Approaches to Dementia Care in Special Needs Plans

This issue brief examines how Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) address the care needs of people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers. Drawing on an environmental scan and key informant interviews, the brief describes approaches to care coordination, dementia-specific training, and supplemental benefits offered through SNPs, including supports for non-medical needs and caregivers. Findings indicate that while SNPs have flexibility to better serve PLWD, relatively few plans focus specifically on dementia or offer comprehensive dementia-friendly benefits. The brief also summarizes available evidence on outcomes for PLWD enrolled in SNPs compared with other Medicare options and highlights gaps in research. Overall, the findings point to opportunities for policy and programmatic action to strengthen dementia care through SNPs.