Medicare Advantage

Before You Pick a 2027 D-SNP in Fulton County, Read This

For 2027, Atlanta is looking at 90 Medicare Advantage plans: 9 new, 16 gone since 2026, and 29 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 9 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Fulton County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

Atlanta, fall 2026 — For Atlanta residents who have both Medicare and Medicaid, the 2027 plan year brings a fresh set of choices built just for that situation. In Fulton County, 24 Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) from eight carriers are on the 2027 Medicare Advantage landscape, according to CMS. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027.

Dual-eligible residents also get something most Medicare beneficiaries don't: more chances to switch during the year. Here's what Atlanta readers should know before picking a plan.

What a D-SNP is, in plain English

A Dual Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan designed for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Every D-SNP includes Part D prescription drug coverage. The plan coordinates your Medicare benefits and works alongside your Medicaid benefits, which keep paying for things Medicaid covers in Georgia.

D-SNPs come in a few network shapes — HMO, HMO-POS and PPO — and the right fit depends on your doctors, your medicines and whether you have full or partial Medicaid.

Who qualifies: full vs. partial dual eligibility

To join a D-SNP, you need Medicare Parts A and B and some form of Medicaid help. The level of Medicaid you have decides which D-SNPs you can enroll in. In Georgia, the Department of Community Health (the state Medicaid agency) determines your category. Broadly:

• Full dual eligibility means Medicaid pays for a wide range of services and typically covers your Medicare cost-sharing. Some D-SNPs are built specifically for full-benefit members.
• Partial dual eligibility means a Medicare Savings Program (such as QMB, SLMB or QI) pays certain Medicare costs — like your Part B premium — but you don't get full Medicaid benefits. Some D-SNPs accept partial-dual members.

The plan's enrollment materials will say which group it's for. If you're unsure of your status, call Georgia Medicaid or 1-800-MEDICARE before you enroll.

The 2027 D-SNP lineup in Fulton County

For 2027, eight carriers offer D-SNPs in the county: Aetna (CVS Health), Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Centene (WellCare), Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, Kaiser Permanente, PruittHealth Premier and UnitedHealthcare. Of the 24 D-SNPs available, several carry new names this year — Centene renamed its Wellcare Dual plans to "Wellcare Peach State Health Plan Dual" versions, and UnitedHealthcare renamed three of its Dual Complete plans. A renamed plan is still a plan change: review the Annual Notice of Change your current plan sent you.

The table below lists every D-SNP available in Fulton County for 2027, by carrier. A few examples by carrier:

• Aetna (CVS Health) offers four D-SNPs, including Aetna Medicare Dual Care (PPO D-SNP) and Aetna Medicare Full Dual Care (HMO D-SNP).
• Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC) offers two: HealthSpring TotalCare (HMO D-SNP) and HealthSpring TotalCare Plus (HMO D-SNP).
• Centene (WellCare) offers four renamed Wellcare Peach State Health Plan Dual options.
• Elevance Health (Anthem) offers Anthem Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP) and Anthem Full Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP).
• Humana offers four, including Humana Dual Select H5216-206 (PPO D-SNP) and three Humana Gold Plus and HumanaChoice D-SNPs.
• Kaiser Permanente offers Kaiser Permanente Dual Complete (HMO D-SNP) and Kaiser Permanente Dual Essential Plan 1 (HMO D-SNP).
• PruittHealth Premier offers PruittHealth Premier D-SNP (HMO D-SNP).
• UnitedHealthcare offers five, including UHC Dual Advantage GA-V1 and the UHC Dual Complete GA-Q2, Q3, S2 and S3 plans.

For context, Fulton County's full 2027 Medicare Advantage landscape also includes nine Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) and five Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs), which are separate programs with their own rules.

How often a dual-eligible person can change plans

Most people with Medicare can only switch plans during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 – March 31). Dual-eligible people get more flexibility.

Under current CMS rules, people who have Medicaid or qualify for Extra Help (the Part D low-income subsidy) have a Special Enrollment Period they can use once per calendar quarter in the first three quarters of the year to either:

• Join or switch to an integrated D-SNP (one aligned with their Medicaid plan), or
• Leave Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan.

CMS updates these SEP rules periodically, so confirm the current rules with 1-800-MEDICARE or at medicare.gov before you act. There are also one-time SEPs tied to events — like gaining, losing or changing your Medicaid status.

How to confirm your eligibility

Three quick checks will tell you where you stand:

1. Call Georgia Medicaid at the Department of Community Health to confirm whether you have full Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program, or both. 2. Check your Medicare account at medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE, to confirm your Part A and Part B status. 3. Ask the plan. Each D-SNP's enrollment team will verify your category against state records before enrolling you.

If your Medicaid level changes during the year, you may need to switch to a D-SNP that matches your new status — or move to a different type of Medicare plan.

2027 Part D figures worth knowing

Whether you choose a D-SNP or another Medicare plan with drug coverage, two Part D numbers are set for 2027: the out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the maximum deductible is $700 (up from $615 in 2026). Many people with full Medicaid or Extra Help pay far less because of their low-income help; your plan documents will show your specific costs. The 2027 Part B premium and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets have not yet been published; CMS typically announces them in November.