Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
Medicare Advantage plans built for specific groups of people.
Special Needs Plans are Medicare Advantage plans that limit membership to people with specific needs, and tailor their networks, drug lists and care coordination to them. All SNPs include Part D drug coverage.
The three kinds
- Dual Eligible SNPs (D-SNPs): for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. Some coordinate or combine Medicare and Medicaid benefits in one plan.
- Chronic Condition SNPs (C-SNPs): for people with certain severe or disabling chronic conditions, such as diabetes, chronic heart failure or end-stage renal disease. Each plan covers specific conditions.
- Institutional SNPs (I-SNPs): for people who live, or are expected to live, in an institution such as a nursing home for 90 days or more, or who need that level of care at home.
Enrollment
You can join a SNP when you qualify, and you stay eligible as long as you meet its criteria. Since 2025, full dual eligibles can join an integrated D-SNP in any month. If you stop qualifying, the plan must give you a grace period and you'll get a Special Enrollment Period to choose other coverage.
Questions to ask
- Are my doctors and specialists in the plan's network?
- How does the plan coordinate with my Medicaid benefits?
- Does it offer a care coordinator, and what do they do?
- What will I pay, given that Medicaid may cover my cost sharing?
Common questions
No. You can keep Original Medicare with a Part D plan, or choose another Medicare Advantage plan. A D-SNP is one option.
No. The plan will verify that you have one of the conditions it covers.
Want help with your own choices?
Every state runs a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with trained counselors who give free, unbiased Medicare help and do not sell plans. Find yours on our Medicare by state pages, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Planning the rest of your coverage in retirement? We can help with life insurance later in life and final expense coverage.
Sources
- Special Enrollment Periods, Medicare.gov. Checked September 29, 2026.
- CY 2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule (CMS-4205-F) fact sheet, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Checked September 29, 2026.
General information about the federal Medicare program, not advice about your situation. Figures are for 2026 unless stated and change every year; last reviewed September 29, 2026. Quote My Policy is a private company. Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
Quote My Policy does not sell Medicare plans on this site. For plan-specific help, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.