The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) is an important opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries to adjust their coverage, especially as providers like UCSD Medical and Scripps hospitals in San Diego change their Medicare plan acceptance policies. If you’re impacted by these changes, this enrollment period is your chance to find a plan that works for your healthcare needs.

What is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. This period is specifically for those who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1. During this time, you have the following options:

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan. If your current plan’s network, coverage, or costs don’t suit your needs, you can explore other options.
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare. However, it’s important to note that returning to Original Medicare means you’ll only have 80% of your medical costs covered, leaving you responsible for the remaining 20%. Without additional coverage like a Medicare Supplement plan, these out-of-pocket costs can add up with larger medical bills.

This enrollment window is an opportunity to evaluate your healthcare plan and make changes to ensure you have the coverage that best meets your needs.

UCSD Medical: Accepting Some Medicare Advantage Plans

Starting January 2026, UCSD Medical in San Diego will no longer accept a wide range of Medicare Advantage plans. This adjustment has left many Medicare beneficiaries unable to see their preferred doctors or receive care at UCSD facilities. If this impacts you, it’s critical to use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period to find a plan that still works for your healthcare goals.

UCSD will only accept a narrower set of Medicare Advantage plans. Some of these will require you to select a PCP affiliated with UCSD (for example, at Perlman Clinic or One Medical) in order to retain access. In those cases, UCSD will still provide specialty care or hospital-level services if you follow the network rules (referrals, authorizations) and choose the right PCP arrangement.

–

January 14th 2026 Update
​On January 14th, SCAN members on SCAN Alta were notified that they will no longer be grandfathered into UCSD on the SCAN Alta plan effective March 1st 2026. These members were assigned new Primary Care Doctors at Regal Medical Group. Regal has some overlap with UCSD Health specialists, but to be clear, they are affiliated with all UCSD specialty departments including their hospitals.

Because we are currently in MA OEP, members who received this notification have the option to make changes. 

–

If I Am Currently On SCAN Alta, What Are My Options?

Option 1: Stay with Scan Alta – Switch to a primary care doctor at Regal Medical Group with “some overlap” with UCSD speciality department access… no guarantees on any specific UCSD Specialists.

Option 2: Move to Scan Select – This Advantage Plan has a Monthly Premium – You can switch to a Perlman Clinic Primary Care Doctor and go to ALL UCSD specialists, hospitals, ER urgent care and any UCSD facility.

Option 3: Move to a Supplement Plan: G or Plan F. Because you are losing access to your network of doctors, you now have a guaranteed issue opportunity to sign up for a Supplement (Medigap) Plan without needing to pass a health screening. Keep your current Primary Care doctor. This is the most expensive premium option but this gives you access to go to any doctor you want to without a referral at UCSD or even go back to Scripps.

–

A popular solution for access to UCSD has been the SCAN Advantage Plans offered through SCAN Health Plan. 

HealthyMarks Medicare can help you navigate this process by finding a Medicare Advantage plan that offers strong coverage and access to providers that are still in-network. This is your opportunity to ensure uninterrupted care.

Scripps Hospitals: Supplement Plans Only

Scripps Health made a major shift that’s now in full effect: Scripps no longer accepts Medicare Advantage plans for access to its core provider networks. This includes both HMO and PPO Advantage plans.

Scripps will continue to accept Original Medicare + a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan paired with Part D drug coverage.

This policy means the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period cannot be used to switch to a Supplement plan for Scripps access. That must happen through other eligibility windows, like guaranteed issue rights or specific SEP circumstances.

Updated information regarding accessing Scripps while on Medicare can be found here: The Scripps page of our HealthyMarks website

HealthyMarks Medicare Can Help

Navigating Medicare changes, especially at major providers like UCSD and Scripps, can feel challenging, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. At HealthyMarks Medicare, we specialize in helping you find the right plan for your needs. Whether you’ve lost access to UCSD, need a solution beyond Scripps, or want better coverage overall, we’re here to help.

Get Started Today

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 to March 31, 2026. Don’t miss this opportunity to switch plans and get the coverage you need. Contact HealthyMarks Medicare for a free consultation We’ll help you review your options, compare plans, and find one that meets your needs.

Reach out to HealthyMarks Medicare today to secure your healthcare coverage for 2026.