Medicare Special Needs Plans, explained.
SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans designed for people with specific health conditions, dual Medicare/Medicaid eligibility, or institutional care needs.
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Three types of SNPs
- Chronic-Condition SNP (C-SNP). For people with severe or disabling chronic conditions like diabetes, COPD, heart failure, or end-stage renal disease.
- Dual-Eligible SNP (D-SNP). For people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.
- Institutional SNP (I-SNP). For people who live in (or qualify for) a long-term care facility.
What SNPs include
SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans, so they typically replace Original Medicare for the time you are enrolled and include Part D drug coverage. SNPs additionally tailor their formulary, network, and benefits to the specific population.
D-SNPs in particular often have $0 premium and may cover services Medicare alone does not — because Medicaid coordinates.
Who should consider an SNP
Anyone who fits one of the three categories above should at least compare SNP options. A licensed agent who works with SNPs in your area is the best source for plan-specific details.
See our Medicare Advantage overview for the general framework, then narrow down to SNP options.