Letter from SCAN Health Plan restricting my communication to Grievance and Appeals and Member Services only, after I filed formal grievances over care coordination issues.
Longtime Medicare Advantage member enrolled in SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP) in Orange County, CA. I'm enrolled in this Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) due to several chronic conditions and disabilities, and I've been assigned a full Care Management team. After filing formal grievances over serious care coordination concerns, I received a dated, written letter (7/28/2026) from SCAN discouraging direct contact with executive leadership and directing all communication exclusively through Grievance and Appeals and Member Services.
For someone managing active chronic care coordination, being funneled away from direct contact and into a narrower set of administrative channels made an already difficult process harder to navigate.
Members should know that under 42 CFR § 422.564, Medicare Advantage plans are required to resolve grievances within 30 days (or 44 with a documented extension) and provide a written response. If those requirements aren't met, members have the right to escalate to CMS (1-800-MEDICARE) or their state DMHC.
Members should also know that federal disability protections may include both Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which prohibit disability discrimination by any program receiving federal financial assistance — including in the accessibility of communication, grievance processes, and care coordination. HHS has explained that Section 1557 includes disability protections that supplement Section 504, including protections involving effective communication, accessibility, and reasonable modifications. This is provided as general educational information for members, not as an allegation or legal conclusion that any specific action here violates either law; I'm not a lawyer, and members with concerns about their own circumstances may wish to consult qualified counsel or contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
My experience with grievance responsiveness has been deeply frustrating, and prospective members — especially those with complex, ongoing care needs considering a C-SNP plan — deserve to understand this before deciding to enroll.








