SCAN and Costco Are Teaming Up: What Fresno Seniors Should Know
By Dr. Harman Virk, DO — Board‑Certified Internal Medicine, The Modern Medicine Group (Fresno, CA)
Medical disclaimer: This article is educational and not medical advice. If symptoms are severe, worsening, or you’re worried—seek urgent care or call 911.
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Quick Take
SCAN Health Plan and Costco announced an expanded Medicare partnership in August 2026. The goal is to make healthcare benefits easier for older adults to understand and use.
Possible future offerings may connect Medicare coverage with Costco pharmacy, over-the-counter products, vision, and hearing services. These details remain subject to regulatory review and approval.
Costco is already a preferred pharmacy for certain existing SCAN plans. Depending on the plan and medication, members may pay lower copays there.
SCAN currently offers 2026 Medicare Advantage coverage in Fresno County. That does not automatically mean a new Costco-linked product will be available in Fresno.
Do not choose a Medicare plan because of the brand alone. Your doctors, medical group, medications, hospital access, total costs, and plan rules matter more.
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Table of Contents
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1) What SCAN and Costco Announced
On August 18, 2026, SCAN Health Plan and Costco announced an expanded strategic partnership focused on older adults and Medicare.
SCAN is a not-for-profit Medicare Advantage organization that serves nearly 460,000 members across 33 counties in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, and Washington. Costco already provides services that many older adults use, including pharmacies, optical centers, hearing-aid centers, and everyday health products.
The organizations say they plan to develop a suite of senior-focused insurance
products over the coming years. Possible offerings may include:
A redesigned pharmacy experience
Medflex over-the-counter benefits
Vision services
Hearing and audiology services
Additional health and wellness support
Industry reporting has described an initial rollout involving Medicare Advantage products in two states and a Medicare Supplement plan in a third. However, the official announcement did not identify those states, counties, exact plan names, or a launch date.
The most important words in the announcement are “pending regulatory review and approval.” This is the beginning of a partnership — not a finalized plan brochure.
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2) What Is Already Available Today
The new Costco-linked insurance products are not the same thing as SCAN’s existing Medicare Advantage plans.
Costco Pharmacy
Costco already participates as a preferred pharmacy for certain SCAN plans. A preferred pharmacy may offer lower copays than a standard pharmacy, but the actual price
depends on:
Your specific SCAN plan
The medication
The drug tier
The quantity prescribed
Whether the pharmacy is preferred for that exact plan
SCAN also states that you do not need a Costco membership simply to use Costco Pharmacy.
Current SCAN Supplemental Benefits
Depending on the plan and county, SCAN’s 2026 plans may include benefits such as:
Prescription-drug coverage
Dental care
Routine vision care and eyewear allowances
Hearing services
Over-the-counter allowances
Fitness benefits
Transportation
Telehealth and behavioral-health services
Caregiver support
In-home or post-hospital assistance
Rewards for completing eligible healthy activities
Some plans may also include flexible allowances for approved OTC products, groceries, fitness items, or utilities. Certain benefits require a qualifying chronic condition or are available only through specific plans.
These are examples from SCAN’s current 2026 plans. They should not be presented as guaranteed benefits of a future Costco-linked product.
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3) What Has Not Been Confirmed
As of September 9, 2026, several details patients need for a real plan comparison have
not been publicly finalized:
Exact states and counties
Whether a new Costco-linked plan will be offered in Fresno County
Plan names and plan types
Monthly premiums
Medical or drug deductibles
Primary-care and specialist copays
Hospital and emergency-room costs
Maximum annual out-of-pocket limits
Provider and medical-group networks
Prescription formularies and drug tiers
Exact dental, vision, hearing, or OTC allowances
Complete enrollment and launch dates
CMS has said it expects to publish the finalized 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape in mid-to-late September. Patients should wait for official plan documents and Medicare Plan Finder information before making a decision.
If you receive a Costco- or SCAN-themed advertisement, read the exact plan name carefully. An advertisement about the partnership does not, by itself, prove that a new co-branded plan is available in your ZIP code.
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4) Why This Partnership Could Matter
Medicare Advantage benefits are not always easy to use. Patients may not know which pharmacy offers the lowest copay, where a vision allowance is accepted, or which products qualify for an OTC benefit.
Connecting health-plan benefits with services available through a familiar retailer could reduce some of that confusion. That convenience may be valuable, but it does not replace the basic questions every patient should ask before enrolling.
