Medicare Advantage

C-SNPs in St. Paul for 2027: the four chronic-condition plans and how to join one

For 2027, St. Paul is looking at 27 Medicare Advantage plans: 8 new, 18 gone since 2026, and 9 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 3 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Ramsey County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

ST. PAUL — As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period opens for 2027 coverage, four Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) are set to be offered in Ramsey County, the county St. Paul sits in. These are Medicare Advantage plans built around a qualifying chronic diagnosis, and they are a small slice of the local lineup — but for the right person, they are worth understanding before Dec. 7, 2026.

What is a C-SNP, and how does it work in St. Paul?

A Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan that only enrolls people living with a specific chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart failure or chronic lung disease. Each C-SNP is designed around the condition it names — the provider network, drug list and care coordination are shaped for that diagnosis.

In Ramsey County, four C-SNPs will be offered for 2027. All four are PPO C-SNPs and all four include Part D drug coverage. That is the extent of what we will say about plan features here; specifics live in each plan's Evidence of Coverage.

Which C-SNPs are offered in Ramsey 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 by carrier, the four plans are:

• 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 below lists every Medicare Advantage plan sold in the county for the plan year, including these four. For 2027, C-SNPs sit alongside three Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) in the county's Special Needs Plan group; there are no Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs).

Who qualifies to enroll in a C-SNP?

Eligibility is not automatic. To join a C-SNP, you must:

1. Have Medicare Part A and Part B. 2. Live in the plan's service area (for these four plans, that includes Ramsey County). 3. Have the specific chronic condition the plan is built for, confirmed in writing by your doctor or other qualifying provider.

The plan will ask your provider to verify the diagnosis, usually within the first months of enrollment. If the condition cannot be confirmed, you will be disenrolled and moved back to Original Medicare or another plan you qualify for. That verification step is what makes a C-SNP different from a standard Medicare Advantage plan.

When can I enroll in a C-SNP?

Most people change Medicare Advantage plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026, with coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027. A C-SNP enrollment made in that window follows the same rule.

But a qualifying chronic condition also triggers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). That means if a provider confirms your diagnosis in, say, February or July, you generally have a one-time chance to enroll in a C-SNP for that condition outside the regular window. You can use the SEP once per condition; after that, you would use the usual enrollment periods to switch. Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE can confirm the SEP applies to your situation.

If you do nothing during this fall's window, your current plan — C-SNP or not — renews for 2027 with the changes listed in its Annual Notice of Change, which plans mail in late September.

What else is changing for 2027 that a C-SNP member should know?

Two Part D figures are confirmed for 2027 and apply across Medicare drug coverage, including the drug portion of a C-SNP:

• 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 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet; CMS typically publishes them in November. Across all Medicare Advantage plans in Ramsey County, 18 plans are not returning for 2027, 8 are new, and 3 are renamed — reason enough for anyone, C-SNP enrollee or not, to open the ANOC when it arrives.

How do I compare a C-SNP against my current plan?

Start with the Annual Notice of Change from your current plan and read what is different for 2027. Then compare it on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, where you can enter your ZIP code, your prescriptions and your providers to see how each plan — C-SNP or standard — handles your situation. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) if you want to walk through it with someone. Each plan's own Evidence of Coverage and provider and pharmacy directories are the final word on what is covered and who is in network.