What is a Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan, or C-SNP?

Managing a chronic condition can be overwhelming, stressful and expensive. You shouldn’t have to do it alone. That’s why Aetna now offers a Medicare Advantage Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan, or C-SNP.  

They are a type of Medicare plan for individuals living with certain chronic conditions. They help to deliver personal care and support as well as services and benefits that can help meet your unique health needs. 

If you have diabetes or heart disease, this plan may be right for you. That’s why our plans bring together what matters most to your health. We want you to feel supported while getting the most value out of your health plan.

With a C-SNP you’ll have access to added benefits, personalized support and savings to help manage your condition. 

In this article, we’ll help you understand the ins and outs of this plan. Then you can decide if it's the right fit for you and your health needs. Here’s what to know.

Who’s eligible for an Aetna C-SNP

If you have a diagnosis of diabetes or heart disease, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period* (SEP) to enroll in an Aetna plan. The full list of eligible chronic conditions is: 

• Diabetes Mellitus (high blood sugar)

• Chronic Heart Failure (heart is unable to pump blood as it should)

• Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)

• Coronary artery disease (blocked blood vessels in the heart)

• Peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation in the arms and legs)

• Valvular heart disease (damage of flaps in the heart that control blood flow)

Select here to find out if an Aetna C-SNP is available in your area.

The easiest way to find out if you qualify is by talking to a licensed Aetna agent. They can confirm your eligibility. And they can also answer all your questions at no cost.

All about C-SNP medical and drug coverage

These are Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare is a federal health insurance program. And it mainly covers individuals age 65 and older. A Medicare Advantage plan, such as a C-SNP, includes three parts:*

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance).

Part A covers:

• Inpatient care in hospitals
• Skilled nursing facility care
• Hospice care
• Home health care

Medicare Part B (medical insurance).

Part B covers:  

• Services from doctors and other health care providers
• Outpatient care
• Home health care
• Durable medical equipment (examples include wheelchairs, walkers and hospital beds.)
• Preventive services (examples include screenings, vaccines and yearly “wellness” visits)

Medicare Part D (drug coverage).

Part D covers the cost of approved prescription drugs as well as certain vaccines. With Aetna plans, you will get $0 or low cost copays on Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs at in-network pharmacies for covered Part D medications that treat your condition. 

More C-SNP benefits and resources

Aetna plans offer more coverage and benefits you wouldn’t normally get with Original Medicare or a typical Medicare Advantage plan. This means specialized support to help better manage your diabetes or heart disease. The specialized benefits may help you make the most out of your health plan. This plan includes:

A dedicated care team. An Aetna care team offers support to help manage your care and connect you with the health and community services you may need. A nurse care manager leads your team. And the team could include nurses, social workers, medical directors, pharmacists and care coordinators.

They can help take the stress out of getting the support you need by organizing your care plan and helping you best use your health benefits. Your Aetna care team can help you: 

• Find a primary care provider (PCP) and specialists 
• Understand and manage your health condition and medications
• Schedule doctor visits 
• Find safe housing, local transportation, meal services and more

$0 copays on more than 200 commonly used Tier 1 prescription drugs at in-network pharmacies. This can help make your medicines less expensive for you. And it can make it easier to stay on top of your medicines, which is key to managing any chronic condition.

$0 in-network copays for primary care physicians and visits to certain specialists who treat your chronic condition. These include:

• Cardiologists
• Endocrinologists 
• Nephrologists
• Pulmonologists

This helps you get both the regular and specialized care you need to manage your condition and stay as healthy as possible.

A monthly allowance on an Extra Benefits Card for certain over-the-counter (OTC) health and wellness products. Eligible members with a qualifying condition can use the monthly allowance to help pay for additional everyday expenses. These include healthy groceries, transportatin, utilities and personal care products.

$0 diabetic supplies. This includes testing strips and devices from Accu-Check by Roche and TRUE by Trividia to help you manage your blood sugar.

Dental, vision and hearing coverage. Aetna plans also include vision, dental and hearing aid coverage. These are important benefits that can help lead to better overall health.  

Still have questions? We can help answer them and work with you and your doctor to help you enroll.  

You can speak with a licensed Aetna agent for free. They're available at 1-844-521-4426 (TTY: 711) from 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week, October 1 to March 31 and 8 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Friday, April 1 to September 30. 

How to enroll in a C-SNP

There are three easy ways to enroll in an Aetna C-SNP. 

• Online: Fill out the enrollment form online. 
• Over the phone: You can call 1-844-521-4426 (TTY: 711) to connect with a licensed Aetna agent. They'll help you with the enrollment process. 
• With your broker: Contact your local broker to help with the enrollment process.

When you can enroll

• You may enroll in a C-SNP when you first receive a diagnosis of one of the six eligible chronic conditions.
• The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). This is when you first become eligible for Medicare. Your IEP is the 7-month period that begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes your birthday month and ends three months afterward. There is an exception if your birthday falls on the first of any month. In that case, your 7-month IEP begins and ends one month sooner.
• Annual Enrollment Period. It runs from October 15 to December 7 every year.
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs)*. SEPs happen after certain qualifying life events. These include having a diagnosis of a qualifying condition, or a new diagnosis of a covered condition, moving or losing other health care coverage.

Ready to learn more? Give us a call. We look forward to helping and supporting you to manage your unique health needs. Disponible en espanol. 

*FOR PARTS OF MEDICARE: Medicare.gov. Parts of Medicare. Accessed October 1, 2026.

*FOR SEP DISCLAIMER: Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). SEPs happen after certain qualifying life events. These include a new diagnosis of a covered condition, moving or losing other health care coverage.

Aetna Medicare is a HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our DSNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. Participating health care providers are independent contractors and are neither agents nor employees of Aetna. The availability of any particular provider cannot be guaranteed, and provider network composition is subject to change. To send a complaint to Aetna, call the Plan or the number on your member ID card. To send a complaint to Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week). If your complaint involves a broker or agent, be sure to include the name of the person when filing your grievance.

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