California Health News

Medicare Advantage plans by county and state for 2016

Every year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) produces spreadsheets with mountains of data on Medicare Advantage medical plans and the Part D Prescription drug plans. In addition to a detailed review of Medicare Advantage Star Ratings and the forty-seven different measurements, CMS also catalogs all the available MA-PDs and PDPs in what are called Landscape Source files.

The 2016 Landscape Source File for Medicare Advantage plans lists all of the available plans by

It includes plans under sanction as of September 9, 2015.  PACE, Special Needs Plans, Part B Only Plans, and Employer  sponsored plans (800 series) are excluded.  Medicare/Medicaid plans are shown in a separate Landscape file.

While the spreadsheet is not a substitute for a side by side comparison of plans, that can be done at Medicare.gov, it at least shows people all the plans in their county that they may eligible to enroll in during the Annual Election Period for 2016.

To download the 2016 Landscape Source File for MA plans and see a list of MA-PD plans offered by county in California visit

Prescription Drug Plans

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans are offered statewide and not county specific like the Medicare Advantage health plans. The PDP Landscape Source File will give information on

Notes: Data are subject to change as contracts are finalized.  For 2016, enhanced alternative plans may offer additional cost sharing reductions in the gap on a sub-set of the formulary drugs, beyond the standard Part D benefit.

To download the complete list of Part D Prescription Drug Plan by state visit