Medicare Advantage

Boise's 2027 C-SNPs: three Medicare Advantage plans for people with specific chronic conditions

For 2027, Boise is looking at 27 Medicare Advantage plans: 4 new, 9 gone since 2026, and 15 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 5 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Ada County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

BOISE, Idaho — Fall 2026. As the Annual Enrollment Period opens on Oct. 15, 2026, people in and around Boise who live with certain long-term health conditions have a specific slice of Medicare Advantage to consider: Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans, known as C-SNPs. For 2027, three C-SNPs will be offered in Ada County, the county Boise sits in, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File for the coming plan year.

C-SNPs are not for everyone. They are built for people with a qualifying chronic condition, and a provider has to confirm the diagnosis before you can enroll. If that fits your situation, here is what the Boise area looks like for 2027.

What is a C-SNP and how does it work in Boise for 2027?

A C-SNP is a type of Medicare Advantage plan designed around one or more specific chronic conditions. Like other Medicare Advantage plans, a C-SNP covers Part A and Part B services through a private insurer, and most include Part D prescription drug coverage. The difference is that the plan's network, drug list and extra benefits are shaped around the condition the plan serves.

Because they are tailored, C-SNPs have a membership rule the general Medicare Advantage plans do not: you must have the qualifying chronic condition the plan is built for, and your provider has to confirm that diagnosis in writing before the plan can enroll you. If the plan cannot verify your condition within the window CMS sets, your enrollment can be ended.

How many C-SNPs are offered in Ada County for 2027, and from which carriers?

Ada County has 3 C-SNPs for 2027, out of 27 Medicare Advantage plans in the county. They come from two carriers: Humana offers 1, and UnitedHealthcare offers 2. (Ada County also has 4 Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans and 1 Institutional Special Needs Plan — those serve different groups.)

In alphabetical order by carrier, the C-SNPs offered in Ada County for 2027 are:

• HumanaChoice - Diabetes and Heart (PPO C-SNP) — Humana; PPO C-SNP; with drug coverage
• UHC Complete Care ID-12 (HMO-POS C-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare; HMO-POS C-SNP; with drug coverage
• UHC Complete Care Support ID-1A (PPO C-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare; PPO C-SNP; with drug coverage

The table below lists every plan with its type and whether it includes drug coverage. For premiums, copays, provider networks, drug lists and star ratings, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or call the plan directly — those details change year to year and are specific to each plan.

Who qualifies for a C-SNP, and how is the diagnosis confirmed?

You qualify for a C-SNP if you have Medicare Parts A and B, live in the plan's service area, and have one of the chronic conditions the plan is approved to serve. CMS maintains the list of qualifying conditions; common examples include diabetes, chronic heart failure, cardiovascular disorders, chronic lung disorders and end-stage renal disease, among others.

The confirmation step is what makes a C-SNP different from a general Medicare Advantage plan. When you apply, the plan asks for your provider's contact information and sends a short form for your doctor to sign, verifying the diagnosis. If your provider cannot confirm the condition, the plan cannot keep you enrolled. Only name a plan's condition when the plan's name states it — for the plans listed above, the HumanaChoice plan's name points to diabetes and heart conditions; the two UnitedHealthcare plan names do not state a condition, so ask the plan which conditions they serve.

When can you enroll in a C-SNP in Boise?

People with a qualifying chronic condition have a Special Enrollment Period to join a C-SNP — you do not have to wait for the Annual Enrollment Period. You can use this SEP once per calendar year to enroll in a C-SNP that fits your condition. The SEP ends after you enroll.

You can also join or switch C-SNPs during the Annual Enrollment Period, Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026, with coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027. From Jan. 1 to March 31, 2027, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period lets people already in a Medicare Advantage plan make one change.

What is changing for 2027 in Ada County, and what should you do if you already have a plan?

For 2027, Ada County will see 4 new Medicare Advantage plans, 9 plans not returning, and 5 renamed. If you are already enrolled, your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — mailed in September — spells out exactly what is changing for your plan next year, including any changes to the drug tiers, provider network or extra benefits.

Program-level numbers to keep in mind as you compare: the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the Part D maximum deductible is $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced; CMS typically publishes them later in the fall.

If you do nothing during Annual Enrollment and your plan is being offered again in 2027, it renews automatically with the ANOC changes.