What type of plans are Special Needs Plans (SNPs)?

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are specifically designed to provide targeted care and manage the specific needs of individuals who belong to certain populations, such as those with chronic conditions, who are dual-eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, or who reside in certain institutions. These plans fall under the categories of HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) or PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans because they utilize a structured network of providers to deliver care while often emphasizing preventive services and coordinated care.

Using either an HMO or PPO framework allows SNPs to tailor their services effectively to ensure that members receive the appropriate medical attention, access to specialists, and necessary healthcare resources. This structure often helps create a more comprehensive care model that can navigate the complexities of the healthcare needs of the specific populations they serve.

Other options, while they do refer to different types of health insurance plans, do not accurately encompass the specific framework and intent behind SNPs. For instance, Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs) may restrict members to a network of providers but do not specifically address the unique needs of the targeted groups that SNPs cater to. Similarly, Point of Service (POS) plans and Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans differ in their operational mechanisms and do not focus on the