Orange County's Medicare market is one of California's most competitive, with a deep bench of HMO and PPO plans competing across the county. We help you weigh them independently — free to you.
Here’s what’s actually available this year, from the government’s published plan data — not a sales pitch.
people on Medicare in Orange County
plans available in Orange County
insurance carriers to choose from
Medicare Advantage plans with a $0 premium
plans rated 4+ stars by Medicare
carriers quoting Medigap plans
Carriers with a checkmark are ones we’re appointed with — we can enroll you in their plans directly, at no extra cost.
Select which plan type:
Kaiser Permanente · HMO
Kaiser Permanente · HMO
Aetna Medicare · PPO
A carrier we work with
Aetna Medicare · PPO
A carrier we work with
Aetna Medicare · PPO
A carrier we work with
Showing 5 of 104 plans, ordered by Medicare star rating. See all
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Rather talk it through? Schedule a call — we’ll compare plans with you and handle enrollment.
Plan availability, premiums, and star ratings are from the CMS 2026 Medicare plan landscape data (updated 2026-10-07). Beneficiary counts are from the CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment data (June 2026). Premiums shown may not reflect Part B premiums or low-income subsidies. Medigap benefit descriptions follow the federal standardized plan charts; Medigap premiums vary by age, ZIP code, and carrier and are not shown. Verify details with the plan or Medicare.gov before enrolling.
It’s the question I hear most. Networks are set plan by plan — not by carrier — so a doctor who takes one plan from a carrier may not take another. These are the names Orange County seniors ask about most. I don’t publish who takes what — networks change too fast — but here’s how to check any of them against any plan.
Participation varies plan to plan, even within one carrier — always confirm with the plan’s directory and the doctor’s office.
Worth knowing: With most California HMOs you don’t just pick a plan — you’re assigned to a medical group or IPA, and that group largely decides which specialists and hospitals you can use. Related: Hoag and Providence ended their affiliation in January 2022, so a plan tied to one system doesn’t include the other.
Want a particular hospital no matter what? Original Medicare plus Medigap covers any provider who accepts Original Medicare — no networks to check.
Bring your doctor list to a free consult — I’ll check it against every plan you’re considering. Or run the check yourself:
We work with Medicare beneficiaries throughout Orange County, including Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and Fullerton. Wherever you are in the county, every conversation happens by phone or video — no office visit required.
Short, direct answers to the questions Orange County residents ask us most.
Candor Medicare is an independent Medicare agency serving Orange County, California, founded by licensed agent Eric Ullrich (CA license #4551902). Candor compares Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D plans from multiple carriers, checks your doctors and prescriptions against a plan before you enroll, and charges you nothing — help is free by phone or video.
Orange County has 104 Medicare Advantage plans from 18 carriers for 2026, and 85 of them have a $0 monthly plan premium (you still pay the Part B premium). Candor is appointed in Orange County with Aetna, Alignment Health Plan, Anthem Blue Cross, SCAN Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare, and can enroll you directly in those carriers' plans. Plan menus change every year, so compare on doctors, drugs, and total cost — not premium alone. Source: CMS plan landscape data.
Often, yes — but networks are set by each individual plan, not by the carrier, so the same doctor can be in one CA plan and out of another from the same company. Seniors in Orange County most often ask about Optum Care Network – Monarch (formerly Monarch HealthCare), Hoag Medical Group, and UCI Health. Before enrolling, check every doctor against the exact plan name and contract number, and confirm with the doctor's office. Medigap has no networks: it works with any provider who accepts Original Medicare.
Nothing. Working with an independent Medicare agent like Candor Medicare costs you $0 — agents are paid by the insurance carrier if you enroll, and your plan premium is exactly the same whether you enroll through an agent, through the carrier, or on Medicare.gov. The advice, doctor checks, and annual reviews are free to you in Orange County and statewide.
Most Orange County residents change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, for coverage starting January 1. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get a second window January 1 through March 31 to switch once. Moving, losing other coverage, or other life changes can open a Special Enrollment Period at other times of year.
You do not need to visit an office. Book a free call with Candor Medicare online or start by entering your ZIP code to compare Orange County plans yourself. Bring your doctor list and prescription list to the call — checking both against a plan before you enroll is the step that prevents most Medicare surprises, and it is free.
Independent advice, free to you. We’re licensed in Florida and California.