Medicare Special Needs Plans in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
How to Find a Special Needs Plan in Louisiana
Unlike Medicare prescription drug plans in Louisiana, which are the same statewide, Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP) availability and options vary by area. The reason for this is simple. Not all areas have the same healthcare providers or needs, so localized plans are best. And, even though SNPs are private health plans, like Medicare Advantage plans in Natchitoches Parish, LA, enrollment requirements are different.
Getting Enrolled in a Natchitoches Parish Medicare Special Needs Plan
SNP plans are limited to those who qualify. To qualify as a special needs individual, you must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- An institutionalized individual,
- A dual-eligible (Medicare and MedicaidMedicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health care coverage to low-income families and individuals in the United States....) person, or
- An individual with a severe or disabling chronic condition.
Even if you qualify, you are only allowed to join, drop or change plans during a Medicare Election Period. The period between 15 October and 7 December is the Annual Election Period (AEP). That's when most folks make changes to their Medicare.
Most of us also get an Individual Election Period (IEP), but it only comes around once. Your IEP is based on your 65th birthday. It starts the month before and ends the month after, so you have plenty of time.
In addition to the periods outlined above, you may be able to join a SNP with a Special Election Period in certain situations. Situations that may qualify you for a Special Election Period include:
- You are diagnosed with a severe or disabling condition: You can enroll in a Chronic-Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) for beneficiaries with your illness at any time.
- You move into a nursing home or require skilled nursing care at home: You can enroll in an Institution Special Needs Plan (I-SNP) or switch plans at any time.
- You qualify for Medicaid: If you have Medicaid or are newly eligible for Medicaid, you can enroll in a Dual-Eligible Medicare Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) at any time.
- You move outside of your existing Special Needs Plan’s service area: You'll qualify for a Special Election Period to switch to a new plan.
- Your Special Needs Plan leaves the Medicare program: You'll qualify for a Special Election Period to switch plans.
There are three ways to enroll in an SNP:
- Call our Trusted Partner at 1-855-728-0510 (TTY 711). This toll-free number is staffed by HealthCompare, the outsourced partner of choice for some of the nation’s largest health plans.
- Call a plan directly. If you know the plan you want, this way is quick and easy. All of our plan pages provide contact information.
- Go to www.Medicare.gov and enroll through the government website. From there you can look up your medications, compare plans, and get your application started online.
NOTE: People often ask are Medicare Advantage plans are bad? The disadvantages of these private health plans — primarily the copaysA copayment, also known as a copay, is a set dollar amount you are required to pay for a medical service.... and other point of service costs — generally do not apply to Special Needs Plans.
Citations & References
- https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/types-of-medicare-health-plans/special-needs-plans-snp
- https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/SpecialNeedsPlans/I-SNPs
- https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/SpecialNeedsPlans/D-SNPs
- https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/SpecialNeedsPlans/C-SNPs
The Medicare AdvantageMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B).... Special Needs Plan (SNP) information in this directory originates from CMS Landscape Source Files, is maintained by David Bynon and was last updated on .