News

Perlman Medical Group will leave Anthem Blue Cross’s Commercial HMO network effective January 1, 2027. The change follows the termination of the CaliforniaCare HMO agreement and affects members in San Diego County. Approximately 70% of impacted Small Group members will be reassigned to the same or an alternative office through the UCSD-Perlman Medical Group agreement, while the remaining 30% will transition to another in-network HMO provider group in their area.

Anthem mailed notification letters to impacted members on November 2 and will issue new ID cards no later than five days before January 1, 2027. The cards will identify the member’s newly assigned medical group and provide its phone number. While plan benefits will remain unchanged, affiliated hospitals and specialists may differ under the new medical group. Members should review their new primary care physician and provider assignments and use Sydney Health or Anthem’s Find Care tool to confirm network access.

Brokers should encourage affected clients to review their new assignments before January 1, particularly members receiving ongoing care or who want to maintain relationships with specific physicians, specialists, or hospitals. Perlman Clinic’s 2027 guidance also indicates that Commercial HMO patients may have in-network Perlman Clinic options through certain medical group arrangements after January 1, making it important to verify the member’s specific health plan and medical group before making changes.