A familiar store does not guarantee that your physician is in network. A pharmacy discount does not guarantee that every medication is covered. A generous dental or OTC allowance does not tell you what a hospital stay could cost.
The plan still has to fit your actual healthcare.
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5) Six Questions to Ask Before Changing Plans
1. Are My Doctor and Medical Group in the Network?
Do not check only the physician’s name. With many HMO plans, the doctor must also participate through the correct medical group.
Confirm your primary-care physician, specialists, hospital, laboratory, imaging center, and urgent-care location with both the plan and the medical office.
2. Are All My Medications Covered — and at What Cost?
Every drug plan has its own formulary. For each prescription, check:
Whether it is covered
Its drug tier
The copay or coinsurance
Prior-authorization requirements
Quantity limits
Step-therapy requirements
The cost at your preferred pharmacy
A medication can be “covered” and still be expensive.
3. Is My Pharmacy Preferred?
A pharmacy can be in network without being preferred. If Costco is convenient, check the price there and compare it with other preferred pharmacies and mail-order options.
No pharmacy is automatically cheapest for every medication.
Related article: When Seniors Take Too Many Medications: A Fresno Family Guide.
4. What Will I Pay During a Difficult Medical Year?
Do not compare only the monthly premium. Review:
The medical deductible
The drug deductible
Primary-care and specialist copays
Lab and imaging costs
Outpatient procedure costs
Hospital and emergency-room copays
The maximum annual out-of-pocket limit
That maximum matters during a hospitalization, surgery, or other serious medical event.
5. What Are the Network and Authorization Rules?
Ask whether the plan is an HMO or PPO and whether you will need:
Referrals for specialists
Prior authorization for imaging, procedures, rehabilitation, or equipment
Approval for certain medications
In-network care for non-emergency services
If you are already receiving treatment, ask how a change could affect existing authorizations and scheduled care.
6. How Do the Extra Benefits Actually Work?
For every advertised benefit, ask:
How much is the allowance?
Is it monthly, quarterly, or yearly?
Does unused money roll over?
Which products or services qualify?
Which stores or providers participate?
Is a referral required?
Do I need a qualifying chronic condition?
Extra benefits help only when you qualify and can realistically use them.
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6) What to Bring Before You Switch
If you are seriously considering a Medicare plan change, gather:
Your Medicare card
Your current insurance card
Your Annual Notice of Change
A complete medication list, including inhalers, insulin, vitamins, and supplements
The names of your specialists
Your preferred hospital, laboratory, pharmacy, and imaging center
Information about scheduled procedures or ongoing treatments
The new plan’s Summary of Benefits
The new plan’s provider directory and drug formulary
Your physician cannot choose an insurance plan for you. However, your medical office can help confirm whether a specific plan is accepted and identify ways a change might affect continuity of care.
For free and objective Medicare counseling, California residents can contact HICAP — the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program — at 1-800-434-0222. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.
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7) Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enroll in a new Costco-SCAN Medicare plan right now?
No. The announcement is not an enrollment notice. The products remain subject to regulatory review, and their markets, benefits, and launch dates have not been finalized. Make decisions using plans officially available in your ZIP code.
Is SCAN available in Fresno County?
SCAN included Fresno County among its 2026 service areas. Availability still varies by ZIP code and plan, so confirm it through Medicare Plan Finder.
Do I need a Costco membership to use Costco Pharmacy?
No. SCAN states that a membership is not required to fill prescriptions at Costco Pharmacy. This does not confirm the rules for future Costco-linked insurance products.
Will every Costco-linked plan include pharmacy, OTC, vision, and hearing benefits?
That has not been confirmed. These are possible areas of development, subject to approval. Exact benefits and allowances may differ by plan and location.
Does the Costco name mean my doctor will be covered?
No. Provider access depends on the plan’s network and, in many HMO plans, the participating medical group. Always verify both before enrolling.
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Fresno CTA — The Modern Medicine Group
Open Enrollment is a good time to review your coverage — and an equally important time to review the healthcare you actually use.
Before changing plans, make sure the new coverage supports your medications, specialists, chronic-condition care, and upcoming treatment.
The Modern Medicine Group helps Fresno seniors manage medications, chronic conditions, preventive care, and follow-up needs. We can also confirm whether a specific insurance plan and medical group are accepted by our office.
Visit: 7053 N. Cedar Ave., Fresno, CA 93720
Phone: 559-369-7787
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