➤ What is SCAN Health Plan?
SCAN Health Plan is a nonprofit Medicare Advantage carrier built specifically around older adults. For 2027 it operates in 38 counties across seven states — California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Washington and Oregon — with HMO plans, Special Needs Plans and a new co-branded Costco plan. It is not a national carrier.
➤ Is Costco offering Medicare Advantage plans in 2027?
Costco is offering Medicare Advantage plans for the 2027 plan year as a retail partner, not as an insurance company. The plan is underwritten and administered by SCAN Health Plan, and it is sold in 17 California counties and 2 Nevada counties. Costco’s role is where your benefit dollars go: members get FlexEssentials allowances for over-the-counter products and health food at Costco stores, plus a restructured pharmacy experience. You do not buy the plan from Costco, and Costco does not set your network, copays or drug coverage — SCAN does.
➤ What is the SCAN Costco Medicare Advantage plan?
It is a co-branded HMO Medicare Advantage plan from SCAN and Costco, new for the 2027 plan year and available in 17 California counties and 2 Nevada counties. Members receive FlexEssentials allowances that can be spent on over-the-counter products and health food at Costco stores, plus a restructured pharmacy experience through the retailer. You should weigh it against how convenient a Costco warehouse actually is for you.
➤ Do I need a Costco membership to join the plan?
Membership requirements for the Costco plan have not been fully detailed in the launch materials, so confirm this with the carrier or a licensed agent before enrolling. What is clear is that the value of the FlexEssentials allowance depends on being able to shop at a Costco warehouse conveniently. If you do not already shop there, the allowance is worth less to you than the headline suggests, and another plan may serve you better.
➤ What states does SCAN Health Plan cover?
California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Washington and Oregon — 38 counties in total. Oregon is new for 2027, entered through a partnership with The Springs Living. Because Medicare Advantage service areas are set county by county, being in one of those seven states does not mean SCAN is sold at your address.
➤ Is SCAN Health Plan expanding for 2027?
Yes. SCAN entered Oregon for 2027 and recently added Washington, while most of the industry is reducing service areas. It also added 127,000 new members for 2026, growth of roughly 41%. That combination of geographic expansion and membership growth during a contracting market is unusual.
➤ Does SCAN offer $0 copays?
On eligible plans, yes — $0 for primary care and a number of specialists, $0 for virtual urgent care and behavioral health visits, $0 on Tier 1 and Tier 2 medications, $0 preventive dental on certain plans, and $0 insulin on Special Needs Plans. Not every benefit appears on every plan and availability varies by county, so confirm what attaches to the specific plan sold where you live.
➤ Is SCAN Health Plan a nonprofit?
Yes. SCAN is a nonprofit Medicare Advantage organisation focused on older adults, rather than a general insurer with a Medicare division. In practice that shows up in where the money goes — more into removing copays at the point of care than into advertising a headline premium — though nonprofit status is no guarantee a given plan is right for your situation.
➤ Who delivers care for SCAN members?
SCAN works through partner medical groups rather than owning its own delivery network. For 2027 its partners include Astrana Health and CareMore Health. That makes verifying your own physician especially important — a medical group participating does not mean every doctor within it does.
➤ When can I enroll in a SCAN plan for 2027?
The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, with coverage beginning January 1, 2027. You can also enroll when first eligible for Medicare, or during a Special Enrollment Period if you move, lose other coverage, or your current plan is discontinued. People with both Medicare and Medicaid generally have additional opportunities to change plans during the year.
