While Major Carriers Pull Back, SCAN Is Betting on Medicare Advantage Growth

The Medicare Advantage market is changing quickly. Major national insurers have been reducing plan offerings, exiting certain markets, and placing greater emphasis on profitability as rising utilization and other pressures reshape the business.

SCAN Health Plan is taking a different approach.

In a recent Becker’s Payer Issues article, SCAN President and CEO Sachin Jain, MD, described the current healthcare environment as “wartime” while outlining why the organization continues to pursue growth at a time when many large Medicare Advantage carriers are pulling back.

For independent Medicare agents, that contrast is worth paying attention to.

SCAN Is Growing While Major Carriers Retrench

According to Becker’s, SCAN added 127,000 members during its most successful enrollment period in nearly 50 years, helping propel the organization into the top 10 largest Medicare Advantage plans in the country.

SCAN now serves nearly 460,000 members.

That growth comes at a time when several of the country’s largest Medicare Advantage organizations have been reducing product portfolios and exiting certain markets as they focus more heavily on profitability.

That does not mean every SCAN market or plan is expanding. Medicare Advantage remains highly local, and agents still need to evaluate plan availability, provider networks, benefits, formularies, and competitive positioning at the county level.

But from an agent distribution standpoint, SCAN’s willingness to invest and grow is notable.

Agents interested in the carrier can learn more about SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage opportunities available through PSM Brokerage.

The Costco Partnership Is Another Signal

SCAN also recently made headlines by announcing plans to offer jointly branded Medicare Advantage products with Costco in two states, along with a Medicare Supplement product in another.

We recently took a closer look at that announcement in Costco Is Entering Medicare: What It Could Mean for Independent Agents.

The Costco partnership is interesting not simply because of the brand involved, but because it represents another example of SCAN looking for new ways to compete, differentiate its products, and reach Medicare consumers.

It follows other specialized initiatives developed by SCAN in recent years, including plans designed for specific populations and provider-partnered plans with health systems.

For independent agents, these moves are worth watching.

What Should Medicare Agents Take From This?

One of the biggest lessons may be the importance of carrier diversification.

When a major insurer eliminates plans, reduces its service area, or changes its product strategy, agents who rely heavily on one or two carriers can suddenly find themselves with fewer options for clients.

A broader Medicare product portfolio gives agents more flexibility when:

• A carrier exits a county
• A plan is discontinued
• Benefits change significantly
• Provider networks change
• Prescription coverage changes
• A competitor introduces a stronger local product
• New carriers or products enter the market

No single Medicare Advantage carrier will be right for every beneficiary.

The goal is to have access to enough competitive options to properly evaluate what is available when a client’s circumstances—or the local market—changes.

In an MA environment where carrier strategies can shift substantially from one year to the next, that flexibility becomes increasingly valuable.

Carrier Strategy Matters More Than Ever

Agents understandably spend a lot of time comparing premiums, benefits, networks, and commissions.

But there is another factor worth watching: what direction is the carrier itself moving?

Is it investing in the Medicare Advantage market?

Is it expanding into new markets?

Is it developing new partnerships?

Is it introducing differentiated products?

Or is it actively reducing its footprint?

Those questions do not determine whether a particular plan is right for a client, but they can help agents think strategically about which carrier relationships they want to develop over the long term.

SCAN is clearly signaling that it intends to compete for growth.

For independent agents building their carrier portfolio, that makes the company worth watching.

Opportunity Favors the Prepared Agent

A changing Medicare Advantage market creates challenges, but it also creates opportunities.

When plans exit markets or benefits change, beneficiaries often need help understanding their options. When new carriers or products enter a market, agents who are already contracted, certified, and familiar with those products are in a better position to respond.

That means agents should be thinking beyond the next enrollment.

Review your carrier portfolio. Understand which companies are investing in your markets. Complete contracting and certifications early. Learn the products before demand arrives.

PSM also provides independent agents with free insurance agent training through the PSM Agent Academy, along with marketing resources designed specifically for insurance agents.

The more prepared your agency is, the easier it becomes to adapt when the market changes.

Interested in Adding SCAN to Your Portfolio?

PSM Brokerage works with SCAN Health Plan and helps independent Medicare agents navigate contracting, certification, onboarding, and ongoing support.

When you contract with SCAN through PSM, you gain access to more than a carrier appointment. PSM provides agents with experienced support, marketing resources, enrollment tools, training opportunities, and the infrastructure to help build a stronger Medicare business.

Get Contracted with SCAN Through PSM Brokerage

Explore current SCAN opportunities and see whether the carrier could be a strong addition to your Medicare Advantage portfolio.

Plan availability, benefits, service areas, and carrier appointments vary by market. Agents should verify current carrier and product availability before marketing or presenting Medicare Advantage plans.

Source

Jakob Emerson, Becker’s Payer Issues, August 20, 2026: “‘We’re in wartime’: As major insurers continue pulling back on Medicare Advantage, SCAN places another contrarian bet”