2025 AEP Insight: Special Needs Plan Type Overview📊
Special Needs Plans in 2025: Expansion in C-SNPs and D-SNPs amidst I-SNP declines
October 21, 2024 Market Research
Table of Contents
27% of C-SNPs in 2025 are new plans, though no Initial Contracts were introduced
In 2025, the distribution of Special Needs Plan (SNP) types highlights a significant focus on targeted care, with C-SNP comprising 7% of the total and D-SNP making up 17%. This indicates a strong commitment to integrated care for those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. In contrast, I-SNP plans account for only 3%, while the Non-SNP category remains dominant, representing 74% of the overall total.
C-SNP
The count of C-SNPs has steadily increased from 169 in 2020 to 391 in 2025. The total number of plans added in 2023 (+33) and 2024 (+6) was minimal, while 2025 saw a significant addition of 69 plans, resulting in a 21% YoY increase in C-SNPs. Notably, 104 new C-SNPs were introduced in 2025, compared to 84 in 2024 with no Initial Contracts. Aside from Consolidated Renewal Plans, other plan categories experienced growth. In both Renewal and New Plans, 38 plans were added for C-SNP type. Florida leads with the highest number of total C-SNPs at 84 plans and California in new plans, while seven states do not have any C-SNPs. Tennessee notably increased its plans from 3 to 12.
D-SNP
This category has shown robust growth from 545 members in 2020 to 945 in 2025. There is an addition of 70 plans in 2025 compared to 2024, maintaining a consistent growth trajectory with an 8% YoY increase, slightly lower than in previous year. Notably, 166 new D-SNPs were introduced in 2025, surpassing the 134 added in 2024, which contributed to a total increase of 32 plans. While the Renewal Plan with SAE category saw a decline of 48 plans, other categories experienced moderate growth. The Renewal Plans with SAR category made a significant leap from 28 to 92, indicating a shift in focus. Florida remains the leading state with a total of 114 D-SNP plans, while Washington leads in new plans with 16. Notably, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Illinois do not have any D-SNPs, while Puerto Rico increased its D-SNPs from 26 to 36, and Washington saw growth from 16 to 26 plans.
I-SNP
The I-SNP type has shown fluctuations over the years, with the total plans decreasing from 191 in 2023 to 162 in 2025. The growth rate was initially strong, with a peak of 19.7% YoY in 2021, but a negative growth rate has been observed in the last two years. While 18 new plans were introduced in 2024, approximately 24 new I-SNPs will be available in 2025. The primary area of concern within this category is the Consolidated Renewal Plans, which saw a significant drop from 7 in 2024 to none in 2025. However, the Initial Contracts and New Plans increased by 3 plans each. Renewal Plans declined from 89 to 72, while Renewal Plans with SAR rose from 13 to 24. New York and Florida are leading with the total number of I-SNPs, and Indiana added 3 new plans. There are 5 states without I-SNPs.
Non-SNP
The Non-SNP category has exhibited a declining trend in recent years, with a total count of plans decreasing from 4,433 in 2024 to 4,184 in 2025. This decline reflects a 5.6% YoY drop, which is in stark contrast to the growth rates of previous years. The overall growth trajectory had been strong until 2022, but the recent decrease in plan counts is concerning. Earlier in 2024, new Non-SNPs saw a sharp decline with a 27% YoY drop, but in 2025, the trend reversed, showing an 8% YoY growth as new plans increased from 478 to 516.
Consolidated Renewal Plans decreased by 21, while Initial Contracts rose from 33 to 56. New Plans showed a modest increase, adding 15. However, there was a sharp decline in Renewal Plans, dropping from 2,980 to 2,572, and Renewal Plans with SAE fell significantly by 210 plans, down to 348. On the other hand, Renewal Plans with SAR saw a remarkable increase, jumping from 168 to 520 plans, indicating a shift in plan structure.
Though Florida and California remain the leading states for both new and total Non-SNP plans, they experienced declines in total counts in 2025, with Florida dropping from 406 to 381 and California from 352 to 307. In contrast, Pennsylvania saw growth, adding 20 plans for a total of 267, and Georgia added 15 plans, bringing its total to 123.
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