Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans Becoming More Popular, KFF Report Says

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) is on the rise, according to a recent KFF report .

SNPs were made a permanent part of the Medicare Advantage program in 2018, and since then, SNP enrollment rates have risen 13%. They now account for 21% of Medicare Advantage enrollees.

From 2024 to 2025, SNPs accounted for 48% of total Medicare Advantage enrollments.

The report looked at three types of SNPs:

Dual eligible SNPs (D-SNPs) are for members with both Medicare and eligibility, who tend to have lower incomes and more functional and cognitive impairments. Most (82%) of SNP enrollees are in a D-SNP.

Chronic condition SNPs (C-SNPs) are for members with certain chronic conditions . Almost all (97%) C-SNP plans are for people for diabetes or cardiovascular conditions