Scan Health Plan lit up its building, near the Long Beach Airport that faces the 405 Freeway, in the Pride rainbow colors last week “to affirm our alliance with our LGBTQ community in support” of Pride Month and Long Beach Pride. Scan Health Plan lit up health care in 2022 with its Medicare Advantage plan for LGBTQ+ seniors, Scan Affirm, which the insurer says is the only plan of its kind in the nation. Photo: Scan Health Plan
Scan Health Plan lit up its building, near the Long Beach Airport that faces the 405 Freeway, in the Pride rainbow colors last week “to affirm our alliance with our LGBTQ community in support” of Pride Month and Long Beach Pride.
Scan Health Plan lit up health care in 2022 with its Medicare Advantage plan for LGBTQ+ seniors, Scan Affirm, which the insurer says is the only plan of its kind in the nation.
Approximately 3 million LGBTQ+ adults over 50 live in the United States, and that number is projected to grow to 7 million by 2030, according to a report compiled by the American Psychological Association.
In addition to the challenges that come with aging, LGBTQ+ older adults encounter unique health and socioeconomic disparities, such as discrimination, that harm their physical and mental health.
These aspects, compounded by the lack of social and familial support are barriers to LGBTQ+ seniors aging with dignity.
“Older LGBTQ+ adults, who comprise the first generation to come out, have typically been overlooked and underserved by our health care system,” Dr. Sachin Jain, president and CEO of SCAN Group and Scan Health Plan, said in a statement.
“Scan Affirm is our way of addressing the unique health and social needs of LGBTQ+ seniors so that they may receive the specialized, quality healthcare they need to age with dignity and respect,” Jain said.
Scan Affirm has partnered with Included Health to provide care navigation services that help members find a provider, medical group, peer groups, support groups, and community resources.
Help also is available for virtual behavorial health care, through Included Health. Finding mental health services can be a challenge due to the fact that many providers are not culturally competent about the LGBTQ+ community, but the health care workers with Included Health, from psychiatrists to licensed social workers, have had the proper training.
Scan Affirm members also have lower co-pays on specialty tier drugs, such as HIV treatments and gender-affirming hormone treatment.
Scan Health Plan operates in five states (California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas) and serves more than 277,000 members.
SCAN Affirm is offered in five California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, and San Francisco.
