Central Health Medicare Plan Changing for 2027? A San Diego Guide for Members — Including Everyone Who Still Misses Brand New Day

If you're on a Central Health Medicare Plan and your Annual Notice of Change just landed — or you've started searching to find out what's happening with your plan for next year — you're in the right place. Take a breath. Whatever your notice says, you have options, you have protections, and you have time to make a good decision.

I'm Ashley Watson, a licensed independent Medicare broker here in San Diego County. I've helped many local seniors through plan changes, including members of the plans that became Central Health. And if you're someone who still talks about how good things were back when you had Brand New Day — you are not alone, and this guide is especially for you.

Remember Brand New Day? Here's how we got here.

If you loved Brand New Day, you have a lot of company. For more than 35 years, Brand New Day built a fiercely loyal following across California — especially among people managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure, or COPD, and among dual-eligible members who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal. It grew into one of the largest chronic-condition Special Needs Plan providers in the entire country, and members loved it for the generous extras — including Part B givebacks that put real money back in their pockets — and for a kind of personal, hands-on care that made people feel genuinely looked after.

So if the plan you have today doesn't feel like the one you fell in love with, that feeling is valid. Here's the timeline that got us here, because a lot of members are understandably confused:

• Brand New Day and Central Health Plan were both California Medicare Advantage plans owned by the same parent company, Bright Health.
• In January 2024, Molina Healthcare acquired both plans.
• For plan year 2025, Brand New Day was consolidated into Central Health Medicare Plan — which is why so many longtime Brand New Day members found themselves on a Central Health plan.

Here's the most important thing to hold onto: Medicare plans reset every single January. Benefits, networks, and costs are redrawn each year — that's true of every plan and every carrier. Which means you are never locked in. Every fall you get to look at what's changed and decide whether it still fits your life. If it doesn't, you can move — and I can help you do it with no drama and no cost.

Did your Central Health plan change for next year?

Every fall, usually in September, your plan mails you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). It spells out exactly how your specific plan is changing for the coming year — premium, copays, prescription coverage, extra benefits, provider network, and in some cases whether the plan will be offered at all.

Read it carefully, and don't throw it away. If your ANOC tells you your plan won't be available next year, or that it's changing in a way that no longer works for you, you have the right to choose something new — and depending on your situation, special protections that make switching easier than usual. The date and wording in that letter can determine which rights you qualify for. If the notice is confusing, send it my way and I'll tell you in plain English what it means for you.

Can I find a plan like the one I had?

Often, yes — the trick is to start from what mattered most to you, then find the plan that comes closest. When members tell me what they loved about Brand New Day or their Central Health plan, it almost always comes down to a few things:

• Their doctors. Because these are HMO plans, you're tied to a medical group and network. Keeping your doctors means finding a plan your doctors and medical group actually contract with — which I verify for you, one provider at a time, before you enroll. No guessing, no nasty surprise in January.
• Chronic-condition care. If what you valued was a plan built around a condition like diabetes or heart disease, there are Special Needs Plans (SNPs) designed for exactly that — the same idea Brand New Day helped pioneer. I'll help you find the closest match.
• The extra benefits — Part B giveback, dental, the over-the-counter allowance, transportation. Several plans in San Diego still offer these, and the amounts vary a lot, so we compare them side by side and see which one actually puts the most back in your pocket.

The point is that you don't have to accept "close enough," sight unseen. Tell me your doctors, your prescriptions, and the two or three benefits you care most about, and I'll show you the real options — ranked by how well they fit you.

If you have both Medicare and Medi-Cal (dual eligible)

A lot of Brand New Day and Central Health members have both Medicare and Medi-Cal — so if that's you, two things to know. First, your Medi-Cal isn't going anywhere. There are Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) built specifically for people who have both, and they often carry the richest extra benefits of any plan out there. Second, make sure your Medi-Cal renewal is current — a missed renewal can quietly cost you benefits at the worst possible moment, and it's one of the most common problems I help clients head off. If you have both, we'll make sure your coverage stays whole through the switch.

Learn more about Medicare, Medi-Cal, and D-SNP options in San Diego County.

I have a surgery or specialist appointments scheduled for January. What happens?

Don't cancel anything, and don't panic. This is one of the most overlooked parts of changing plans, and it's exactly where having someone in your corner pays off.

When you move to a new plan mid-treatment, you have rights around continuity of care. If you're in the middle of active treatment — a scheduled surgery, cancer care, dialysis, physical therapy, or ongoing specialist visits — a new plan generally has to provide a transition period so your care isn't interrupted while you move over, even if a provider starts out of network.

Here's what I handle for clients who have care already booked:

• Inventory what's scheduled — surgeries, procedures, follow-ups, infusions, therapy.
• Confirm the provider and facility under the new plan, or file a continuity-of-care request so treatment continues without a gap.
• Re-establish prior authorizations — an approval you already have may need to transfer to the new plan. I make sure that happens before your date, not after.
• Line up the timing so your effective date and your procedure date fit together cleanly.

The people who get burned are the ones who switch on their own and assume everything carries over. If you have something on the calendar, tell me first — we'll build your switch around it.

What are my options?

