SCAN Health Plan and Sutter Health expand Medicare Advantage collaboration in Northern California

SCAN Health Plan and Sutter Health are expanding their Medicare Advantage collaboration in 2027 to four more Northern California counties, broadening coordinated care options for Medicare-eligible patients. The move brings co-branded plans to 10 counties total and adds more network access, benefits and member support.

Why it matters: - The expanded collaboration gives Medicare-eligible patients in Northern California more access to coordinated care, plan benefits and a connected provider network. - The move builds on a not-for-profit model focused on older adults, where smoother coverage and care coordination can affect affordability, navigation and outcomes. - Sutter Senior Advantage members in the new markets will gain access to a wider set of hospitals, doctors and supplemental benefits through a single co-branded offering.

What happened: - SCAN Health Plan and Sutter Health announced the next phase of their strategic collaboration on Oct. 6, 2026. - The co-branded SCAN and Sutter products will launch in San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Sonoma counties in 2027. - The plans are already available in Alameda, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Yolo counties. - The expansion brings the collaboration to 10 Northern California counties for Medicare-eligible patients.

The details: - Sutter Senior Advantage, a SCAN Medicare Plan (HMO), launched in 2026 and now serves more than 20,000 members. - The plans combine SCAN’s Medicare Advantage experience with Sutter’s clinical network. - Members can use Sutter hospitals, physicians, urgent care centers and specialty care services. - The benefit package includes $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescription drugs, subject to plan and pharmacy rules. - Members also receive $0 preventive dental coverage and routine vision allowances. - The plans include unlimited $0 virtual mental health visits. - Members with chronic conditions can access fixed-cost hearing aids. - The offering includes over-the-counter benefits for health and wellness items. - Members also get dedicated SCAN service advocates trained on Sutter’s system and care model. - The support package includes personalized onboarding and benefit education.

Between the lines: - The collaboration goes beyond a standard payer-provider relationship and is aimed at jointly shaping benefits, the patient experience and clinical care models. - SCAN and Sutter are positioning the partnership around older adults as the Medicare population grows in Northern California. - The partnership also reflects a broader push by both organizations to link coverage and care more tightly for members. - Both organizations are not-for-profit and community-based, which helps frame the effort as mission-driven as well as commercial.

What's next: - SCAN and Sutter said they will keep identifying opportunities in 2027 and beyond to shape benefits, patient experience and care models together. - The organizations plan to build a more connected Medicare Advantage experience centered on quality, affordability and changing older-adult needs. - Sutter Senior Advantage members should continue to see plan support tailored to navigating coverage and care.

The bottom line: - SCAN and Sutter are broadening a Medicare Advantage partnership that aims to make care easier to use, more connected and more comprehensive for older adults in Northern California.