Medicare Advantage

Medicare and Medicaid in Arkansas: 20 Dual Special Needs Plans for 2027

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansans who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid will have 20 Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) to consider for 2027, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File for the coming plan year. Those 20 D-SNPs are part of the 84 Medicare Advantage plans counted statewide, and they sit alongside 9 Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) and 1 Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP). The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, and a choice made during that window takes effect January 1, 2027.

What is a D-SNP in Arkansas and who qualifies in 2027?

A D-SNP is a type of Medicare Advantage plan designed only for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid, and eligibility in Arkansas is confirmed by the state Medicaid agency. Enrollment is limited to dual-eligible residents, which includes people with full Medicaid benefits and people with partial dual status (for example, those whose Medicaid helps pay Medicare premiums or cost-sharing through a Medicare Savings Program).

Because the Arkansas Department of Human Services determines Medicaid status, a person's exact category of dual eligibility affects which D-SNPs they can join. A D-SNP coordinates Medicare benefits — including Part D drug coverage, which every Arkansas D-SNP listed for 2027 includes — with the Medicaid benefits a member already receives from the state. Specific benefits, networks, drug lists and costs vary from plan to plan and should be checked on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or in each plan's Evidence of Coverage.

How many D-SNPs are offered in Arkansas for 2027, and which carriers offer them?

Arkansas has 20 D-SNPs statewide for 2027, offered by eight carriers, per the CMS Landscape Source File. Those carriers, listed alphabetically with the number of D-SNPs each offers, are: Aetna (CVS Health) (2), Arkansas Superior Select Health Plans (1), Centene (WellCare) (3), Devoted Health (3), HealthSpring (2), Healthy Arkansas, Inc. (1), Humana (5) and UnitedHealthcare (3).

Within that group, one plan is new for 2027 — Healthy Arkansas Dual Advantage (PPO D-SNP) from Healthy Arkansas, Inc. Several plans have been renamed from 2026, including the three Centene (WellCare) plans (now carrying the "Wellcare Arkansas Total Care" naming), UHC Dual Advantage AR-V1 (PPO D-SNP) and UHC Dual Complete AR-Q1 (PPO D-SNP). The full plan-by-plan table on this page shows each D-SNP, its plan type (HMO D-SNP, HMO-POS D-SNP or PPO D-SNP), its carrier and the number of Arkansas counties where it is offered. County counts in the table range widely, so a plan that appears statewide here may or may not be offered in any given reader's county.

How often can a dual-eligible person in Arkansas change Medicare plans in 2027?

People with both Medicare and Medicaid in Arkansas generally have more opportunities to change plans during 2027 than other Medicare members, in addition to the October 15 – December 7, 2026 Annual Enrollment Period that takes effect January 1, 2027. CMS provides a Special Enrollment Period for dual-eligible and Extra Help enrollees that typically allows one plan change per calendar quarter during the first three quarters of the year, with Annual Enrollment handling the fourth quarter.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, 2027 also allows a Medicare Advantage member to make one switch. Exact rules, including when a change takes effect, are explained at medicare.gov and by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. There is no need to rush a decision based on pressure from anyone selling a plan; the dates are set by CMS.

How do I check which D-SNPs are offered in my Arkansas county for 2027?

To see which of Arkansas's 20 D-SNPs are offered in a specific county for 2027, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov and enter the ZIP code, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The CMS Landscape Source File lists each plan's service area county by county, so the number of counties shown next to each plan on this page — for example, 75 counties for Arkansas Integrated Providers (AIP) Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP) and 74 counties for the three UnitedHealthcare D-SNPs — is a statewide footprint, not a guarantee of availability in any one ZIP code.

When comparing plans, it helps to have a current list of doctors, hospitals and prescriptions on hand. Each plan's Evidence of Coverage and provider and pharmacy directories, available from the carrier, show the specifics for that plan.

Where can Arkansans get free help with Medicare and Medicaid questions for 2027?

Free, unbiased help with Medicare questions in Arkansas is available at medicare.gov and by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For Medicaid eligibility questions — including whether someone qualifies as a full or partial dual eligible — the Arkansas Department of Human Services is the agency that makes that determination.

The Social Security Administration (ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213) handles Medicare enrollment for people who are not automatically enrolled, as well as applications for Extra Help with Part D prescription costs. None of this help costs money, and none of it requires signing up for a plan.