More than 1 in 6 Redlands residents, 17.7%, were 65 or older in the 2020 census, the highest share of the eight Inland Empire cities we cover. For Redlands residents 65 or older, the first decision is Medicare Advantage or Medigap. Luis Alvarenga compares both by phone, video, or an in-home visit by request.
What to know about Redlands before you compare Medicare plans
- Redlands is in San Bernardino County, incorporated December 3, 1888, with 73,168 residents in the 2020 census.
- In 2020, 17.7% of residents were 65 or older, about 13,000 people, and the median age was 37.9.
- Redlands Community Hospital is in the city, and Loma Linda University Medical Center is in neighboring Loma Linda.
- The University of Redlands is here, along with the A.K. Smiley Public Library (built 1898) and the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens (built 1897).
- Interstate 10 and State Route 210 serve the city.
- The Redlands Bowl hosts a long-running free outdoor concert series.
- Luis works from San Bernardino, roughly 7 miles northwest of Redlands.
Medicare Advantage or Medigap: the choice most Redlands households face
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan that has a network and a yearly out-of-pocket limit. Medigap sits on top of Original Medicare and has no network. The first often costs less each month. The second makes costs more predictable.
With a hospital in the city and a major medical center next door in Loma Linda, the first question to ask is which of your doctors and hospitals a plan includes. The side-by-side comparison shows where the two differ.
Annual Enrollment closes December 7
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, and any change takes effect January 1. Plans send their Annual Notice of Change by the end of September, so you may already have it. The enrollment guide lists what to check in it.
Luis reviews your current plan against what is newly available in your county at no cost, and replies to every request within 24 hours.
Planning ahead for final expenses
After Medicare, the next cost worth planning is a funeral. The National Funeral Directors Association reported a 2023 median of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial, before cemetery costs. The final expense guide explains how a $5,000 to $25,000 policy fits that gap.
How Luis works with Redlands clients
Luis Alvarenga is a licensed independent insurance agent (NPN #8756746) based in San Bernardino, roughly 7 miles northwest of Redlands. Redlands is a short drive east along Interstate 10, so a home visit is easy to schedule by request, and phone or video work anywhere in the city. Every request gets a reply within 24 hours, and every client gets a free annual policy review for as long as the policy is active.
Frequently asked questions
Which hospitals are in or next to Redlands?
Redlands Community Hospital is in the city, and Loma Linda University Medical Center is in neighboring Loma Linda. Whether a plan includes either depends on the plan's network.
When can a Redlands resident change Medicare plans?
During the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, with changes effective January 1. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you also get one change between January 1 and March 31.
Will a Redlands Medicare Advantage plan include Loma Linda doctors?
It depends on the plan. Ask the plan, and ask the doctor's office, whether they are in the network before you enroll. Luis checks your doctors against the plans he offers.
Population and age figures are from the 2020 US Census. Distances are straight-line estimates from downtown San Bernardino.