If you currently receive care through UC San Diego Health and you’re approaching Medicare eligibility, one of the most important questions you may have is:
Can I keep my UCSD doctor when I go on Medicare?
In many cases, the answer is yes — but the type of Medicare coverage you choose matters.
UC San Diego Health accepts Original Medicare, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans, and certain Medicare Advantage plans. However, Medicare Advantage networks and referral requirements can be more complicated, and UCSD’s participation with specific plans can change from year to year.
If keeping your UC San Diego Health doctors is a priority, it’s important to consider that before enrolling in a Medicare plan.
Does UC San Diego Health Accept Original Medicare?
Yes. UC San Diego Health accepts Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B).
With Original Medicare, you generally have the freedom to see doctors and hospitals throughout the country that accept Medicare. You aren’t limited to a Medicare Advantage HMO provider network.
For someone who already receives care from UCSD doctors and wants to maintain broad access to UC San Diego Health, Original Medicare can provide considerable flexibility.
Many people with Original Medicare also purchase a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan and a separate Part D prescription drug plan.
Does UCSD Accept Medicare Supplement Plans?
Yes. UC San Diego Health states that it accepts all Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans, although it recommends confirming your individual coverage because there can be rare exceptions involving plans with restricted provider networks.
This is an important distinction between Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans.
A Medicare Supplement typically doesn’t create its own traditional network of doctors. Instead, it works alongside Original Medicare.
That means if a provider accepts Original Medicare, you can generally use your Medicare Supplement there as well.
For someone whose priority is maintaining access to UC San Diego Health doctors, specialists and hospitals, Original Medicare combined with a Medicare Supplement can be an attractive option.
What About Medicare Advantage and UCSD?
This is where things become more complicated.
Medicare Advantage plans operate differently from Medicare Supplements. Medicare Advantage plans may use provider networks, medical groups, referrals and prior authorizations to determine where you can receive care. UC San Diego Health participates with some Medicare Advantage plans, but access varies considerably depending on the specific plan.
Some plans may provide access to UCSD specialists but not UCSD primary care physicians. Others may require referrals or authorization before you can receive specialty care at UCSD. For that reason, simply seeing the name of an insurance company on a list isn’t enough.
You need to verify the specific Medicare Advantage plan, your doctor, medical group and type of care you need before enrolling.
UCSD Medicare Advantage Changes for 2026
There have been significant changes to Medicare Advantage access at UC San Diego Health for 2026.
For example, UC San Diego Health states that it is no longer contracted with Humana Medicare Advantage for primary or specialty care beginning January 1, 2026. UCSD also reports that UnitedHealthcare’s AARP Medicare Advantage PPO and Blue Shield’s Medicare Advantage PPO are no longer offered in San Diego County for 2026.
UCSD currently states that there are no Medicare Advantage PPO plans offered in San Diego County for which UC San Diego Health is in-network, although certain PPO plans may provide out-of-network benefits that can potentially be used at UCSD. This is a good example of why Medicare beneficiaries shouldn’t assume that a plan that worked with their doctors last year will necessarily work the same way next year.
Does UCSD Accept SCAN Medicare Advantage?
UC San Diego Health does participate with certain SCAN Medicare Advantage HMO arrangements, but there are important limitations.
For 2026, UCSD states that its traditional SCAN Medicare Advantage HMO plans may provide access to UCSD specialty services with the appropriate referral and authorization, but new primary care access is restricted.
UCSD also participates with SCAN Select HMO, where primary care access is through certain UC San Diego Health affiliated groups, including groups such as Perlman Clinic and One Medical.
Beginning March 1, 2026, SCAN also changed access to UC San Diego Health primary care physicians under certain SCAN HMO arrangements.
Because these details can change, it’s especially important to verify your individual doctor and medical group before enrolling in a SCAN plan specifically to maintain UCSD access.
Your Primary Care Doctor and Medical Group Matter
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of Medicare Advantage.
Having a doctor who is “affiliated with UCSD” doesn’t necessarily mean that every Medicare Advantage plan will give you unrestricted access to the entire UC San Diego Health system. Your primary care physician, medical group/IPA, Medicare Advantage plan and referral requirements can all affect where you receive specialty and hospital care.
Two people enrolled with the same insurance company could potentially have different access depending on their specific plan and medical group.
That’s why I look beyond the insurance company’s name when helping clients compare their Medicare options.
What If I See Multiple UCSD Specialists?
This is particularly important for people who receive ongoing specialty care through UC San Diego Health.
UCSD includes major specialty facilities and programs such as:
- Jacobs Medical Center
- Moores Cancer Center
- Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center
- Shiley Eye Institute
- UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest
If you’re seeing multiple UCSD specialists, maintaining access to those physicians may be more important than simply choosing the Medicare plan with the lowest premium or the most extra benefits.
Before changing coverage, it’s important to check each physician and facility you want to continue using.
Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage for UCSD Patients
Neither option is automatically right for everyone.
Original Medicare + Medicare Supplement
This combination generally provides the greatest flexibility for accessing providers that accept Medicare, including UC San Diego Health. Depending on the Medigap plan you choose, you may also have much more predictable medical expenses. You’ll generally pay a separate monthly premium for your Medicare Supplement and will usually need a separate Part D prescription drug plan.
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage plans may have low or even $0 additional monthly premiums and often include benefits such as dental, vision, hearing or other extras. However, provider networks become much more important.
If maintaining access to UC San Diego Health is one of your top priorities, you’ll want to verify your doctors and medical group carefully before enrolling.
Can I Change Medicare Plans Later If I Lose Access to UCSD?
Possibly, but your options depend on the circumstances and time of year.
Medicare has specific enrollment periods during which you can change Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage. Certain situations can also create a Special Enrollment Period.
There’s another consideration if you want to move from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement.
Outside of certain guaranteed-issue situations, you may have to answer health questions to qualify for a Medicare Supplement in California. California does have protections such as the Medicare Supplement Birthday Rule for people who already have Medigap coverage, but that doesn’t mean everyone can move from Medicare Advantage to a Medicare Supplement without medical underwriting.
That’s one reason it’s worth thinking about your long-term provider preferences when you’re first choosing Medicare coverage.
What If I’m Turning 65 and Already Have a UCSD Doctor?
This is actually an ideal time to review your options.
Before enrolling in a Medicare plan, make a list of:
- Your UCSD primary care physician
- Specialists you currently see
- Hospitals and medical facilities you prefer
- Prescription medications and dosages
- Your preferred pharmacy
I can use that information to compare your Medicare options while keeping your existing doctors and prescriptions at the center of the decision.
It’s much better to do this before enrolling than to discover afterward that your new Medicare Advantage plan doesn’t provide the access you expected.
So, Can You Keep Your UCSD Doctor on Medicare?
In many cases, yes.
UC San Diego Health accepts Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans. Access through Medicare Advantage depends much more heavily on your specific plan, medical group, physician and referral requirements.
If keeping your UCSD doctors is important to you, don’t choose a Medicare plan based solely on premium, dental benefits, advertisements or the insurance company’s name.
Check your doctors first.
As an independent Medicare broker serving San Diego County, I help clients compare Medicare plans based on the doctors they want to keep, their prescriptions and their individual healthcare needs.
If you’re turning 65, retiring, moving to San Diego, or simply trying to figure out which Medicare options will allow you to continue receiving care through UC San Diego Health, I’m happy to help.
Contact San Diego Medicare Broker to review your Medicare options and determine which choices may allow you to continue seeing your UCSD doctors.
Medicare plan networks, provider participation and benefits can change. Always verify that your individual physicians, medical groups and facilities participate with a plan before enrolling.