Medicare Advantage

Do You Have a Qualifying Condition? C-SNPs in Minneapolis

People in Minneapolis can choose from 25 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 32 this year. 13 of this year’s plans are gone, 6 are new to Hennepin County, and 9 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 3 of them under a new name.

MINNEAPOLIS — For 2027, four of the Medicare Advantage plans offered in Hennepin County are Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans, known as C-SNPs. These plans are built for people living with a qualifying long-term health condition, and they are only open to people whose doctor confirms that diagnosis. With the Annual Enrollment Period running October 15 through December 7, 2026, this fall is the window to look at whether a C-SNP fits your situation for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.

What a C-SNP is, in plain terms

A Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan that limits its membership to people who have a specific chronic condition — for example, diabetes, chronic heart failure or a lung disorder, depending on how the plan is designed. Because every member shares a similar health need, the plan can shape its drug list, care coordination and provider lineup around that condition.

Like other Medicare Advantage plans, a C-SNP covers everything Original Medicare covers (Part A and Part B), and the C-SNPs available in Hennepin County for 2027 all include Part D prescription drug coverage.

The specifics — what the plan costs, which doctors are in network, what drugs are on the formulary — vary plan by plan. Those details live in each plan's Evidence of Coverage and on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov.

The C-SNPs offered in Hennepin County for 2027

Two carriers offer C-SNPs in the county for 2027: Aetna (CVS Health) with two plans, and UnitedHealthcare with two plans. In alphabetical order:

• Allina Health Aetna Medicare Chronic (PPO C-SNP) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• Allina Health Aetna Medicare Value (PPO C-SNP) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• UHC Complete Care MN-7 (PPO C-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare
• UHC Complete Care Support MN-8 (PPO C-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare

The table on this page lists each one alongside the other Medicare Advantage plans available in the county. If a plan's name doesn't tell you which chronic condition it serves, call the plan or check the Plan Finder — the eligible conditions are plan-specific, and we won't guess here.

For context, Hennepin County also has 3 Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and no Institutional SNPs. Those are different products with different eligibility rules.

How enrollment actually works

Signing up for a C-SNP has one extra step compared with a regular Medicare Advantage plan: your diagnosis has to be verified.

Here's the usual flow:

1. You apply to the C-SNP during a valid enrollment period. 2. The plan contacts your doctor (or asks you for your doctor's information) to confirm you have the qualifying condition. 3. Once your provider confirms the diagnosis, your enrollment is complete and your coverage begins.

If the condition can't be verified, the plan can't enroll you. That's a federal rule, not a quirk of any one carrier.

The Special Enrollment Period for chronic conditions

Most people make Medicare Advantage changes during Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31).

People with a qualifying chronic condition have an extra option: a Special Enrollment Period that lets them join a C-SNP outside those windows. In other words, you don't have to wait until next October to switch into a C-SNP if you become eligible mid-year. This SEP is tied to the qualifying diagnosis, so the same verification step applies.

If you're not sure whether your condition qualifies, 1-800-MEDICARE or the plan itself can tell you.

What else is changing in 2027

A few program-level numbers for 2027 are already set by CMS and worth knowing if you take prescription drugs:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
• The Part D maximum deductible rises to $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).
• The Part D national base beneficiary premium is $41.33 for 2027. That's a formula input Medicare uses, not what any plan charges you.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, along with the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet. CMS typically publishes those figures later in the fall.

In Hennepin County overall, 13 Medicare Advantage plans aren't returning for 2027, 6 are new, and 3 have been renamed. If you're already in a plan, your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) spells out exactly what's shifting next year. If you do nothing and your current plan is still offered, you'll stay in it.

How to compare without guessing

Because we can't attach costs, star ratings or benefits to any plan name here, the most reliable way to compare C-SNPs is to use the official tools:

• The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your ZIP code, your prescriptions and your preferred providers.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) is open 24/7 for personalized questions.
• Each plan's Evidence of Coverage and provider directory show its network and rules.