Medicare Advantage

Maryland Medicare Advantage Plans for Chronic Conditions in 2027: 2 C-SNPs

BALTIMORE — Marylanders living with a long-term health condition will have two Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) to consider for 2027, out of 47 Medicare Advantage plans available somewhere in the state, according to the federal Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files for the coming plan year.

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

A Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan limited to people with a specific severe or disabling chronic condition that CMS recognizes, and enrollment requires a provider to verify the diagnosis. If the verification is not completed, the plan cannot keep the enrollment active.

C-SNPs are designed around the needs of the condition they serve, and they typically include Part D prescription drug coverage. In Maryland for 2027, both of the C-SNPs on the landscape include drug coverage. Beyond that, specific details — costs, networks, formularies, and extra benefits — vary by plan and come from each plan's own Evidence of Coverage and the Medicare Plan Finder, not from this article.

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

Maryland has 2 C-SNPs on the 2027 landscape, offered by two carriers: HealthSpring and KeyCare Advantage. These sit alongside 13 Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) and 2 Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) in the Special Needs category, within a statewide total of 47 Medicare Advantage plans.

Each carrier offers one C-SNP in the state: HealthSpring Achieve (HMO C-SNP) and KeyCare Advantage Plus (HMO C-SNP). Both are HMO C-SNPs with drug coverage. The HealthSpring plan is offered in 4 Maryland counties, and the KeyCare Advantage plan is offered in 7 Maryland counties. The full plan-by-plan list, including which counties each plan serves, is shown in the tables on this page.

Which chronic conditions do Maryland's 2027 C-SNP plan names identify?

Neither of Maryland's two 2027 C-SNPs names a specific chronic condition in its plan name. The plans on the landscape are listed as HealthSpring Achieve (HMO C-SNP) and KeyCare Advantage Plus (HMO C-SNP).

Because the plan name does not state the qualifying condition, the only reliable way to learn which chronic condition a given C-SNP serves — and whether your diagnosis qualifies — is to look at the plan's own materials, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. A C-SNP will only enroll people whose provider confirms the qualifying diagnosis the plan is built around.

Is there a Special Enrollment Period for Maryland residents with a qualifying chronic condition in 2027?

Yes. People who have a CMS-recognized qualifying chronic condition generally have a Special Enrollment Period that allows them to join a C-SNP outside the Annual Enrollment Period, once the diagnosis is verified by a provider. This SEP exists so that a new or newly documented diagnosis does not force someone to wait a full year to enroll in a plan designed for their condition.

For most Marylanders choosing coverage for 2027, the main window is still the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. A plan selected during that window takes effect January 1, 2027. If you think an SEP may apply to you, 1-800-MEDICARE can confirm the rules in your situation.

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

Enter your ZIP code into the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Plan Finder lists every Medicare Advantage plan — including C-SNPs — available at your address for 2027, along with each plan's costs, benefits, drug list and star rating.

This step matters in Maryland because a C-SNP that appears on the statewide landscape is not necessarily sold in every county. HealthSpring Achieve is offered in 4 Maryland counties and KeyCare Advantage Plus is offered in 7 Maryland counties. A reader in one part of the state may see both, one, or neither when they check their own ZIP code. The county-level details are shown in the tables on this page.

Where can Marylanders get free help comparing Medicare plans for 2027?

Free, personalized help is available directly from Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and through the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Both are run by the federal Medicare program and can walk through what is available at your address, including C-SNPs, D-SNPs, I-SNPs and general Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.

If a chronic condition is part of the picture, it helps to have the diagnosis and current prescriptions handy before the call, since C-SNP enrollment depends on provider verification of the qualifying condition. For the official plan documents — the Evidence of Coverage, the pharmacy and provider directories, and the Summary of Benefits — go to the carrier's own materials.