Medicare Advantage

Iowa Medicare Advantage Plans for Chronic Conditions in 2027: 7 C-SNPs

DES MOINES — Iowans living with a long-term health condition will see seven Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) available somewhere in the state for 2027, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Advantage Landscape files. These plans sit inside the larger pool of 74 Medicare Advantage plans statewide and are built for people whose doctor has verified a qualifying chronic illness.

What is a C-SNP in Iowa and who qualifies for one in 2027?

A Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan in Iowa is a type of Medicare Advantage plan limited to people whose provider confirms they have a qualifying chronic condition. All seven Iowa C-SNPs for 2027 include drug coverage.

C-SNPs are built around a specific illness, with care coordination, provider networks and formularies shaped for that group. CMS requires a provider to verify the condition — usually through a form the plan sends — before or shortly after enrollment. If the condition cannot be confirmed, the enrollment does not stand. To join, a person must also have Medicare Part A and Part B and live in the plan's service area.

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

Iowa has 7 C-SNPs for 2027, offered by three carriers: Aetna (CVS Health) with 2 plans, Devoted Health with 2 plans, and UnitedHealthcare with 3 plans. Those seven sit inside the state's 74 Medicare Advantage plans overall, alongside 9 D-SNPs (for people with both Medicare and Medicaid) and 7 I-SNPs (for people in certain institutional settings).

The individual plans are shown in the table on this page. They include Aetna Medicare Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP) and Aetna Medicare Chronic Care Total (HMO C-SNP) from Aetna (CVS Health); DEVOTED C-SNP GIVEBACK EXTRAS 063 IA (HMO C-SNP) and DEVOTED C-SNP PLUS 036 IA (HMO C-SNP) from Devoted Health; and two UHC Complete Care IA-5 (HMO-POS C-SNP) plans plus UHC Complete Care Support IA-1A (HMO C-SNP) from UnitedHealthcare. Each is offered in a defined set of counties, ranging from 7 to 54 counties depending on the plan.

Which chronic conditions are named in Iowa C-SNP plan names for 2027?

None of the seven Iowa C-SNP plan names for 2027 state a specific chronic condition. The plan names use general phrases such as "Chronic Care," "C-SNP Plus," "C-SNP Giveback Extras," "Complete Care" and "Complete Care Support," but do not spell out which illness qualifies a member.

Because the condition is not in the name, Iowans should confirm the qualifying condition for any specific C-SNP directly with the plan, or on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Common C-SNP condition categories under CMS rules include diabetes, chronic heart failure, cardiovascular disorders, chronic lung disorders and end-stage renal disease, but the only authoritative list for a given plan is the one the carrier files with CMS.

Is there a Special Enrollment Period in Iowa for people with a qualifying chronic condition in 2027?

Yes. In Iowa, a person who is newly diagnosed with — or whose provider newly verifies — a qualifying chronic condition can use a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a matching C-SNP outside the Annual Enrollment Period that runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. This SEP is one-time per condition and ends once the member enrolls in a C-SNP for that condition.

There is also an SEP that applies if a member no longer meets the condition requirement and must leave the C-SNP. CMS sets the rules for both, and timing details are explained on medicare.gov and through 1-800-MEDICARE.

Outside of SEPs, the main window remains the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 through December 7, 2026, with coverage starting January 1, 2027.

How do I check whether an Iowa C-SNP is offered in my county for 2027?

The fastest way to check whether an Iowa C-SNP is offered in your county for 2027 is to use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov and enter your ZIP code, or to call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CMS Landscape files list plan availability county by county, so a plan counted once statewide — such as DEVOTED C-SNP PLUS 036 IA, offered in 47 counties — may still not reach every ZIP code within those counties.

Among Iowa's seven C-SNPs for 2027, county reach varies: one UHC Complete Care IA-5 plan is offered in 7 counties and the other in 47; UHC Complete Care Support IA-1A is offered in 54 counties; both Devoted Health plans are offered in 47 counties; and both Aetna (CVS Health) plans are offered in 11 counties.

When you compare, look at the plan's service area, the formulary, the provider directory and the Evidence of Coverage. Those documents — not any summary like this one — are the source of truth for premiums, cost sharing, benefits and networks.

Where can Iowans get free help choosing a 2027 Medicare plan?

Iowans can get free, personalized Medicare help by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) any hour of any day, or by using the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Both are run by the federal Medicare program at no cost to the caller.

The Plan Finder lets you enter prescriptions, pharmacies and preferred providers, then shows the specific plans available in your ZIP code — including C-SNPs if you indicate a qualifying condition. For questions about Medicare eligibility tied to Social Security, the Social Security Administration can also help.