Welcome to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) Senior Information portal.  If you are a senior citizen, this page is especially for you.  Seniors today face an increasingly difficult time when making decisions about insurance.  Changing laws, more choices, and the threat of scams combine to make these decisions even more stressful.   The best way to make informed and safe decisions is to become familiar with the facts.  Browsing the links on this page will help you to do just that.  It may be helpful to review this information with someone you trust.  You may also contact the CDI with questions and concerns about insurance issues. Contact information is found at the bottom of this page. If you have a loved one who is a senior, if you are assisting a senior, or if you simply want the latest insurance information relevant to seniors, this site is also for you. The following pages are designed to educate, to provide resources for informed decisions, and to help protect seniors.  We hope that you will use them and that you find them to be helpful.

Scam Alerts

Hot Topics

CDI Calendar of Events

Senior Insurance Bill of Rights 

General Insurance Information 

Annuities

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Long Term Care (LTC)

Medi-Cal

Medicare

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Part D

Medigap

CDI Press Releases Related to Seniors

Other Resources for Seniors

Contact Information

File a Complaint

Hot Topics

• Stranger Owned Life Insurance 

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General Insurance Information

• Looking for Insurance?
• Glossary of Insurance Terms
• How to Choose a Policy - Information on life insurance, long term care insurance, health insurance, and annuities can be found under separate headings below. 
  • For information on automobile policies, click here. 
  • For information on residential property insurance, click here. 
• How to Choose an Agent or Broker - If you need to find a new agent or broker, it is wise to start by checking his or her license status.  You can do so by clicking here.
• Informing Seniors - Tips for dealing with insurance.

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Annuities

Annuities are being aggressively marketed to seniors, very often by those who do not have your best interests in mind. Annuities may not be a good choice for a senior. The following information is provided to help you decide if an annuity is right for you. Please also check back at the Scam Alerts section for updated information on annuities fraud.

• General Information 
• Should You Purchase an Annuity?  Things to Consider (English or Spanish)
• Seniors Guide to Annuities

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Health Insurance

This is the CDI portal for health insurance information. 

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Life Insurance

• Things to Consider

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Long-Term Care (LTC)

• Glossary of Terms
• What to Consider When Choosing a Plan
  • Steps to Choosing LTC
  • Reverse Mortgages and LTC
• The California Partnership for Long-Term Care is a program run by the State of California's Department of Health Services in cooperation with a select number of private insurance companies. These companies have agreed to offer high quality policies that must meet stringent requirements set by the Partnership and the State of California. To learn more about this program, click here. 
• LTC Resources
  • California Department of Insurance (CDI) - Long Term Care Rate & History Guide
  • Medicare - Long Term Care    
  • California Department of Health Services (CDHS), The Office of Long Term Care
  • NAIC Consumer Alert - Long Term Care Insurance Fact Sheet
  • Kaiser Family Foundation - Private Long Term Care Insurance: A Viable Option for Low and Middle-Income Seniors

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Medi-Cal

• Medi-Cal Resources 

Glossary of Terms (English or Spanish)

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Medicare Advantage

A Medicare Advantage plan (like a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)) is an alternative to fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare supplemental insurance policies (Medigap).

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Medicare Part D

• Medicare Part D Resources:
  • CalMedicare.org
  • My Medicare Matters
  • NAIC Consumer Alert (English or Spanish)
  • Medicare Part D has a program of assistance for certain low income individuals.  Please click "Extra Help" Information to find out more.
• Notice to Medicare Part D Plan Sponsors

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Medigap

Medicare is not a comprehensive health care program. A private Medigap policy is one option for supplementing Medicare coverage. Please browse the links below to explore your options in this area.

• Things to Consider
• 2007 Medicare Supplement Insurance Rate Comparison 
• Other Medigap Resources

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Other Resources for Seniors:

California Department of Corporations - Seniors Against Investment Fraud (SAIF)

California Department of Aging - The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program

State Bar of California - Seniors & the Law: A Guide For Maturing Californians

CalMedicare.Org

California Health Advocates

National Council on Aging - Benefits CheckUp

FirstGov for Seniors

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Contact Information

For contact information for all California Department of Insurance programs, please click CONTACT US.

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File a Complaint

You may file a complaint with the Department of Insurance. Here are some examples of the types of problems that you may submit to the Department:

1. Improper denial or delay in settlement of a claim.
2. Alleged illegal cancellation or termination of an insurance policy.
3. Alleged misrepresentation by an agent, broker, or solicitor.
4. Alleged theft of premiums paid to an agent, broker, or solicitor.
5. Problems concerning insurance premiums and rates.
6. Alleged improper handling of an escrow transaction by a title insurer or underwritten title company.

For more information on how to file a complaint, please click FILE A COMPLAINT.

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