Aetna PPO Plans Are Ending in San Diego for 2027: How to Keep Your Scripps or UC San Diego Health Doctors

If you have an Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO in San Diego County, you've probably gotten a letter this fall saying your plan won't be offered in 2027. For many people that letter hit hard. Their Aetna PPO was how they kept seeing their Scripps doctors, their UC San Diego Health doctors, or both.

I'm Ashley Watson, an independent Medicare broker here in San Diego. Here's what's changing, what it means if Scripps or UCSD is where you get your care, and how to decide before the deadlines.

What's ending

Aetna isn't leaving San Diego County. It is ending all of its individual Medicare Advantage PPO plans here on December 31, 2026, including:

• Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO)
• Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO)
• Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO), the medical-only plan many veterans use alongside VA drug coverage

Aetna's remaining San Diego County plans for 2027 are HMOs.

Not sure if your plan is ending? Check your mail. A letter saying your plan won't be offered next year is a non-renewal notice, and it means you need to choose new coverage. A booklet listing next year's changes is an Annual Notice of Change, and it means your plan continues. You can also read me the plan number on your member card (it starts with "H") and I'll tell you.

Why this matters for Scripps patients

In 2024, Scripps Clinic and Scripps Coastal doctors stopped accepting Medicare Advantage plans. Many patients kept their Scripps doctors anyway by using a PPO's out-of-network benefit. They paid a little more per visit but kept the doctor they trusted. Aetna's PPOs were one of the most common ways to do that.

With those PPOs gone, that workaround goes with them. Aetna's HMO plans won't cover Scripps.

Why this matters for UC San Diego Health patients

UC San Diego Health is a similar story. As of March 2026, UC San Diego Health's own primary care doctors are no longer in network for primary care with the standard Medicare Advantage HMOs in San Diego. Some HMOs let you see UCSD specialists with a referral. SCAN members can use certain UCSD-affiliated practices, such as Perlman Clinic and One Medical. But if you want a UC San Diego Health primary care doctor, an HMO won't get you there.

That's why so many UCSD patients chose a PPO. For people who see doctors at both Scripps and UCSD, the Aetna PPO was often the one plan that covered everyone.

Both Scripps and UC San Diego Health accept Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans.

Your options for 2027

Option 1: Original Medicare + a Medicare Supplement + a Part D drug plan

This is the most straightforward way to keep Scripps and UCSD doctors, including primary care. A Medicare Supplement works with any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare, with no networks and no referrals. The trade-off is a monthly premium that's usually higher than a Medicare Advantage plan's, plus a separate drug plan.

Normally in California, if you buy a Medicare Supplement after your first enrollment window, you have to answer health questions and can be turned down. Because Aetna discontinued your plan, you have a guaranteed-issue right. You can buy certain Supplement plans, including Plan G, with no health questions.

That window runs from 60 days before your coverage ends to 63 days after. For a December 31 end date, that's about November 1, 2026 through March 4, 2027. Keep your non-renewal letter, because it's your proof.

Don't forget drug coverage. Going without a Part D plan can mean a lifelong late penalty. You can estimate it with my Part D penalty calculator.

Option 2: A different Medicare Advantage plan

If your doctors are with Sharp or another medical group that works with Medicare Advantage, an HMO can mean low or $0 premiums and a yearly out-of-pocket cap. Just know what you'd give up. Scripps Clinic and Scripps Coastal doctors won't be in network on any Medicare Advantage plan, and UCSD primary care is very limited on HMOs. A few PPO plans remain in the county for 2027. Before relying on one to see Scripps or UCSD out of network, call the plan and the doctor's office to confirm the doctor will see you and what it will cost.

Option 3: Do nothing

On January 1 you'd have Original Medicare only: no drug coverage and no cap on your 20% share of costs. Please don't let this happen by accident.

Key dates

• October 15 - December 7, 2026: Annual Enrollment. Pick new coverage that starts January 1.
• November 1, 2026 - about March 4, 2027: Medicare Supplement with no health questions.
• December 31, 2026: Last day of your Aetna PPO.
• December 8, 2026 - February 28, 2027: Special Enrollment Period for people whose plan was discontinued. Coverage starts the first of the month after you enroll, so waiting can leave a gap.

My advice: decide by December 7 so your new coverage starts January 1 with no gap.

What to do this week

Find your Aetna letter. Write down your doctors, noting which are Scripps and which are UCSD, along with your medical group, your prescriptions, and your pharmacy. Then call me. I'll check your doctors and medications against your options and price a Medicare Supplement side by side with Medicare Advantage, so you can see the real numbers.

If you're a Sharp Health Plan member, see my post on Sharp Direct Advantage ending in 2027.

Frequently asked questions

Is Aetna leaving Medicare Advantage in San Diego?

No. Aetna will still offer HMO plans in San Diego County for 2027, but it is ending its individual PPO plans.

Can I keep my Scripps doctor with an Aetna HMO?

No. Scripps Clinic and Scripps Coastal doctors don't accept Medicare Advantage plans. Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement is the way to keep them.

Can I see a UC San Diego Health primary care doctor on a Medicare Advantage HMO?

Generally no. UCSD's own primary care doctors aren't in network for primary care on the standard Medicare Advantage HMOs here. Some HMOs allow UCSD specialists with a referral, and SCAN covers certain UCSD-affiliated practices. To keep a UCSD primary care doctor, most people need Original Medicare with a Supplement or a PPO with out-of-network benefits.

What if I see doctors at both Scripps and UCSD?

A Medicare Supplement is the simplest way to keep both, because it works with any doctor who accepts Medicare.

Do I have to answer health questions to get a Medicare Supplement?

Not if your plan was discontinued and you apply within your guaranteed-issue window, roughly November 1, 2026 to March 4, 2027 for a December 31 end date.

What if I miss December 7?

You still have a Special Enrollment Period through February 28, 2027, but your coverage won't start until the month after you enroll, so you could have a gap.

Call or text me at 619-947-2325. My help is free, I'm local, and I'll come to you.

Watson Insurance is an independent licensed insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sharp HealthCare, Sharp Health Plan, the federal Medicare program, or any government agency. Information is based on public reporting as of October 2026 and may change. Confirm details with your plan's official notice.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 75 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.