SCAN Health Plan has been expanding its co-branded Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, including through a partnership with Walmart.
Walmart and SCAN are launching the SCAN Walmart Health Advantage HMO and SCAN Walmart Medicare Complete Chronic Special Needs Plan, also known as a C-SNP, according to an Oct. 7 news release. The plans will be available to eligible beneficiaries in six Texas and three Arizona counties.
About 2 million Medicare beneficiaries are expected to have access to the plans in those markets. Zack Myers, national general manager for SCAN Health Plan, told Becker’s these are counties in which SCAN currently operates.
“We will want to measure how well does this improve patient experience, how often are patients using our benefits, and the unique elements that come with the combination of SCAN and Walmart,” he said when asked about possible future expansion. “We’ll evaluate where it goes from there.”
According to KFF, C-SNP enrollment increased by 45% between 2025 and 2026, accounting for 20% of SNP enrollment. Walmart and SCAN’s C-SNP includes a $2,400 annual FlexEssentials allowance for some over-the-counter items and healthy foods, a special supplemental benefit for qualified chronically ill members.
“As our membership ages, health needs become more complex, and a one-size-fits-all plan doesn’t really allow us to address that,” Mr. Myers said.
Pravene Nath, MD, group director of consumer health and data solutions at Walmart U.S., said the retailer is “present where many of these health decisions are happening that are not in the doctor’s office,” such as in the store and with prescription or food delivery. According to Dr. Nath, 150 million Americans shop at Walmart each week.
Mr. Myers said the supplemental benefits “are entirely designed” around Walmart’s capabilities, citing access to vision care and over-the-counter benefits through the retailer. Like the HMO, the C-SNP offers up to a $350 vision allowance. The HMO has a $0 premium and up to a $780 FlexEssentials allowance.
Walmart previously partnered with UnitedHealthcare on a co-branded plan, but it ultimately wound down amid the retailer closing health centers and virtual care services. Dr. Nath told Becker’s the company has maintained a broker presence in its stores for the past decade.
“We’re really trying to build something new,” Dr. Nath said of Walmart’s work with SCAN.
One difference this time: Walmart Everyday Health Signals.
Announced in 2025, Walmart’s platform offers personalized guidance for healthier eating. Dr. Nath described Walmart Everyday Health Signals as “the digital rails” to help unpack the impact of daily health choices. The platform goes a step further with the SCAN partnership.
“In addition to the capabilities that happen in the day-to-day shopping moments for customers who opt in, SCAN’s care managers and other team members can use the information that a customer chooses to share to help navigate those kinds of healthy choices and bring context to the conversation that so often occurs, whether that’s ultimately about med adherence or transportation or something else,” Dr. Nath said. “It’s contextually relevant to those day-to-day decisions.”
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