Special needs plans are far from new, but they continue to hold promise as some insurers step back from Medicare Advantage.
One KFF analysis attributed about half of MA enrollment growth since 2024 to SNPs, with 21% of 2025 MA enrollees in these plans. UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna and Centene have expanded their SNP offerings this open enrollment period, as well.
Chronic condition SNPs, in particular, are one bright spot.
“Some [insurers] are certainly pulling back, but on the whole, we’re seeing growth in the C-SNP space,” said ATI Advisory’s Allison Rizer on an Oct. 1 webinar.
While some C-SNPs cater to a single condition, the packaged C-SNP for cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure and diabetes is driving a lot of the area’s growth, Ms. Rizer said. That C-SNP has 66% year-over-year growth.
Last year, startup MA plan Zing Health landed $140 million in funding. While sharing the news, the company’s CEO emphasized its C-SNP delivery.
“Through the delivery of C-SNP plans to underserved seniors, we are providing the appropriate benefits to improve health outcomes and leveraging technology to ensure members receive high quality, value-based care through a seamless member experience,” Zing Health CEO Andrew Clifton said.
Dual-eligible SNPs, which serve those who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare, have also been on the rise.
“We saw significant growth in this product type for many, many years. We’re still seeing growth in it. It’s changing a little bit in terms of the type of growth we’re seeing. I think that makes sense as that market starts to get kind of saturated,” Ms. Rizer said. Most D-SNP growth is concentrated in exclusively aligned enrollment, where a plan also encompasses Medicaid.
However, institutional SNPs, designed for individuals with long-term care needs, have been on the decline. While the data was preliminary, provider-led I-SNPs have seen some growth, whereas ones that are not led by providers have struggled, Ms. Rizer explained.
