California

Medicare Help in San Diego County

San Diego County's Medicare lineup runs deep — the national carriers competing alongside strong regional plans. We help you compare the whole field independently, free to you.

2026 Medicare plans in San Diego County

Here’s what’s actually available this year, from the government’s published plan data — not a sales pitch.

625,529

people on Medicare in San Diego County

105

plans available in San Diego County

19

insurance carriers to choose from

72

Medicare Advantage plans with a $0 premium

47

plans rated 4+ stars by Medicare

8

carriers quoting Medigap plans

Carriers offering plans in San Diego County

Carriers with a checkmark are ones we’re appointed with — we can enroll you in their plans directly, at no extra cost.

  • A carrier we work with: Aetna Medicare
  • A carrier we work with: Alignment Health Plan
  • A carrier we work with: Anthem Blue Cross
  • A carrier we work with: Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company
  • A carrier we work with: Anthem Blue Cross Partnership Plan
  • Astiva Health
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Central Health Medicare Plan
  • Champion Heath Plan
  • Clever Care Health Plan
  • Community Health Group
  • Humana
  • Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc.
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Molina Healthcare of California
  • A carrier we work with: SCAN Health Plan
  • Sharp Health Plan
  • A carrier we work with: UnitedHealthcare
  • Wellcare

Find the plan that’s best for you

Select which plan type:

Highest-rated plans

Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage San Diego (HMO)

Kaiser Permanente · HMO

$0
per month
4.5/ 5 stars
  • $0 monthly premium
  • Includes drug coverage
  • $0 drug deductible

Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage San Diego Value (HMO)

Kaiser Permanente · HMO

$0
per month
4.5/ 5 stars
  • $0 monthly premium
  • Includes drug coverage
  • $0 drug deductible

Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO)

Aetna Medicare · PPO

$0
per month
4.5/ 5 stars
  • $0 monthly premium
  • No drug coverage (medical only)
  • $6,750 in-network out-of-pocket max

A carrier we work with

Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO)

Aetna Medicare · PPO

$0
per month
4.5/ 5 stars
  • $0 monthly premium
  • Includes drug coverage
  • $6,350 in-network out-of-pocket max

A carrier we work with

Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO)

Aetna Medicare · PPO

$59
per month
4.5/ 5 stars
  • Includes drug coverage
  • $5,500 in-network out-of-pocket max

A carrier we work with

Showing 5 of 93 plans, ordered by Medicare star rating. See all

Compare all plans and enroll

  • Filter by your doctors, prescriptions, and pharmacy
  • See real out-of-pocket costs side by side
  • Easy enrollment — Enroll online when you're ready — or with us

Free to use · No account or phone number required

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.

Medicare in San Diego County

Map of hospitals serving San Diego CountyUC San Diego Health – Jacobs Medical Center1Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla2Sharp Memorial Hospital3Palomar Medical Center4Tri-City Medical Center5
Approximate hospital locations in San Diego County. Numbers match the list below.

The hospitals that matter in San Diego County

  • UC San Diego Health – Jacobs Medical Center (La Jolla)
  • Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla · Scripps Health (La Jolla)
  • Sharp Memorial Hospital · Sharp HealthCare (San Diego)
  • Palomar Medical Center (Escondido)
  • Tri-City Medical Center (Oceanside)

Can I keep my doctor?

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 San Diego 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.

The groups San Diego County seniors ask about

  • Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group — Sharp’s employed multispecialty medical group, with primary and specialty care at Sharp Rees-Stealy clinics countywide.
  • Sharp Community Medical Group — San Diego’s largest IPA — 200+ primary care doctors and 500+ specialists in independent practices, from Chula Vista to Escondido.
  • Scripps Clinic — the multispecialty physician group of Scripps Health, the integrated nonprofit system with hospitals across the county.
  • UC San Diego Health — the region’s academic health system, with hospitals in La Jolla and Hillcrest and clinics countywide.
  • Palomar Health Medical Group — North County’s large medical group (built from Graybill and Arch Health), with 20 locations and Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.
  • Optum Care Network – San Diego Physicians Medical Group — large independent IPA network of 500+ San Diego physicians, renamed from Scripps Physicians Medical Group in 2025.

Participation varies plan to plan, even within one carrier — always confirm with the plan’s directory and the doctor’s office.

Worth knowing: Sharp runs two different physician organizations — the employed multispecialty group (Sharp Rees-Stealy) and the IPA of independent practices (Sharp Community Medical Group) — and they’re not interchangeable on a plan listing.

How to check before you enroll

  1. List every doctor you want to keep.
  2. Enter them in Explore Plans — the wizard asks for your providers up front and factors them into its plan recommendations.
  3. Call the office and confirm the exact plan name plus its contract (H-number).
  4. Re-check every fall — networks reset every January 1.

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:

Cities we serve in San Diego County

We work with Medicare beneficiaries throughout San Diego County, including San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, and La Mesa. Wherever you are in the county, every conversation happens by phone or video — no office visit required.

Medicare questions in San Diego County

Short, direct answers to the questions San Diego County residents ask us most.

Who can help me compare Medicare plans in San Diego County?

Candor Medicare is an independent Medicare agency serving San Diego 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.

What Medicare Advantage plans are available in San Diego County for 2026?

San Diego County has 93 Medicare Advantage plans from 19 carriers for 2026, and 72 of them have a $0 monthly plan premium (you still pay the Part B premium). Candor is appointed in San Diego 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.

Can I keep my doctor if I change Medicare plans in San Diego County?

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 San Diego County most often ask about Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, Sharp Community Medical Group, and Scripps Clinic. 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.

How much does a Medicare agent cost in San Diego County?

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 San Diego County and statewide.

When can I change my Medicare plan in San Diego County?

Most San Diego 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.

How do I get started with Medicare help in San Diego County?

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 San Diego 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.

Talk to a licensed advisor in San Diego County

Independent advice, free to you. We’re licensed in Florida and California.