Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) are a type of Medicare Advantage Plan designed specifically for people who have dual eligibility and are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. These plans can help by coordinating the delivery of Medicare and Medicaid benefits to ensure you have the care, savings, and resources that you need.

Medicare Advantage Plans, including D-SNPs, are offered by private insurance companies. However, these companies and Medicare plans are carefully monitored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure that they meet the Medicare standards.

What do Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) include?

Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) include everything provided under Original Medicare (Parts A and B), which is hospital and doctor coverage. They may also provide extra benefits, often at no extra cost.

Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs Plans may include benefits like:

• Dental benefits, such as routine exams, fillings, and x-rays
• Vision benefits, such as eye exams
• Hearing benefits, such as exams and hearing aids
• Telehealth doctor visits via your smartphone, computer, or tablet
• Fitness benefits, such as SilverSneakers® or RenewActive
• Prescription drug coverage (Part D) (always included in D-SNPs)
• Meal delivery
• Transportation to and from doctor visits
• A Flex Allowance or over-the-counter (OTC) allowance you can use to buy hundreds of health-related products, such as vitamins, toothpaste, bandages, allergy medicine, and much more

Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans typically have affordable monthly premiums and may have $0 deductibles and copays.

How Can You Enroll in a D-SNP Plan?

You can enroll in a Dual Special Needs Plan through an insurance carrier that offers these plans or through a licensed insurance agent who may be able to help you compare plans from multiple carriers. Plan comparison and enrollment is also available online.

When Can You Enroll in a D-SNP?

If you have dual eligibility in Medicare and Medicaid, you can enroll in a D-SNP once per quarter every year:

Your plan coverage will begin on the first of the following month, with the exception of AEP at the end of the year, when new coverage begins on January 1.

If you have recently become dual eligible either by joining Medicare or Medicaid, you may be able to enroll in a Dual Special Needs Plan right now.

Additional Resources

If you’re eligible for a Dual Special Needs Plan through dual eligibility in Medicare and Medicaid, you may be qualified for additional assistance through a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help (also called Low-Income Subsidy). You might have been added to these programs when you were added to Medicaid, but it’s worth checking to make sure you’re not missing out on any savings.

Enrollment Eligibility

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