Close-up of prescription medication bottles, symbolizing access to Tier 6 select care drugs.
Close-up of prescription medication bottles, symbolizing access to Tier 6 select care drugs.

SCAN Health Plan Revolutionizes Medicare Advantage with Tier 6 Select Care Drugs and Enhanced Benefits

LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 2, 2023— SCAN Health Plan, a leading and rapidly expanding Medicare Advantage provider, is once again setting new standards in senior healthcare. Building on its commitment to offering tailored, needs-based products for older adults across California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and New Mexico, SCAN is rolling out groundbreaking benefits for 2024. These enhancements are specifically designed to significantly reduce, and in many instances eliminate, out-of-pocket expenses for crucial prescription medications, particularly through its innovative Scan Tier 6 Select Care Drugs program.

Beyond the comprehensive standard and supplemental benefits already available in select SCAN Medicare Advantage plans across 22 counties and five states, 2024 will bring even more value to members. Key improvements include:

  • Unprecedented Access to Brand-Name Drugs: Select plans will offer a $0 or just $11 copay (for a 30-day supply) on some of the most widely prescribed brand-name medications for heart disease and diabetes.* This scan tier 6 select care drugs initiative is a game-changer for affordability.
  • First-Ever Women-Centric Medicare Advantage Plan: SCAN is pioneering with the introduction of a Medicare Advantage plan uniquely designed to address the specific health and wellness needs of women.
  • Lower Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs: SCAN is further demonstrating its commitment to affordability by reducing Maximum Out of Pocket (MOOP) costs, with select plans seeing a decrease from $499 to an incredibly low $199.
  • New Chronic Special Needs Plan (C-SNP): A new multi-condition Chronic Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) will provide specialized care and support for individuals managing multiple chronic conditions.

“SCAN’s core mission is to listen to and address the evolving healthcare needs of older adults through our Medicare Advantage offerings,” stated Karen Schulte, president of Medicare for SCAN Health Plan. “In the face of rising living and healthcare costs, our 2024 benefits are strategically designed to ensure health and well-being remain both affordable and readily accessible for our members. Our scan tier 6 select care drugs program is a prime example of this commitment in action.”

Tier 6 Select Care Drugs: Brand-Name Medications at Affordable Prices

While the Biden administration’s efforts to negotiate drug prices for select brand-name medications in Medicare are underway, those changes are not expected to materialize until 2026. Recognizing the urgent need for immediate relief, SCAN has proactively taken action. In 2024, SCAN members will gain access to 13 essential brand-name drugs—six of which are included in the administration’s negotiation list—at significantly reduced costs of either $0 or $11* per month, depending on their specific plan. This scan tier 6 select care drugs program puts vital medications within reach now, not years from now.

Many of these scan tier 6 select care drugs are critical treatments for prevalent conditions such as stroke prevention, diabetes, and heart failure, where comparable generic alternatives are not available. Importantly, these prescriptions are accessible to SCAN members without the need for prior authorization, streamlining access to necessary medications.

SCAN’s comprehensive Tier 6 Select Care Drugs formulary includes:

  • Eliquis
  • Xarelto
  • Jardiance
  • Januvia
  • Farxiga
  • Entresto
  • Tradjenta
  • Janumet
  • Synjardy
  • Xigduo
  • Trijardy
  • Glyxambi
  • Jentadueto

Inspired: A Medicare Plan Designed By Women, For Women

Research highlights that a significant majority of women over 50 report experiencing regular discrimination and often feel their health concerns are minimized or dismissed within the healthcare system. Understanding these unique challenges and the specific healthcare journey of women as they age, SCAN is proud to introduce SCAN Inspired (HMO). This pioneering plan represents the first Medicare Advantage offering meticulously designed by women, specifically to cater to the healthcare needs of women.

SCAN Inspired will initially be available to residents of California’s Orange County and Los Angeles County.

Members of SCAN Inspired will benefit from the guidance of a dedicated Women’s Health Advocate. This specialized care professional will ensure members receive personalized care plans tailored to their individual needs and preferences. Further enhancing the plan are benefits including:

  • $0 copay for estrogen therapy
  • An expanded over-the-counter catalog with a focus on women’s health and wellness products
  • Access to high-end fitness facilities, boutique studios, and on-demand and livestreaming fitness programs specifically developed for women
  • Reimbursement for weight management programs
  • Curated health, wellness, and lifestyle events designed for women

Expansion and New Special Needs Plans

SCAN Affirm partnered with Included LGBTQ+ Health (HMO), launched in California’s Los Angeles and Riverside Counties in 2023 as the first plan dedicated to supporting the distinct healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ older adults, has seen remarkable growth, reaching nearly 1,000 members. Building on this success, SCAN Affirm will expand its service area to include San Diego, Orange, and San Francisco counties starting January 1, 2024.

Additionally, SCAN is launching SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP), a new Chronic Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) that will be available in 13 counties across California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas.

Current SCAN SNP members already receive valuable benefits such as:

  • $0 copays for all prescription drugs**
  • No-cost access to virtual behavioral health services
  • Unlimited transportation and in-home caregiving services in select plans

In 2024, SCAN’s existing Special Needs Plans (SNP) will further extend their reach:

  • SCAN Embrace (HMO I-SNP), California’s fastest-growing Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP), will expand into Arizona as a point-of-service plan, offering greater access to institutional care.
  • SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP), tailored for members managing diabetes, will be offered in California’s Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties, providing specialized diabetes care.
  • SCAN Heart First (HMO C-SNP), designed to support members with chronic heart failure and other cardiovascular disorders, will be available in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Stanislaus, and Santa Clara counties in California, focusing on comprehensive heart health.

While specific benefits and plan availability may vary by plan and county, all SCAN plans encompass essential coverage for doctor visits, preventive care, and hospital stays—often at a $0 cost in many plans. Furthermore, select SCAN plans include a range of valuable supplemental benefits, such as allowances for over-the-counter medications, gym memberships, acupuncture and chiropractic services, transportation assistance, and hearing aids, enhancing overall well-being.

The Annual Enrollment Period for selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for 2024 is from Oct. 15 to Dec. 07, 2023.

As of January 1, 2024, SCAN Health Plan will serve 13 counties in California, including Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, Alameda, San Mateo, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Fresno, Madera, and Santa Clara.

SCAN Health Plan (Nevada) will operate in Nye County and Clark County, Nevada.

SCAN Health Plan (Texas) will operate in Harris and Bexar Counties, Texas.

SCAN Health Plan (New Mexico) will operate in Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties, New Mexico.

SCAN Desert Health Plan will operate in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal Counties in Arizona.

For comprehensive details regarding plan benefits and enrollment, please visit www.scanhealthplan.com. Discover how SCAN’s tier 6 select care drugs and expanded benefits can enhance your healthcare in 2024.

*Copay/coinsurance may differ by plan/county and may change during the Coverage Gap stage. The Drug List is subject to modifications.

**Applicable only within the SCAN Connections (HMO D-SNP) plan. $0 copay for prescription drugs provided under the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) program.

###

About SCAN Health Plan

SCAN Health Plan stands as one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage organizations, dedicated to serving over 285,000 members across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas. Established in 1977, SCAN has remained steadfast in its mission to empower seniors to maintain their health and independence. Independence at Home, a SCAN community service, delivers crucial support services to seniors and their caregivers, irrespective of their plan membership. SCAN also actively engages in community enrichment through educational programs, funding initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and various community services. To explore more about SCAN, please visit www.thescangroup.org or follow SCAN on Twitter @scanhealthplan.

SCAN Media Contact: Seffrah Orlando [email protected] 562-508-6781

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *