Sharp Direct Advantage Is Terminating: A San Diego Guide to Your 2027 Medicare Options
Ashley Watson
Licensed Medicare Broker · San Diego, CA
Updated October 2026 · By Ashley Watson, licensed Medicare agent, Watson Insurance
If a letter from Sharp Health Plan just landed in your mailbox, you're not alone. Sharp Health Plan is discontinuing its individual Sharp Direct Advantage Medicare Advantage plans at the end of 2026, affecting roughly 17,000 people in San Diego County.
The good news: you have time, you have choices, and in many cases you can keep seeing your Sharp doctors. Here's what's happening and exactly what to do next.
The short version
- What's ending: Sharp Direct Advantage VIP Plus (HMO), VIP (HMO), Gold (HMO), and Platinum (HMO), the individual plans sold directly to San Diego Medicare beneficiaries.
- When: Your current coverage stays in place through December 31, 2026.
- What's not ending: Sharp HealthCare's hospitals and doctors are still serving Medicare patients. Sharp's employer and retiree group plans, including the CalPERS version of Sharp Direct Advantage, are separate and are not part of this change.
- What you need to do: Choose new coverage that starts January 1, 2027. The best time to do it is during Annual Enrollment, October 15 – December 7.
Why is Sharp ending these plans?
Sharp says the decision reflects changes in the Medicare market. According to reporting by The San Diego Union-Tribune, Sharp wants its Medicare Advantage patients in arrangements with larger enrollment, which work better under the per-member payment model Medicare Advantage uses.
That's why Sharp is leaning on its partnership with UnitedHealthcare, which already offers Sharp-focused Medicare Advantage plans with more than twice the enrollment of Sharp's own plans. Sharp has said it will continue to accept those UnitedHealthcare plans in 2027.
San Diego seniors have seen this before. Scripps left Medicare Advantage in 2023, and several other carriers trimmed plans for 2027. Plan changes are common right now, and they're one of the best reasons to review your coverage every year.
Your 2027 deadlines at a glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Early October 2026 | Sharp mails the official non-renewal notice to affected members. Keep it. You may need it to prove your eligibility for special enrollment rights. |
| October 15 – December 7, 2026 | Medicare Annual Enrollment. Pick a new plan now and it starts January 1, 2027, with no gap in coverage. |
| December 31, 2026 | Last day of coverage under your Sharp Direct Advantage plan. |
| December 8, 2026 – February 28, 2027 | Special Enrollment Period for members whose plan was discontinued. A late choice is still possible, but coverage starts the month after you enroll. |
| Through early 2027 | Medigap guaranteed-issue window (see below). |
Don't wait for the last minute. If you enroll after December 7, you could spend January (or longer) on Original Medicare alone, with no prescription drug coverage.
What happens if I do nothing?
If you don't pick a new plan, you'll automatically go back to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) on January 1, 2027. That sounds fine, but it comes with real gaps:
- No prescription drug coverage. You won't have Part D unless you enroll in it. Going without creditable drug coverage for too long can trigger a lifelong Part D late-enrollment penalty.
- No out-of-pocket maximum. Original Medicare generally covers 80% of approved costs, and there's no cap on your 20% share.
- No extras. Dental, vision, hearing, and fitness benefits you may have had through Sharp go away.
Doing nothing is a choice, but it's rarely the best one.
Your options for 2027
1. Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan that works with Sharp
This is the closest match to what you have today. UnitedHealthcare offers Sharp-focused Medicare Advantage plans in San Diego County for 2027, and other carriers may include Sharp providers in their networks too.
Good fit if: you like having medical, drug, and extra benefits bundled in one plan with low or $0 premiums.
Check before you enroll:
- Are your specific Sharp doctors, specialists, and medical group in the network?
- Are your prescriptions on the plan's formulary, and at what tier?
- How do the copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximum compare to your current plan?
The local HICAP office has noted that the UnitedHealthcare Sharp plans are broadly similar in premiums and copays, but the details differ. A side-by-side comparison matters.
2. Original Medicare + a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) + a Part D plan
With Original Medicare and a Medigap policy, you can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare, including Sharp. No referrals, no networks.
Good fit if: keeping access to specific doctors matters most, you travel, or you want predictable costs and can pay a monthly premium.
The key advantage right now: because your Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued, you have a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap policies without health questions. Normally, switching to Medigap in California can mean medical underwriting. This window is time-limited, so don't let it pass if this option interests you.
3. Original Medicare + a stand-alone Part D plan only
This is the lowest-premium route, but it carries the most financial risk because there's no cap on your medical costs. It can work for some people with other coverage (such as certain retiree or VA benefits). Talk it through before choosing it.
Can I keep my Sharp doctors?
Very likely, yes. Sharp HealthCare is not leaving Medicare. The question is which insurance gets you there:
- Medicare Advantage: yes, if the plan you choose includes your Sharp doctors and medical group. Always verify each provider by name.
- Original Medicare + Medigap: yes, as long as your Sharp doctors accept Medicare, which most do.
Make a list of every doctor you see, including specialists, before you compare plans.
Your step-by-step checklist
- Find your notice from Sharp Health Plan and confirm your plan name is VIP Plus, VIP, Gold, or Platinum.
- List your doctors (names plus medical group) and your prescriptions (name, dose, how often).
- Compare plans during Annual Enrollment, Oct 15 – Dec 7, focusing on doctors, drug costs, and the out-of-pocket max.
- Ask about Medigap guaranteed issue if you're considering Original Medicare.
- Enroll by December 7 so your new coverage starts January 1 with no gap.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sharp HealthCare leaving Medicare?
No. Sharp's hospitals and physicians continue to treat Medicare patients. Only Sharp Health Plan's four individual Sharp Direct Advantage plans are ending.
I'm a CalPERS retiree with Sharp Direct Advantage. Does this affect me?
The CalPERS group plan is a separate product and is still listed for 2027. If your coverage comes through CalPERS, an employer, or another retiree group, check with that plan administrator before making any changes.
Will my new plan start automatically?
No. You won't be moved into a new Medicare Advantage plan automatically. If you don't choose one, you'll return to Original Medicare without drug coverage.
I missed December 7. Is it too late?
No. Members of discontinued plans get a Special Enrollment Period through February 28, 2027. Coverage begins the first of the month after you enroll, so the sooner the better.
Do I have to pay to get help choosing?
No. Licensed Medicare agents are paid by the insurance companies, so you pay the same premium whether or not you use an agent. You can also get free, unbiased counseling from San Diego HICAP or Medicare.gov.
Are you affiliated with Sharp?
No. Watson Insurance is an independent insurance agency and is not affiliated with Sharp HealthCare, Sharp Health Plan, or Medicare.
Get a free, no-pressure plan review
Losing a plan you liked is frustrating, but it's also a chance to make sure your 2027 coverage really fits your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget.
Watson Insurance has helped San Diego residents with Medicare since 2021. Send us your list of doctors and medications, and a licensed local agent will compare your options side by side and explain the trade-offs in plain English. You make the decision. We handle the paperwork.
📞 Call (619) 947-2325 · Schedule a review →
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.