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Candor Medicare
Serving San Mateo County

2027 Medicare Advantage Plans in San Mateo County

Talk directly with Eric, a licensed independent Medicare broker. No call center. No cost to you, no pressure. We check your doctors and prescriptions before you pick. The Peninsula runs from Daly City and South San Francisco down through San Mateo and Burlingame to Redwood City and Menlo Park, and Medicare here turns on which hospital system your doctors are tied to. We help you compare plans around the care you actually use, independently and free to you.

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Licensed in California, CA license #4551902 · Independent · No cost to you

Eric Ullrich, licensed independent Medicare broker in San Mateo County
Eric UllrichLicensed independent Medicare broker

2027 plans

Talk with an independent Medicare agent for help in San Mateo County

Here’s what’s actually available this year, from the government’s published plan data. Eric, a licensed independent agent, can help you check your doctors and prescriptions against any of these plans, free to you.

26

Medicare Advantage plans in San Mateo County

16

Medicare Advantage plans with a $0 premium

11

insurance carriers to choose from

What Medicare Advantage plans are available in San Mateo County for 2027?

Which carriers offer plans in San Mateo County?

The carriers offering plans in this area, from the government’s published plan data. As an independent agency, we can work with multiple carriers, so we compare across carriers to find the options that fit your needs.

All 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in San Mateo County

Every 2027 Medicare Advantage plan available in San Mateo County, from the government’s published plan data, listed for comparison. As an independent agency, we can work with multiple carriers, so we can help you compare the full list and find the options that fit your needs.

Health Plan NamePremium Per MonthMOOPPart D DeductiblePlan ID
Aetna Medicare Eagle (HMO)
Aetna Medicare · HMO		$0$4,450No drug coverageH0523-099-0
Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (HMO)
Aetna Medicare · HMO		$0$3,600$400H0523-070-0
Anthem Medicare Advantage (HMO-POS)
Anthem Blue Cross · HMO-POS		$0$5,600$0H0544-096-0
Anthem Prime (HMO-POS)
Anthem Blue Cross Partnership Plan · HMO-POS		$0$1,200$395H4161-005-0
CCHP Senior Value Program (HMO)
CCHP (Chinese Community Health Plan) · HMO		$0$3,500$0H0571-007-0
Central Health Harmony 031 (HMO)
Alignment Health Plan · HMO		$0$3,400$0H3815-031-0
Imperial Courage Plan (HMO)
Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc. · HMO		$0$2,999No drug coverageH5496-016-0
Imperial Dynamic Plan (HMO)
Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc. · HMO		$0$295$0H5496-012-0
SCAN Allied (HMO)
SCAN Health Plan · HMO		$0$2,900$75H5425-118-0
SCAN Classic (HMO)
SCAN Health Plan · HMO		$0$2,000$450H5425-075-0
SCAN Costco Medicare Advantage (HMO)
SCAN Health Plan · HMO		$0$2,000$450H5425-139-0
Alignment Health Honor Plus 060 (HMO)
Alignment Health Plan · HMO		$7.30$9,850$700H3815-060-0
Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Basic San Mateo (HMO)
Kaiser Permanente · HMO		$28$6,000$0H0524-065-0
CCHP Senior Program (HMO)
CCHP (Chinese Community Health Plan) · HMO		$38$3,000$0H0571-001-0
Sutter Senior Advantage, a SCAN Medicare Plan (HMO)
SCAN Health Plan · HMO		$49$4,900$0H5425-148-0
Alignment Health Sutter Advantage +More (HMO)
Alignment Health Plan · HMO		$50$4,900$0H3815-023-0
Blue Shield Inspire (HMO)
Blue Shield of California · HMO		$60$4,300$475H0504-041-0
Kaiser Permanente Sr Adv Enhanced Marin San Mateo (HMO)
Kaiser Permanente · HMO		$97$3,900$0H0524-031-0

Special Needs Plans in San Mateo County

These plans have eligibility requirements, such as a qualifying chronic condition or having both Medicare and Medi-Cal, so not everyone can enroll.

Health Plan NamePremium Per MonthMOOPPart D DeductiblePlan ID
Imperial Senior Value (HMO C-SNP)
Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc. · HMO C-SNP		$0$295$0H5496-005-0
Kaiser Permanente Dual Complete North P22 (HMO D-SNP)
Kaiser Permanente · HMO D-SNP		$0$9,850$700H8794-022-0
Premier Care (HMO I-SNP)
Align Senior Care · HMO I-SNP		$0$1,900$50H3274-002-0
SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP)
SCAN Health Plan · HMO C-SNP		$0$1,900$450H5425-076-0
SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP)
SCAN Health Plan · HMO C-SNP		$0$9,850$450H5425-098-0
Imperial Flex (HMO C-SNP)
Imperial Health Plan of California, Inc. · HMO C-SNP		$2.70$9,850$450H5496-017-0
CareAdvantage (HMO D-SNP)
HEALTH PLAN OF SAN MATEO · HMO D-SNP		$7.30$9,850$700H6019-001-0
Senior Care (HMO I-SNP)
Align Senior Care · HMO I-SNP		$7.30$9,850$700H3274-001-0

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Plan availability, premiums, and star ratings are from the CMS 2027 Medicare plan landscape data (updated 2026-10-27). Beneficiary counts are from the CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment data (July 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.

