Medicare and Palomar Health

Palomar Health is the primary hospital system for inland North County San Diego, with medical centers in Escondido and Poway and outpatient care across the surrounding communities. If Palomar is your local system, the question that matters as you approach 65 is: "Will my Medicare let me keep going to Palomar?"

Original Medicare and Medigap

Palomar accepts Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), and because a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan doesn't use networks, it lets you continue seeing Palomar doctors and using Palomar hospitals as long as they accept Medicare — no referral needed to stay in-network. If you also want the freedom to reach coastal systems like Scripps or UC San Diego Health for specialty care, Medigap generally gives you the widest access across all of them.

Medicare Advantage

Palomar Health participates in some Medicare Advantage networks but not others, and the plans it accepts have changed more than once in recent years — a plan that included Palomar before may not now. Original Medicare with a Medigap plan offers the most stable access to Palomar facilities, while Advantage can still be a good fit for many inland North County residents if you confirm current participation first. These recent changes make it especially important to confirm Palomar's current participation before you enroll or renew.

How to confirm your Palomar access

Because Palomar's accepted plans have shifted recently, don't assume last year's answer still holds. Before choosing or changing a plan, confirm current participation for your primary care doctor, any specialists you see, and the Palomar hospital you'd use. You can check with the plan directly — or, given how often this has changed, reach out to me and I'll verify your specific plan and doctors for you. There's no cost to you, since brokers are compensated by the carriers.

Comparing systems? See our overview of San Diego hospitals and Medicare to understand how coverage works across San Diego's major hospital systems.

Comparing North County hospitals? See how Tri-City Medical Center works with Medicare — Tri-City serves Oceanside, Vista, and Carlsbad, making it a useful comparison if you live along the coast or use both North County systems.

Serving Palomar Health communities

Palomar Health's primary service area covers inland North County — Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Poway, and the surrounding communities. If you live near a Palomar facility and want to confirm your Medicare coverage works with your local doctors and hospital, visit your city's page for local guidance:

• Medicare broker serving Escondido — home of Palomar Medical Center Escondido, Palomar Health's flagship hospital.
• Medicare broker serving Poway — home of Palomar Medical Center Poway and a key Palomar Health community.
• Medicare broker serving Vista — Vista residents often use Palomar Health facilities and Palomar-affiliated medical groups for their care.
• Medicare broker serving San Marcos — San Marcos has a large senior population and strong ties to Palomar Health through Graybill Medical Group and Palomar Medical Center.

Serving inland North County, on your schedule

I'm a mobile, come-to-you Medicare broker serving Escondido, San Marcos, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, and the surrounding communities. If you want to make sure your Medicare works with Palomar, call my office 7 days a week, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Medicare with Ashley — (619) 947-2325

Frequently asked questions

Does Palomar Health accept Medicare?

Yes. Palomar accepts Original Medicare, and a Medigap plan lets you see Palomar providers who accept Medicare.

Have Palomar's accepted insurance plans changed recently?

Yes. The Medicare Advantage plans Palomar accepts have changed more than once in recent years, so it's important to confirm current participation for your specific plan before enrolling or renewing.

Does Palomar accept Medicare Advantage plans?

Palomar participates in some Medicare Advantage networks but not others, and this has changed recently. Confirm your specific plan before enrolling.

Is there a cost to have you review my options?

No. Independent brokers are paid by the carriers, so there's no charge to you.