Special Needs Plans: Availability and Enrollment

Special Needs Plans are a form of Medicare Advantage plan authorized to provide a managed care option for beneficiaries with significant or relatively specialized care needs, including Medicare beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, beneficiaries living in nursing homes or other institutions, and beneficiaries with severe chronic or disabling conditions.

This data spotlight examines availability and enrollment trends for Special Needs Plans, which account for a small share of enrollment today but are seen by some policymakers as a way to address coordination of care and cost issues for beneficiaries enrolled in both the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The analysis was conducted by researchers at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Data Spotlight (.pdf)