Prefer to keep Original Medicare?

A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan lets you use any doctor who accepts Medicare, with no network. Compare California Medigap plans, including Plan G and Plan N.

See California Medigap plans

2027 update

Key 2027 plan changes affecting San Mateo County

Medicare plans are rebuilt every year, and 2027 is no exception in San Mateo County. Some plans left, most of the plans that stayed changed their costs, and the Part D rules moved for everyone. Here is what changed, from the government's published plan data.

What changed20262027
Medicare Advantage plans in San Mateo County3326
Carriers offering plans1211
$0 premium Medicare Advantage plans2416
Standalone Part D drug plans in California1210
Part D out-of-pocket cap (all plans)$2,100$2,400
Standard Part D deductible (up to)$615$700
Carrier changes for 202712 carriersLeft: Central Health
Continuing plans that changed premium, drug deductible, or out-of-pocket max21 continuing plans18 of 21 changed

What this means in San Mateo County

  • Central Health no longer offers Medicare Advantage plans in San Mateo County for 2027. If that is your plan, it does not renew. You need a new choice for January 1, and the Annual Enrollment Period ends December 7.
  • Even a plan that stays can change. For example, SCAN Classic: drug deductible $250 to $450, out-of-pocket max $1,500 to $2,000.
  • There are fewer $0 premium plans to choose from: 24 in 2026, 16 in 2027. A $0 premium is not the same as $0 cost, so check the deductible and out-of-pocket max before you switch.
  • SilverScript drug plans are not offered in California for 2027. If you have a SilverScript Part D plan, you will need a new drug plan for 2027.

On Original Medicare, drug coverage is a separate choice. See all 10 California Part D plans for 2027, with premiums, deductibles, and what changed this year.

Compare 2027 plans for your ZIPSchedule a Call

Free to use. Check your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll.

Source: CMS CY2026 and CY2027 Medicare plan landscape data. Plan counts use the same rules as the plan snapshot on this page. Part D counts are statewide, because stand-alone drug plans are offered region-wide. Many plans waive or reduce the standard Part D deductible, so check the plan you are considering.

Your care team

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

It’s the question I hear most, and the answer splits by the kind of coverage you choose. With Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy, there are no networks: you can keep any doctor who accepts Original Medicare patients. With Medicare Advantage, your doctors need to be in the plan’s network, and 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 Mateo County seniors ask about most. If Medicare Advantage is on your list, here’s how to check any of them against any plan. I don’t publish who takes what, networks change too fast.

The groups San Mateo County seniors ask about

  • Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) — Sutter Health’s large multi-specialty foundation, with care centers in Burlingame, San Mateo, San Carlos, and Daly City; its Mills-Peninsula Division is the employed-physician route to Mills-Peninsula Medical Center.
  • Mills-Peninsula Medical Group — a network of independent Peninsula physicians affiliated with Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame and the Mills Health Center campus in San Mateo.
  • Brown & Toland Physicians — one of the Bay Area’s largest IPAs, with hundreds of private-practice doctors across Peninsula neighborhoods; a common route to both Mills-Peninsula and Sequoia hospitals.
  • Hill Physicians Medical Group — Northern California’s largest IPA (6,000+ physicians), with a South San Mateo presence; many Redwood City and Peninsula specialists appear in plan directories under Hill.
Show 1 more group
  • Dignity Health Medical Group, Sequoia — Dignity Health’s multi-specialty group in Redwood City and Belmont, with primary care and a deep cardiology bench; paired with Sequoia Hospital.

For Medicare Advantage, participation varies plan to plan, even within one carrier. Always confirm with the plan’s directory and the doctor’s office.

Worth knowing: Sutter care on the Peninsula runs through two different physician organizations, the employed Palo Alto Medical Foundation (Mills-Peninsula Division) and the independent Mills-Peninsula Medical Group, and they are not interchangeable on a plan listing.

How to check before you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan

  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.

Bring your doctor list to a free consult — I’ll check it against every plan you’re considering. Or run the check yourself:

Schedule a CallExplore Plans

Which hospitals are in San Mateo County?

Map of hospitals serving San Mateo CountySeton Medical Center1Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center2Mills-Peninsula Medical Center3San Mateo Medical Center4Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center5Sequoia Hospital6
Approximate hospital locations in San Mateo County. Numbers match the list below.

Which hospitals matter most in San Mateo County?

  • Seton Medical Center · AHMC Healthcare (Daly City)
  • Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center · Kaiser Permanente (South San Francisco)
  • Mills-Peninsula Medical Center · Sutter Health (Burlingame)
  • San Mateo Medical Center (San Mateo)
  • Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center · Kaiser Permanente (Redwood City)
Show 1 more hospital
  • Sequoia Hospital · Dignity Health (Redwood City)

Extra benefits

Which 2027 plans in San Mateo County come with grocery or OTC cards?

