Category: Annual Medicare Plan Changes Published on
2019-09-27 15:30:56
Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are a type of
Medicare Advantage plan with plan benefits, healthcare provider choices, and
drug formularies (list of covered drugs) designed to accommodate the needs of a
particular group of people meeting certain requirements - such as people
suffering from a chronic condition or illness (such as diabetics or a chronic
cardiac conditions) or nursing home residents or people who have limited
financial resources (such as people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid).
2020 SNPs: The Big Picture
First,based on our analysis, the bad news is that about 13% of the 2019 Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) will be discontinued in 2020 — as compared to around 21% of the 2018 Special Needs Plans that were discontinued in 2019.
However, the good news is a large number of new 2020 Medicare Advantage SNPs will be introduced - and with these newly released SNPs, we will actually see an 19% increase in the total nationwide 2020 SNP landscape. So across the country, we will see an increase in the total number of 2020 Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and SNP losses in some counties will be more than offset by SNP gains in other areas (or even the same counties).
2020 SNPs: The Big Picture
First,based on our analysis, the bad news is that about 13% of the 2019 Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) will be discontinued in 2020 — as compared to around 21% of the 2018 Special Needs Plans that were discontinued in 2019.
However, the good news is a large number of new 2020 Medicare Advantage SNPs will be introduced - and with these newly released SNPs, we will actually see an 19% increase in the total nationwide 2020 SNP landscape. So across the country, we will see an increase in the total number of 2020 Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and SNP losses in some counties will be more than offset by SNP gains in other areas (or even the same counties).
You can see 2019/2020 SNP gains and losses with our Medicare Advantage plan comparison tool MA-Compare found at https://MA-Compare.com.
Reminder: A Medicare Advantage SNP is not designed for everyone.
Often you will find a Medicare Advantage SNP in your area that is very well-priced with feature-rich benefits and an extensive drug formulary - making the plan a very appealing coverage option. But, please remember that you cannot join (or remain in) a Medicare Advantage SNP unless you qualify for the plan’s “Special Need” - that is, SNPs are designed for people with specific conditions, diseases, or characteristics -- and you must meet (and continue to meet) the plan's "Special Need" to be eligible for enrollment.
The types of SNPs
SNPs are divided into three major types of special need:
·
Chronic Illness SNPs
(like diabetes, heart disease, or ESRD),
·
Dual Eligible D-SNPs
(for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries), and
·
Institutional SNPs
(for Nursing and Long Term Care (LTC) residents).
From the 2020 Medicare Advantage plan
information, there are a total of 855 Special Needs Plans available
in 2020, the vast majority of SNPs are D-SNPs designed for people eligible for
both Medicare and Medicaid.
|
2020 Special Needs Plans
by Type of Special Need |
||||||||
|
SNP Type
|
2020 Plans
|
2019 Plans
|
Net Change*
|
% Net Change
|
Dropped Plans*
|
% of '19 SNPs Dropped
|
2018 Plans
|
2017 Plans
|
|
Chronic Illness
|
165
|
127
|
38
|
30%
|
8
|
6%
|
132
|
122
|
|
Dual Eligible
|
540
|
465
|
75
|
16%
|
55
|
12%
|
401
|
371
|
|
Institutional
|
150
|
125
|
25
|
20%
|
28
|
22%
|
97
|
87
|
|
Total
|
855
|
717
|
138
|
19%
|
91
|
13%
|
630
|
580
|
The chart below summarizes the 2020 Special Needs Plan landscape and how the SNP landscape has changed over the years.
You can learn more about the 2020 SNPs available in your area by using our Medicare Advantage plan finder (MA-Finder.com/2020) or add your ZIP code to the MA-Finder.com link to see plans in your area (MA-Finder.com/2020/90001).
To get you started, here is an example of all 2020 Special Needs Plans available in Allegheny County, PA.
Please note, if you are using our MA-Finder and looking for a Dual-Eligible Medicare/Medicaid SNP (D-SNP), be sure to indicate "100%" for the "LIS Subsidy Amount" to see the actual D-SNP monthly premiums for full-dual eligible Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries.
Where are the most SNPs?
As in past years, the most Special Needs Plans are available within a few counties located in New York, Florida, and California.
|
Counties with the
Largest Number of
2020 Special Needs Plans |
||||||||
|
Locations
|
SNPs
|
|||||||
|
45
|
||||||||
|
45
|
||||||||
|
43
|
||||||||
|
42
|
||||||||
|
40
|
||||||||
|
38
|
||||||||
|
38
|
||||||||
|
37
|
||||||||
|
36
|
||||||||
|
36
|
||||||||
|
35
|
||||||||
|
35
|
||||||||
A further note on Chronic Illness SNPs
Medicare Advantage Chronic Illness Special Needs Plans can be further divided into the type of chronic illness that the plan is designed to address.
|
2020 Special Needs –
Chronic Illness Plans
Compared to the 2019 Plan Year |
|||||
|
Chronic Illness
|
Number of SNPs
|
||||
|
2020 Plans
|
2019 Plans
|
Change
|
2018 Plans
|
2017 Plans
|
|
|
Cardiovascular Disorders
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
|
Cardiovascular Disorders & Chronic Heart
Failure
|
10
|
6
|
4
|
10
|
10
|
|
Cardiovascular Disorders and Diabetes
|
2
|
4
|
-2
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cardiovascular Disorders, Chronic Heart
Failure & Diabetes
|
67
|
45
|
22
|
45
|
40
|
|
Chronic and Disabling Mental Health
Conditions
|
2
|
6
|
-4
|
2
|
2
|
|
Cardiovascular Disorders, Chronic Heart
Failure, Diabetes Mellitus
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
|
Chronic Heart Failure
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
|
Chronic Heart Failure & Diabetes
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
6
|
6
|
|
Chronic Lung Disorders
|
16
|
12
|
4
|
14
|
13
|
|
Dementia
|
8
|
6
|
2
|
6
|
2
|
|
Diabetes Mellitus
|
37
|
27
|
10
|
28
|
27
|
|
End-stage Renal Disease Requiring Dialysis
(any mode of dialysis)
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
15
|
15
|
|
End-stage Renal Disease Requiring Dialysis
or HIV/AIDS
|
0
|
2
|
-2
|
0
|
0
|
|
HIV/AIDS
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
|
Total Chronic Illness SNPs
|
165
|
127
|
38
|
132
|
122
|
Changes within the SNP county-specific landscape
When comparing SNP reach (SNP plan multiplied by counties in the plan’s service area) we see an overall increase in plan reach. There is a notable increase in both dual eligible and institutional SNPs and, in 2020, once again a small increase in the number of chronic illness SNPs.
|
2020 Special Needs
Plan Reach
by Type of Need |
|||||||
|
SNP Type
|
2020
|
2019
|
Change
'19 to '20 |
Percent Change
'19 to '20 |
2018
|
2017
|
2013
|
|
Chronic Illness
|
2,364
|
2,131
|
233
|
11%
|
2,113
|
2,108
|
6,402
|
|
Dual Eligible
|
11,930
|
9,393
|
2,537
|
27%
|
7,990
|
6,364
|
5,284
|
|
Institutional
|
1,906
|
1,503
|
403
|
27%
|
1,165
|
732
|
537
|
|
Total
|
16,200
|
13,027
|
3,173
|
24%
|
11,268
|
9,204
|
12,223
|
You can use our MA-Finder to review all 2020 Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans available in your area (just enter your ZIP code after clicking on the link or go to MA-Finder.com to start.)
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