What are Special Needs Plans?
A special needs plan, also known as a SNP, is a Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) that only serves one of the following groups:
- People living in a nursing home or Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded (either specific nursing homes or those in a specific area) and people who live in the community but require an institutional level of care;
- People who have both Medicare and Medicaid (known as dual-eligibles);
- People who have a specific chronic, severe or disabling condition defined by the plan (such as diabetes or heart disease)
Special needs plans (SNPs) should be designed to provide Medicare-covered health care and services that meet the special needs of people in the groups they serve.
Examples of special needs plans (SNPs) include plans for people with HIV/AIDs, diabetes or people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.
Special needs plans (SNPs) must include drug coverage (Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans) as part of their benefits packages.
Special needs plans can only accept people who fit in the specific special needs category they are serving. Unlike other types of Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans – HMOs and PPOs, SNPs may enroll people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) if they choose to serve that population.
There are many important questions that you should ask before joining a special needs plan. You can click here to review the list of essential questions to ask, or you can contact a licensed sales agent at Medicare Pathways to help you evaluate the qualifications and fundamental issues.
Contact Medicare Pathways at 866-466-9118 to learn more now!
