare enrollment period starts three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after. This is called your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). If you sign up late, your Medicare premiums may increase by 10% or more permanently. Use our Medicare Initial Enrollment Period Calculator to determine your enrollment dates.

People under 65 may be eligible for Medicare earlier due to certain conditions, such as disability, end-stage renal disease, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. If Social Security says you have a disability, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare after two years of getting disability payments.

Before Medicare starts, you can use Covered California. For health insurance Once Medicare starts, you’ll cancel your Covered California plan. Tell Covered California about your Medicare eligibility within 30 days, and you’ll cancel it yourself at least 14 days before you want it to stop. Your Covered California plan doesn’t end on its own when you get Medicare.

3) Find Which Medicare Plans Are Available To You

Health insurance companies compete to sell these options to Californians:

• Medicare Advantage
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap) to help cover costs
• Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plans)
• Optional senior dental coverage

For each of these, availability will depend on the California county or zip code you live in, or your service area. The average California resident can access more than 40 plans and choose from a dozen insurers, according to the nonprofit KFF. 

However, some Medicare beneficiaries live in a county without Medicare Advantage plans. In California, less-populated counties without MA plans include Trinity County and Colusa County.

In contrast, California counties with 51 or more plans include:

• Los Angeles County
• San Bernardino County
• Riverside County
• San Diego County

At Jason Rubin Insurance Services, we can help determine which option best suits your needs.

Prices also vary considerably across plans. For a Part D stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan in California, the lowest monthly premium is $ 0, and the highest is $227.80.

4) Research a Medicare Advantage Plan Right For You

Medicare Advantage plans wraps Part D, Part A and Part B all into one plan.

Some people choose Medicare Advantage as soon as they’re eligible, while others switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage if healthcare costs become too expensive.

In California, almost all Medicare beneficiaries can access Medicare Advantage HMO plans, which require you to stay within the plan network. However, most beneficiaries can also choose a local PPO if they wish.

Most Californians I speak to want to know if their Medicare Advantage plan covers local, top-tier medical groups. Understandably, the clients don’t want to lose access to excellent doctors or facilities.

For example, in Los Angeles:

• UCLA Health: Six hospitals around Los Angeles as part of the University of California, Los Angeles medical system, along with specialists and access to clinical trials. Primary health clinics are scattered throughout the area, including Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach.
• Cedars Sinai: Among the U.S.’s largest nonprofit academic medical centers, with a massive hospital near West Hollywood, and almost 5,000 physicians, nurses, specialists, and healthcare professionals.
• Providence Medical Group: The not-for-profit organization offers around a dozen hospitals and medical centers in Santa Monica and other local areas, including San Pedro and Torrance.

Even if you’re not committed to a particular medical network, ensure your Medicare Advantage plan covers providers and urgent care near your home. You don’t want to spend your best retirement years stuck in traffic, traveling long distances between neighborhoods for appointments.

(However, remember that if you’re in an accident, you’ll be sent to the nearest hospital, whatever it may be. You won’t have a choice, for safety reasons.)

The average Medicare Advantage plan premium in California is $13.99 per month in 2026. That’s affordable for most seniors on a limited budget, but higher than a year ago, up from $12.61 in 2025.

You can add, drop, or change Medicare plans if you move or qualify for Extra Help during SEP. Remember that the right choice for you depends on your doctors, medications, and budget, and it’s always wise to get an expert opinion before choosing a plan — whether from another insurance agent you trust.

5) Apply for Medicare

To stay on the safe side, sign up before your birthday month to avoid healthcare coverage gaps. Most people need to actively enroll. You’ll also want to join a Medicare health or drug plan during the Initial Enrollment Period.

Enroll by contacting your local Social Security Administration office or visiting Medicare.gov.

The Social Security Administration may automatically enroll you in Medicare Parts A and B under certain conditions, such as receiving Social Security disability benefits or retirement benefits. If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B during your first chance, you must wait until January through March to enroll. Your coverage won’t start until July of that year.

If you want to change your plan in the future, annual enrollments are available from October 15th to December 7th. You can change plans or options for the following year during this period.