Medicare Advantage

Medicare and Medicaid in Hawaii: 6 Dual Special Needs Plans for 2027

HONOLULU — For Hawaii residents who have both Medicare and Medicaid (known in the state as Med-QUEST), the 2027 plan year brings six Dual Special Needs Plans to choose from, drawn from the broader slate of 46 Medicare Advantage plans available statewide. These plans are built specifically for people enrolled in both programs, and the Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, with any choice taking effect January 1, 2027.

Here is what dual-eligible residents across the islands should know as they look at their options.

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

A Dual Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan limited to people who have both Medicare and Medicaid, and Hawaii has 6 such plans available for 2027. D-SNPs are designed to coordinate the two programs so that Medicare benefits and Med-QUEST benefits work together under one plan.

Eligibility comes in two broad forms. "Full" dual eligibility means a person qualifies for the complete range of Medicaid benefits in addition to Medicare. "Partial" dual eligibility means Medicaid helps with Medicare costs — such as premiums or cost-sharing — through one of the Medicare Savings Programs, without full Medicaid benefits. Which category a person falls into is confirmed by the state Medicaid agency, the Hawaii Med-QUEST Division, not by the plan or by Medicare. Some D-SNPs accept only full duals; others accept both groups. Enrollment materials from each plan spell out which category it serves.

How many D-SNPs are offered statewide in Hawaii for 2027 and who offers them?

Hawaii has 6 D-SNPs available statewide for 2027, out of 46 Medicare Advantage plans overall. The state also has 3 Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) and 0 Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) for the same year.

Four carriers offer the six D-SNPs: AlohaCare has 1 (AlohaCare Advantage Plus), HMSA has 1 (HMSA Akamai Advantage Dual Care), Kaiser Permanente has 2 (Kaiser Permanente Dual Complete Oahu and Kaiser Permanente Dual Complete Maui), and UnitedHealthcare has 2 (UHC Dual Complete HI-Y1 and UHC Dual Complete HI-YL, which is new for the 2027 plan year). All six include prescription drug coverage.

An important point for island residents: a plan listed statewide is not automatically offered in every county. The AlohaCare, HMSA, and UnitedHealthcare D-SNPs are each offered in 5 counties, while the two Kaiser Permanente D-SNPs are each offered in 1 county — one aimed at Oahu and one at Maui. The plan tables on this page show the carrier, plan type (HMO or PPO), and county footprint for each.

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

People with both Medicare and Medicaid in Hawaii generally have more opportunities to change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans than people with Medicare alone. In addition to the Annual Enrollment Period of October 15 – December 7, 2026 (for coverage starting January 1, 2027) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period of January 1 – March 31, 2027, most dual-eligible individuals qualify for a Special Enrollment Period tied to their dual status.

Under current CMS rules, that Special Enrollment Period lets a full-benefit dual-eligible or Medicare Savings Program enrollee make a change once per calendar quarter during the first three quarters of the year — January through March, April through June, and July through September. The fourth quarter is covered by the regular Annual Enrollment Period. There are also Special Enrollment Periods if someone gains, loses, or has a change in their Medicaid eligibility. The exact rule that applies depends on the person's situation, and 1-800-MEDICARE can confirm which window fits.

How do I check whether a D-SNP is offered in my county in Hawaii for 2027?

The most reliable way to check availability in a specific Hawaii county for 2027 is the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, which lets you enter a ZIP code and filter for Dual Special Needs Plans. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the same information by phone.

Because county footprints differ, a resident of Hawaii County, Kauai County, Maui County (which includes Molokai and Lanai), Honolulu County, or Kalawao County may see a different set of the six statewide D-SNPs. For example, the two Kaiser Permanente D-SNPs are each listed in only 1 county, while the AlohaCare, HMSA, and UnitedHealthcare D-SNPs are each listed in 5 counties. Plan-specific details — premiums, cost-sharing, drug lists, provider networks, and extra benefits — are found in each plan's Evidence of Coverage and provider and pharmacy directories, not in landscape summaries.

Where can Hawaii residents get free help with D-SNP questions for 2027?

Free, unbiased help is available in Hawaii from Medicare directly: medicare.gov online and 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) by phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with language assistance. For Medicaid eligibility questions, the Hawaii Med-QUEST Division is the official source.

The Social Security Administration (ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213) handles Medicare enrollment and the Extra Help program that lowers Part D drug costs for people with limited income. These resources are free and do not sell insurance.