Some 2027 Medicare Advantage plans add a prepaid benefit card on top of the medical coverage. Most of these cards pay for over-the-counter (OTC) products, the everyday health items you buy without a prescription. A smaller number also cover healthy groceries, and that grocery money usually sits on chronic-condition or dual-eligible plans, where it only reaches members who meet the plan’s requirements.

Three checks before a card influences your choice. Amounts are set by each plan, and most balances expire at the end of the month or quarter instead of rolling over. The card only works for the categories the plan lists, at participating retailers; it is not cash, and gasoline is not one of the standard categories. And a generous card on a plan that misses your doctors or prescriptions will still cost more over the year.

Top verified 2027 card amounts in San Mateo County

PlanCard amountWhat it coversWho gets it
Alignment Health Honor Plus (HMO)
H3815-060 · Alignment Health Plan		$97 per month for over-the-counter items, plus a $97 per month Essentials Allowance for qualifying members, no rolloverOver-the-counter products. The Essentials Allowance covers groceries, general support for living, and home safety, and cannot be used for tobacco or alcohol.Every member gets the over-the-counter amount. The Essentials Allowance is for members who meet the plan's requirements for the extra benefit.
SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP)
H5425-098 · SCAN Health Plan		$90 per month, no rolloverEligible over-the-counter and grocery items at select retailers, and utilities.Members of this chronic-condition plan who qualify for the extra benefit under the plan's requirements.
SCAN Costco Medicare Advantage (HMO)
H5425-139 · SCAN Health Plan		$115 per quarter, no rolloverEligible over-the-counter and grocery items at select retailers.Every member gets the card. The grocery part is a benefit for members with a qualifying chronic condition who meet the plan's requirements.
SCAN Allied (HMO)
H5425-118 · SCAN Health Plan		$90 per quarter, no rolloverOver-the-counter products and herbal supplements, plus eligible grocery items at select retailers.Every member gets the card. The grocery part is a benefit for members with a qualifying chronic condition who meet the plan's requirements.
SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP)
H5425-076 · SCAN Health Plan		$25 per month, no rolloverEligible over-the-counter and grocery items at select retailers.Members of this chronic-condition plan. The grocery part requires a qualifying chronic condition and meeting the plan's requirements; having the condition alone does not guarantee it.

Largest card amounts first; quarterly amounts are ranked by their monthly equivalent, and the amount shown is the plan’s own. A bigger card does not by itself make a plan the better fit.

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How it works

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

A licensed, independent advisor can compare the plans on this page with you, at no cost to you. Here is how it goes.

Compare side by side

We line up the plans that fit your ZIP code, with premiums and out-of-pocket costs next to each other.

Check doctors and drugs

We verify your doctors, prescriptions, and pharmacy against the exact plan before anything is picked.

Enroll, free to you

You enroll online or with us on a recorded call. The carrier pays the advisor, and your premium is the same either way.

Schedule a CallGet Started OnlineCompare plans first

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Questions

Medicare questions in San Mateo County

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

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

Candor Medicare is an independent Medicare agency serving San Mateo 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 Mateo County for 2027?

San Mateo County has 26 Medicare Advantage plans from 11 carriers for 2027, and 16 of them have a $0 monthly plan premium (you still pay the Part B premium). Candor is independent and can work with multiple carriers, so you can compare the options that fit your needs. 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 Mateo 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 Mateo County most often ask about Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF), Mills-Peninsula Medical Group, and Brown & Toland Physicians. 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 Mateo 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 Mateo County and statewide.

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

Most San Mateo 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.

What changed for Medicare plans in San Mateo County for 2027?

San Mateo County has 26 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, compared with 33 in 2026, and 16 of them have a $0 premium. Central Health no longer offers Medicare Advantage plans here. Standalone Part D plans in California go from 12 to 10 and the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises from $2,100 to $2,400. Even plans that continue can change premiums, deductibles, and cost limits, so check yours before December 7.

Which Medicare plans in San Mateo County include grocery or OTC cards for 2027?

Some 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in San Mateo County include a prepaid card for over-the-counter health products, and a smaller number also cover healthy groceries. Card amounts are set by each plan, and grocery money usually sits on chronic-condition or dual-eligible plans, where it only reaches members who meet the plan's requirements. The grocery and OTC section above lists the largest card amounts we have verified from the carriers' 2027 plan documents. Check your doctors and prescriptions first: a bigger card on a plan that misses either will cost more over the year.

How do I get started with Medicare help in San Mateo 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 Mateo 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.

Cities we serve in San Mateo County: We work with Medicare beneficiaries throughout San Mateo County, including Daly City, San Mateo, Redwood City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Pacifica, Burlingame, Foster City, and Menlo Park. Wherever you are in the county, every conversation happens by phone or video, no office visit required.

Worth reading if you live in California

California Birthday Rule

A 60-day window each year to switch Medigap plans without underwriting.

Leaving Kaiser

What changes when you move off Kaiser, and what to check before you do.

Talk to a licensed advisor in San Mateo County

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