When your Medicare Advantage plan is ending, you generally have three paths:

1. Move to another Medicare Advantage plan — from any carrier serving San Diego. This includes Special Needs Plans for chronic conditions or dual-eligibles, which are often the closest thing to what Brand New Day offered. Networks differ by plan, so your doctors and prescriptions have to be checked carefully.
2. Return to Original Medicare and add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan plus a standalone Part D drug plan — the freedom to see any doctor who accepts Medicare, with very predictable out-of-pocket costs. You can review the differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans.
3. Return to Original Medicare alone — usually not ideal without a supplement, because there's no cap on what you could pay out of pocket.

Which path is right depends entirely on your health, your doctors, your medications, and your budget. That's the conversation I have with every client — no pressure, no sales pitch, just a clear look at the trade-offs.

How long do I have to decide?

Don't wait. When a plan is discontinued or leaves your service area, Medicare grants a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) so you can choose new coverage. For a plan ending January 1, that window generally runs from December 8 through the end of February — but your exact dates depend on your specific notice. There's also the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), when anyone can change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans for a January 1 start.

Acting early means you get the full menu of options — and time to confirm your doctors and prescriptions before your new plan begins. Wait too long and your choices shrink.

If your plan is ending, you may qualify for guaranteed acceptance into a Medicare Supplement

Here's something a lot of people don't know — and for the right person, it's a genuine gift.

If your Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued or is leaving your area, you have a "guaranteed-issue" right to buy a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan — with no medical underwriting. No health questions, no higher price because of a pre-existing condition, and no chance of being turned down. If you've ever been declined for a Medigap plan because of your health, this is a rare open door.

A few specifics for San Diego residents:

• This applies when you return to Original Medicare and buy a supplement, not when you pick another Advantage plan.
• You can usually apply starting 60 days before your coverage ends.
• California gives you extra time. Between the federal 63-day guaranteed-issue window and an additional California open-enrollment period, residents here often have up to about 123 days after coverage ends to lock in a supplement without a health screening — far longer than most states.
• You'll also want a standalone Part D prescription drug plan.
• If you have Medi-Cal, a supplement usually isn't the right move — a D-SNP is typically the better fit — but I'll walk you through it either way.

These windows don't stay open forever, and once they close, the health questions can come back. If you think your plan is ending, let's find out now whether this is right for you.

How a local Medicare broker makes this easy — at no cost to you

You can make this change on your own. But here's what working with me looks like, and why it costs you nothing:

• My help is free. I'm paid by the insurance carriers, not by you. Your premium is the same whether you use a broker or not.
• I compare every major plan in San Diego — not one company's lineup — so you get an honest recommendation.
• I confirm your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions against any plan before you enroll.
• I protect scheduled care — surgeries, appointments, and prior authorizations — through continuity-of-care coordination.
• For chronic conditions or dual eligibility, I find the Special Needs Plan that fits — the closest thing to what you loved about Brand New Day.
• I check whether you qualify for guaranteed-issue Medigap and help you use it before the window closes.
• I'm local, and I'm here after you enroll — for the billing question, the ID card that didn't arrive, the new prescription. My team serves San Diego seven days a week.

I've helped many San Diego seniors through exactly this kind of change, and I'd be honored to help you too.

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Brand New Day?

Brand New Day and Central Health were both acquired by Molina Healthcare in January 2024, and for plan year 2025 Brand New Day was consolidated into Central Health Medicare Plan. If you were a Brand New Day member, that is why you are now on a Central Health plan.

Is Central Health Medicare Plan ending?

Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is the official word on how your specific plan is changing for next year. If it says your plan will not be offered or is changing significantly, you have the right to switch, and you may qualify for special enrollment protections.

I was a Brand New Day member, can I get a plan like that again?

Often yes. If what you loved was chronic-condition care, there are Special Needs Plans built around conditions like diabetes and heart disease. If it was the extra benefits or the Part B giveback, several San Diego plans still offer versions of those.

Will I keep my doctors if I switch Medicare plans?

Only if your doctors and medical group are contracted with the new plan, and that varies by plan, not just by carrier. Verify every provider before you enroll so there are no surprises.

I have Medi-Cal too, what happens to it?

Your Medi-Cal is not going anywhere. There are Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) designed for people with both Medicare and Medi-Cal, often with the richest benefits available. Keep your Medi-Cal renewal current.

Will a new plan cover a surgery already scheduled for January?

It can, but not automatically. You have continuity-of-care rights, and a continuity-of-care request or a confirmed in-network provider protects your treatment. Do not cancel the procedure; coordinate the transition so there is no gap.

Can I get a Medicare Supplement without answering health questions?

Often yes. A discontinued or exiting plan can trigger a guaranteed-issue right to buy a Medigap plan with no health underwriting, and California gives residents an unusually long window to use it.

Let's find your next plan together

If your plan is changing and you're not sure what to do next, let's talk before you make any decisions — especially if you have appointments or a surgery on the calendar, if you have both Medicare and Medi-Cal, or if you think you might qualify for guaranteed-issue Medigap.

Ashley Watson — Medicare with Ashley
Phone: 619-947-2325
Web: medicarewithashley.com
Serving San Diego County, seven days a week.

I'll confirm your doctors, review your prescriptions, protect your scheduled care, and help you find the plan that comes closest to what you loved — at no cost to you. Schedule a free consultation.

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We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Medicare with Ashley (Watson Insurance SD) is a licensed independent insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Central Health Medicare Plan, Brand New Day, Molina Healthcare, the U.S. government, or the federal Medicare program. This article is for general educational purposes and is not individualized insurance advice. Plan availability, benefits, networks, and enrollment rules change year to year; confirm the details for your specific situation.