Medicare Advantage

New Orleans C-SNPs for 2027: who qualifies, how to enroll, and the plans by carrier

Orleans Parish has 67 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 10 plans are not coming back, 12 are new, and 28 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 11 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for New Orleans, not which plan to pick.

New Orleans — If you live with a long-term condition like diabetes or heart disease, a Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) is a type of Medicare Advantage plan built around that diagnosis. For plan year 2027, Orleans Parish — the parish New Orleans sits in — will have 7 C-SNPs available, offered by four carriers. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any change you make then takes effect January 1, 2027.

What a C-SNP actually is

A Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan is a Medicare Advantage plan designed for people who have a specific, serious, long-term health condition. CMS sets the list of qualifying conditions — examples include diabetes, chronic heart failure, cardiovascular disorders, chronic lung disorders, and end-stage renal disease, among others.

Because the plan is built around a condition, its drug list, care coordination, and provider network are usually shaped with that diagnosis in mind. All seven C-SNPs available in Orleans Parish for 2027 include Part D drug coverage.

A C-SNP works like other Medicare Advantage plans in the big ways: it replaces Original Medicare as the way your benefits are delivered, you generally use the plan's network, and you follow the plan's rules for referrals and prior authorization. The difference is who it is for.

Who can join — and the paperwork piece

Two things have to be true to enroll in a C-SNP:

1. You are enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. 2. You have one of the chronic conditions the specific plan is designed to serve, and a provider confirms the diagnosis to the plan.

That confirmation is not optional. When you apply, the plan sends a form to your doctor (or asks you for your provider's contact information) so it can verify the diagnosis. If the plan cannot verify it within the window CMS allows, your enrollment will not go through. It is a good idea to let your doctor's office know you are applying so the form does not sit in a stack.

The Special Enrollment Period for a qualifying condition

Most people can only switch Medicare Advantage plans during set windows: the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31).

People with a qualifying chronic condition have an extra option. There is a Special Enrollment Period that lets you join a C-SNP designed for your condition outside those windows, once your diagnosis is confirmed. This SEP generally lets you make one election; after you are enrolled in the C-SNP, the usual rules about when you can change again apply.

If you are not sure whether your situation qualifies, call 1-800-MEDICARE or check with the plan before you apply.

The C-SNPs offered in Orleans Parish for 2027

Seven C-SNPs are being offered in Orleans Parish for 2027, from four carriers. One of them — DEVOTED C-SNP CHOICE ENHANCED 013 LA (PPO C-SNP) — is a renamed version of a 2026 plan, and two are new for next year. In alphabetical order by carrier:

• Aetna (CVS Health) — Aetna Medicare Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP)
• Devoted Health — DEVOTED C-SNP CHOICE ENHANCED 013 LA (PPO C-SNP) (renamed); DEVOTED C-SNP CHOICE GIVEBACK EXTRAS 020 LA (PPO C-SNP) (new for 2027); DEVOTED C-SNP CHOICE PLUS 014 LA (PPO C-SNP)
• Humana — Humana Gold Plus - Diabetes and Heart (HMO C-SNP)
• UnitedHealthcare — Peoples Health Complete Care LA-5 (HMO-POS C-SNP); Peoples Health Complete Care Support (HMO-POS C-SNP) (new for 2027)

Only the Humana plan names the conditions it is built around in its title. For the others, the plan materials will tell you which chronic conditions qualify. The table on this page lists every C-SNP available in the parish.

A note on the broader lineup: C-SNPs are a small slice of what is offered locally. For 2027, Orleans Parish has 67 Medicare Advantage plans in total, including 23 Dual-Eligible SNPs (for people with both Medicare and Medicaid) and 3 Institutional SNPs.

How to decide if a C-SNP fits

A C-SNP is not automatically the right pick just because you have a qualifying condition. A few questions worth working through:

• Are your doctors and specialists in the plan's network? C-SNPs are usually HMO or PPO plans with defined networks. Check each provider you use.
• Are your prescriptions on the plan's drug list, and at a tier you can afford? For 2026, Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100 for the year; for 2027, CMS has set that cap at $2,400 and the maximum Part D deductible at $700. Your specific copays depend on the plan.
• Does the plan's care coordination match how you want to be cared for? C-SNPs often include a care team or care manager. Some people value that; others would rather manage on their own.
• What does the Annual Notice of Change say? If you are already in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, the ANOC your plan mailed in late September spells out what is changing for 2027.

For personalized comparisons — premiums, copays, networks, star ratings, drug coverage — use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24/7.