Medicare Advantage

Medicare and Medicaid in North Dakota: 2 Dual Special Needs Plans for 2027

BISMARCK — North Dakotans who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid will have 2 Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) to consider for 2027, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File for the coming plan year. The two plans are a slice of the 23 Medicare Advantage plans counted statewide, and they come from two carriers that serve dual-eligible residents across much of the state.

A D-SNP is a specialized form of Medicare Advantage built for people who have both Medicare and help from Medicaid. The plans themselves are listed statewide, but each one is sold county by county, so a plan counted in the state total may or may not appear on a specific reader's list of choices.

What is a D-SNP in North Dakota and who qualifies in 2027?

A Dual Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan designed only for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. In North Dakota for 2027, eligibility is confirmed by the state Medicaid agency, which verifies whether a person is a "full" dual eligible (receiving the full Medicaid benefit) or a "partial" dual eligible (receiving Medicaid help with Medicare premiums or cost sharing through a Medicare Savings Program).

D-SNPs include Part A (hospital), Part B (medical) and, in North Dakota for 2027, both listed plans include Part D prescription drug coverage. The specific services, provider networks and drug lists vary by plan and are described in each plan's own Evidence of Coverage, not in CMS landscape totals.

How many D-SNPs are offered in North Dakota for 2027, and which carriers offer them?

Two D-SNPs are offered in North Dakota for 2027, from two carriers: Medica (1 plan) and UnitedHealthcare (1 plan). They sit alongside 1 Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) and 2 Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) in the state's 2027 Special Needs Plan lineup.

The two D-SNP contracts for North Dakota in 2027 are:

• Medica Advantage Dual (PPO D-SNP) from Medica — a PPO D-SNP with drug coverage, listed in 23 counties.
• UHC Dual Complete ND-S1 (PPO D-SNP) from UnitedHealthcare — a PPO D-SNP with drug coverage, listed in 22 counties.

The full plan details appear in the tables on this page. County-level availability for each plan is what determines whether a given North Dakota resident actually sees it as a choice.

How often can a dual-eligible person in North Dakota change plans in 2027?

Dual-eligible residents in North Dakota generally have more opportunities to change Medicare plans in 2027 than people with Medicare alone. In addition to the Annual Enrollment Period that runs October 15 – December 7, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027, people who have both Medicare and Medicaid typically qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that lets them make a change once per quarter during the first three quarters of the year.

There is also the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, 2027, during which someone already in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare. Enrollment windows and the exact rules are published by CMS on medicare.gov; 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) can confirm which window applies to a specific situation.

How do I check whether a D-SNP is offered in my North Dakota county for 2027?

To check whether a specific D-SNP is offered in your North Dakota county for 2027, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov and enter your ZIP code, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. The CMS Landscape file lists Medica Advantage Dual (PPO D-SNP) in 23 counties and UHC Dual Complete ND-S1 (PPO D-SNP) in 22 counties, but neighbors in different counties can see different plan lists.

The Plan Finder will also show the plan's premium, deductible, drug list, provider network and star rating — details that are not part of this article and that can only be confirmed through medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or each plan's own Evidence of Coverage and provider and pharmacy directories.

Before enrolling, dual-eligible residents should confirm their current Medicaid status with the North Dakota Medicaid agency, because D-SNP enrollment depends on that status being active and documented.

Where can North Dakotans get free help comparing D-SNPs for 2027?

Free, unbiased help with Medicare questions is available year-round in North Dakota through 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and through the official Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Both are run by CMS and do not sell insurance.

For Medicaid eligibility questions — whether a resident is a full or partial dual eligible, or whether a Medicare Savings Program would apply — the state Medicaid agency is the source of record. Social Security questions (such as Part B enrollment or Extra Help with drug costs) can be handled through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213.