Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) help those with serious medical conditions get the care coverage they need.
What is a Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan?
Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) are a type of Medicare Advantage plan. This means it provides care and benefits at a lower cost than Original Medicare alone. But, it’s also a Special Needs Plan (SNP). This means that, on top of providing low-cost benefits, it provides specialized, lowest-possible cost benefits to a specific group of individuals.
Rather than paying the normal amount out-of-pocket for care, a C-SNP provides you with a network of quality doctors, hospitals, etc. in your area that will almost entirely be covered by the plan. By coordinating your care in this way, a C-SNP not only lowers your costs but can provide benefits specific to your chronic condition.
C-SNP Eligibility and Enrollment
The specifics of your Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) is determined in large part by the chronic condition by which you qualify. In other words, you’ll get the care and cost coverage you need relevant to your health.
You must have one of these conditions or a condition in one of these categories to qualify for a C-SNP:
- Chronic alcohol and other drug dependence
- Autoimmune disorders
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Chronic heart failure
- Dementia
- Diabetes mellitus
- End-stage liver disease
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis
- Severe hematologic disorders
- HIV/AIDS
- Chronic lung disorders
- Chronic and disabling mental health conditions
- Neurologic disorders
- Stroke
C-SNP Benefits
C-SNPs are a part of Medicare Advantage. So, they’re structured in the same way as your average Advantage plan. This means that they will provide a network, either in the form of a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan.
C-SNPs also have the same benefits as the average Advantage plan. This includes Original Medicare coverage, low or potentially $0 monthly premiums, Part D prescription drug coverage, limited vision and hearing benefits, and more.
A C-SNP will do a lot more than the average Advantage plan, however. First, a majority of your costs, including out-of-pocket costs, premiums, deductibles, and more, are covered to some extent.
In terms of health care, you’re also covered for a much larger and specific set of benefits relevant to your qualifying condition. So, if you qualify for a C-SNP because of cancer, you will receive benefits in your area relevant to your treatment.
Get a Free Quote
If you aren’t getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) at least four months before you turn 65, you’ll need to sign up with Social Security to get Parts A and B. For people who need to sign up, you can do so online, visit your local Social Security office, or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).Â
Important note: People who don’t qualify for premium-free Part A will need to enroll in Part B to buy Part A.Â
Make Enrollment Easy with ReLion
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