A Special Needs Plan (SNP) is a Medicare Advantage plan (private health plan) that exclusively serves at least one of the following groups:

• People who live in a nursing home or Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded (either specific nursing homes or those in a certain area) and people who live in the community but require an institutional level of care;
• People who have both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligibles);
• People who have a specific chronic, severe or disabling condition defined by the plan (such as diabetes or heart disease).

To find out more about how to qualify for a SNP, click on the link in the GO TO box.

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 include plans for people with HIV/AIDS, diabetes or people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.

SNPs must include drug coverage (Medicare Part D) as part of their benefits packages.

To find out more about Original Medicare and Medicare private health plans, and for tips on how to choose how to receive your Medicare benefits, click on the links in the GO TO box.

For tips on questions to ask if you are considering joining a SNP, click on the link in the GO TO box.