The bottom line: SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage is highly rated and offers plans tailored to specific communities of people, such as women and LGBTQ+ older adults, but plans are available in only 22 counties across five states. Jump to: Full Review
SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
- High star ratings: SCAN Health Plan gets above-average star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2025.
- Low-cost plans: Most SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost is much lower than other major providers.
- Drug coverage: All SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.
- Tailored plans: SCAN offers plans targeted toward the needs of LGBTQ+ older adults as well as women. In 2025, SCAN is introducing the SCAN Allied HMO, designed for the needs of Asian American older adults.
Cons
- Limited availability: SCAN Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage plans in just five states: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.
- Only HMOs: SCAN Health Plan offers only HMO and HMO-POS plans, which generally provide the least flexibility when seeking medical care.
- Specialized plans are limited: SCAN’s plans for women, LGBTQ+ and Asian American older adults are available in only a few counties in California.
- Mediocre customer ratings: On average, member experience ratings for all SCAN Medicare Advantage plans, including customer service and getting needed care, fall below the average for major providers.
Compare against other providers
🔍 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans
Compare against other providers
🔍 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans
Our full review
Why trust NerdWallet
45+ Medicare companies and brands analyzed by our team of experts.
30+ years of combined experience covering Medicare and personal finance.
Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet’s Medicare content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in Medicare. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets. They have been cited in publications including Healthline, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast.
SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage star ratings
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.48
SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage plans are rated above the industry average, receiving an average rating of 4.48 stars out of 5 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2025, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers is 3.96.
CMS maintains star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans on a 5-point scale, ranking plans from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
You can find a plan’s rating with the Medicare plan finding tool.
What does SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage cost?
In 2025, nine out of 10 SCAN Health Plan standard Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage have a $0 premium. You'll also be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $185 per month in 2025.
(Most people pay this standard amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you'll pay the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). Some Medicare Advantage plans cover part or all of your Part B premium.)
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.
Here are examples of SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage costs for three plans in a mid-range city:
SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage plan | Pricing |
|---|---|
SCAN Classic (HMO) | Monthly premium: $0. Deductible: None. Out-of-pocket max: $1,500. Copays:
Dental allowance: No limit, many comprehensive services aren't covered. |
SCAN MyChoice (HMO) | Monthly premium: $0. Deductible: None. Out-of-pocket max: $1,500. Copays:
Dental allowance: $2,000. |
SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP) | Monthly premium: $0. Deductible: None. Out-of-pocket max: $1,500. Copays:
Dental allowance: $2,000. |
Selected plans are available in ZIP code 94536. *Inpatient hospital copay is per day for days 1-5. | |
| |
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan-finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only SCAN Health Plan plans or compare across carriers.
Available Medicare Advantage plans
SCAN Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans.
Plan offerings include the following types:
- HMO plans
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
- HMO-POS plans
HMO point of service (POS) plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but they’ll pay more for those services.
- SNPs
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. SCAN Health Plan offers three types of SNPs:
Chronic Condition SNP: Designed to meet the needs of members living with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and cardiovascular disease.
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Institutional SNP: For people living in a SCAN Health Plan network nursing home or assisted living community, or another plan-approved spot.
SCAN third-party ratings
J.D. Power Ranking
In its 2024 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study — the 10th it's done so far — J.D. Power measured member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans based on eight factors ranging from level of trust to how well a provider resolves problems or complaints. The study was fielded in the 10 biggest state Medicare markets. On these measures, SCAN Health Plan ranked third out of all major providers in California (the only state in which SCAN had enough market share to be considered).
SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage service area
SCAN Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage plans in five states: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.
SCAN Health Plan covers more than 300,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, adding 20,000 members for the 2025 plan year.
About SCAN Health Plan
Scan Health Plan is part of the SCAN Group, which began as the Senior Care Action Network — a not-for-profit that was founded in 1977 with the mission of keeping seniors healthy and independent. SCAN Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage plans.
SCAN Health Plan customer service
Here’s how SCAN Health Plan members can contact customer service:
Call a SCAN member services advocate at 800-559-3500 (TTY: 711). From Oct. 1 to March 31, services are open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. From April 1 to Sept. 30, services are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Compare Medicare Advantage providers
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself. Here are some questions to consider asking:
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
- Above-average star ratings from CMS.
- Plans targeted at women, LGBTQ+ and Asian American older adults.
- 92% of plans are $0-premium.
- Maximum out-of-pocket cost is lower than big providers.
- Available in only 5 states.
- Offers HMO plans only.
- Below-average member experience ratings.
- Specialized plans offered in only a few California counties.
Frequently asked questions
Is SCAN a PPO or HMO?
Is SCAN a PPO or HMO?
SCAN Health Plan offers only HMO and HMO-POS plans, which usually require you to get care from medical providers in the plan’s network. They may also require a referral from your primary doctor if you want to see a specialist.
What is the difference between Medicare and SCAN Medicare Advantage?
What is the difference between Medicare and SCAN Medicare Advantage?
Original Medicare is federal government-provided health insurance for people 65 and older and younger people with certain conditions or disabilities. SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Original Medicare, provided by a private insurer, that offers the same coverage as Original Medicare and includes prescription drug coverage.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2025 Landscape (202412) (ZIP). Accessed Apr 23, 2025.
- 2.J.D. Power. Regional Medicare Advantage Plans Have Higher Customer Satisfaction than Commercial Member Health Plans, J.D. Power Finds. Accessed Apr 23, 2025.
- 3.Chartis. Medicare Advantage market growth slows amid intensified headwinds. Accessed Apr 23, 2025.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies; in many places, one insurer serves more than half of the market. NerdWallet reviewed 26 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurers having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.) At the national level, these reviews include nine of the 10 largest brands by enrollment. At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in 47 of the 49 states that offer Medicare Advantage plans, and includes the top two insurers in 35 of those states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as pricing, plan availability by state, plan types available, consumer experience, extra benefits offered and more. These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans
Insurance company | CMS star rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(855) 821-0556 / TTY 711 Call UnitedHealthcarefrom UnitedHealthcare | |||||
3.95 | 3.95/5 | 49 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.41 (Average) | |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | |||||
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.63 | 3.63/5 | 48 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico | Low (49% or less) | 3.62 (Above average) |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | |||||
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.29 | 4.29/5 | 44 states and Washington, D.C. | High (85% to 100%) | 4.01 (Above average) |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | |||||
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.97 | 3.97/5 | 29 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.82 (Above average) |