SCAN Health Plan earns 4-star Medicare rating in California for 14th straight year

SCAN Health Plan said its largest California Medicare Advantage contract received a 4-star CMS rating for 2027, extending a 14-year streak at 4 stars or higher. The result comes as the nonprofit insurer expands into new markets, adds members and pushes a partnership strategy aimed at simplifying care for older adults.

Why it matters: - SCAN’s California rating signals sustained performance in Medicare Advantage, where CMS Star Ratings can influence enrollment, member choice and plan reputation. - The result is especially important for SCAN’s largest contract in its biggest market, California. - SCAN said 95% of its California members are enrolled in 4-star Medicare Advantage plans for 2027.

What happened: - SCAN Health Plan announced that its largest contract in California earned a 4-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for 2027. - The California contract has now earned 4 stars or higher for 14 consecutive years. - SCAN said the contract has reached 4 stars or higher 15 times in the 16-year history of the CMS Star Ratings program. - SCAN’s Fully Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan contract in California, the only one in the state, earned a 4.0-star rating for 2027. - SCAN’s Arizona and Nevada contracts received 3.5 stars. - SCAN’s Texas, New Mexico and Washington contracts were too new or did not have enough data to receive Star Ratings in 2027. - SCAN also said it has a 90% member satisfaction rating in California.

The details: - Dr. Sachin H. Jain, CEO of SCAN Group and SCAN Health Plan, said the 14-year streak shows quality and growth can advance together. - Karen Schulte, president of Medicare at SCAN Health Plan, said maintaining that level of quality requires discipline and focus on the member experience. - SCAN said its 2026 Annual Enrollment Period brought in 127,000 new members, a 40.6% increase in membership. - SCAN expanded into additional California counties and entered Oregon, with plans becoming available there effective Jan. 1, 2027. - SCAN is pursuing a partnership-driven strategy with healthcare organizations, providers and nationally recognized consumer brands to simplify the experience for older adults. - SCAN’s Brokers as Health Navigators program is designed to help brokers act as trusted advisors throughout the year, not just during enrollment. - SCAN ranks among the 10 largest Medicare Advantage plans nationally and is the No. 1 health plan in California outside Kaiser Permanente system plans. - SCAN said it remains nonprofit and reinvests in programs, partnerships and care models that support older adults.

Between the lines: - The rating gives SCAN a quality signal at the same time the company is scaling quickly, which can be hard to do without slipping on member experience. - SCAN is using partnerships, broker engagement and new care models to try to make Medicare Advantage less complicated for older adults. - The company’s messaging suggests it wants to compete on both quality scores and a broader consumer experience, not only on benefits design. - SCAN’s emphasis on its mission and nonprofit status positions the company as a contrast to more transactional Medicare Advantage offerings.

What’s next: - SCAN said it is approaching its 50th anniversary in 2027 and plans to keep expanding while raising expectations for what Medicare Advantage can deliver. - More members in existing and new markets will gain access to SCAN’s plans as the company continues its geographic expansion. - SCAN said it will continue building partnerships and programs aimed at improving navigation and care for older adults.

The bottom line: - SCAN is turning a long-running quality streak into a broader growth story, betting that strong CMS ratings, expansion and simplified member experiences will reinforce one another.