Starting in January 1st 2026, UC San Diego Health (UCSD) is making notable changes to how it accepts Medicare Advantage (Part C) Plans. While the shift is not as sweeping as what Scripps did, it signals the same shift in the San Diego Medicare market: major hospitals are limiting what plans they will accept and encouraging our community to select Supplement Plans. There are key differences that Medicare beneficiaries need to understand. Below is a breakdown of the new landscape and what you can do about it.
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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.
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What Changes are Coming to Medicare Beneficiaries at UCSD Health in 2026?
All Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans are still accepted at UCSD Health
If you switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare plus a Supplement (Medigap) Plan, UCSD will continue to accept those Supplement Plans. They already accepted Supplements prior to these changes.
A Small Number of Advantage Plans Will Allow Specialist Visits and UCSD Health Hospital Access
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.
A popular solution with 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.
What Does This Mean for UCSD Health Medicare Patients
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If your current Advantage Plan is no longer accepted, you might lose access to your favorite UCSD physicians or hospital services unless you switch plans or convert to Original Medicare and a Supplement.
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If you remain in an Advantage Plan that requires you to use an outside PCP (e.g. Perlman Clinic or One Medical) in order to access UCSD, that means more coordination and careful referrals.
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Always check with UCSD and your plan to verify whether your specific contract is accepted. UCSD maintains a list of accepted plans and encourages calls to their Medicare plan helpline.
Use Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Windows wisely
During Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment (Oct 15 – Dec 7) and the Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – March 31), you have multiple opportunities to switch plans.
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Consider moving to Original Medicare with a Supplement Plan
This gives you broader flexibility with providers, including full access to UCSD and Scripps. -
Talk to a San Diego Medicare Team like HealthyMarks Medicare
Changes like this can be confusing. A Medicare broker (like HealthyMarks) can help you understand which plans maintain UCSD access, whether the PCP requirement fits your lifestyle, and whether you should switch now or later.
Why Work with HealthyMarks Medicare?
At HealthyMarks, we specialize in guiding Medicare beneficiaries through transitions like these. We can help you:
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Compare Medicare Advantage Plans that still provide UCSD access
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Evaluate the costs and benefits of switching to a Supplement
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Understand your PCP, referral, and authorization responsibilities
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Make sure you’re covered without losing access to UCSD’s facilities and specialists
If you’d like assistance in navigating this, don’t hesitate to reach out to HealthyMarks. We’re here to help you preserve the care you need, with minimal disruption.
Keaton Marks is the owner and CEO at HealthyMarks including the medicare team. Keaton was born and raised in Encinitas. He often rode his bike through town and to the local beaches like Moonlight. Keaton knows it is important to have a local resource, someone who understands the area, the hospitals and networks of doctors. Keaton is proud to be a local Medicare broker who is able to assist the people in his town when selecting medicare plans.
Keaton believes one thing above all else: “Medicare is confusing… but it doesn’t have to be! That is where HealthyMarks Medicare comes in” Please contact me with any questions.
I am currently a Scan Alta HMO member at UCSD
I want to go back to Original Medicare, purchase a medi-gap and Part D policy
I am subject to Med-Gap insurance underwriting?
Thanks for the interesting comment Clarence. A lot of SCAN and Humana members are looking to go to a Supplement (Medi-Gap) plan this Open Enrollment. There are a couple of insurance carriers that are more likely to accept you without a medical underwriting. We’d be happy to look at it with you.
Scan alta just notified me I can no longer see my primary Dr at UCSD. Please help me find a plan that will
Hi Mary. We can help. Our team just sent you a message. Thank you.
Hello Keaton:
I’m 68 yrs old and for the last two years able to use a UHC PPO which gave me great latitude in PCP, doctors and surgeons I could visit. I found the biggest perk was being able to see PCP doctors at the UCSD clinic on Encinitas Blvd that was five minutes away my home. But it appears by all accounts UCSD is navigating away from these plans. I’ve found one Aetna PPO that might help me stay with them, otherwise I’m back out on the open marketplace. Would certainly welcome any information or assistance finding proper coverage for 2026. Thanks
Hi James, Thank you for your comment. I don’t believe the Aetna PPO is going to offer you the same benefits at UCSD as you are used to with your current UHC PPO. Take a look at the information on UCSD’s page here: https://health.ucsd.edu/insurance-billing/accepted-health-plans/medicare/
You’ll see that UCSD accepts this plan as “out of network”. This is certainly an option but your costs at UCSD may increase dramatically in 2026. I suggest you have a call with my wife, Alexa, who is helping a ton of members find a new solution for next year.
Hi, I’m considering contacting you for assistance with switching from my Humana Medicare Advantage Plan with UCSD (Hillcrest mainly) to Original Medicare and a Supplement Plan. I’ve been with UCSD doctors and specialists for over 20 years and don’t want to lose access to them and their new facilities. I am also within walking distance to their Hillcrest facilities (though I do drive there), and am really heartbroken at the thought of losing my relationships with these excellent doctors. I see which Medigap plans you’ve recommended as Supplement Plans and do need to learn much more about what they cover, and how the costs may reduce my Medicare Part B premium, as I am low income and cannot afford to spend more on top of what is already deducted from my SSDI. Also not sure if any of the Medigap Plans offer a gym membership or not, like SilverSneakers.
Thank you for your message. Sadly, to continue accessing UCSD you’ll likely need a Supplement Plan. These Supplement Plans are great plans but they are often more expensive than what people are used to on an Advantage Plan. Medigap (Supplement) Plans absolutely do have gym memberships and many have the SilverSneakers benefit. Let me know how we can help with your decision. Thank you
I’m a Scan Alta member, and was just notified that UCSD is dropping the plan as of March 1,and I’ll be switching to a Perlman Clinic, and hopefully won’t have the problems with appointments like I did at UCSD.
Hi Sue. It is frustrating UCSD is making these changes… especially since we all just renewed our plans for the new year.
Unfortunately, today our SCAN Alta members who currently have Perlman Clinic Primary Doctors have also received calls today letting us know Perlman Clinic is dropping the plan also! It looks like our newest best option is to move to a SCAN Select Plan. These plans offer access to Perlman Clinic and One Medical with referrals to UCSD.
The SCAN Select Plan isn’t the same price as the SCAN Alta plan. If you’d like to keep your SCAN Alta plan, you can find a new primary doctor at Regal Medical Group.