Walmart is getting back into the Medicare Advantage business through a new partnership with nonprofit insurer SCAN Health Plan, bringing the retail giant’s health, wellness, pharmacy, and technology capabilities into a co-branded insurance offering.

The companies announced on September 16 that they plan to launch the Medicare Advantage plan in two U.S. states. The offering is expected to be available to more than two million Medicare enrollees, although Walmart and SCAN have not yet disclosed which states will participate. The plan remains subject to regulatory review and approval.

The partnership is designed to connect Medicare coverage more closely with Walmart’s existing health and wellness ecosystem. Depending on regulatory approval, the plan could include benefits involving pharmacy services, vision care, food, and over-the-counter products.

A major part of the strategy is Walmart’s Everyday Health Signals platform, an AI-powered system designed to provide personalized nutrition and wellness guidance. Customers can share wellness goals and receive recommendations based on those goals and their shopping preferences.

For participating Medicare Advantage members who opt in, Walmart and SCAN plan to incorporate these capabilities into broader coaching and wellness support. The companies say the goal is to make personalized nutrition information more actionable by connecting it with everyday shopping decisions.

“By combining Walmart’s technology capabilities and consumer retail expertise with SCAN’s Medicare product experience,” SCAN National General Manager Zack Myers said, the companies have an opportunity to turn those insights into support that can help members make more informed health and wellness choices.

Walmart says its role in the partnership goes beyond simply offering another insurance product. The company has been helping customers navigate Medicare choices for more than a decade through in-store insurance support and, since 2020, Walmart Insurance Services, its licensed insurance agency.

That existing retail relationship is central to the new strategy. Walmart says customers already use its stores and online services for groceries, pharmacy needs, vision care, and other everyday essentials, giving the company an opportunity to connect health guidance with those existing routines.

The approach also marks another attempt by Walmart to expand its presence in Medicare after its earlier partnership with UnitedHealth Group. Walmart and UnitedHealth launched a co-branded Medicare Advantage plan in 2023, but the arrangement ended as Walmart pulled back from its broader Walmart Health strategy.

SCAN brings a different side of the equation. The nonprofit health insurer has nearly five decades of experience serving older adults and currently operates Medicare Advantage plans across California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, and Washington. SCAN says its health plan serves nearly 460,000 members across 33 counties, while its broader organization serves roughly half a million members and patients.

The Walmart partnership also comes as SCAN expands its relationships with major retailers. In August, SCAN announced a separate collaboration with Costco to offer jointly branded Medicare products, making the Walmart deal part of a broader push to connect Medicare coverage with large consumer retail ecosystems.

For consumers, the exact details of Walmart and SCAN’s plan will become clearer closer to launch. The companies have not disclosed the two states where the plan will be offered, nor have they announced specific premiums, provider networks, or the final list of benefits.

The Medicare Annual Election Period begins October 15 and runs through December 7, when eligible beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare coverage. The new Walmart-SCAN offering is expected to enter that market once the necessary regulatory approvals are secured.