Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP / Medi-Medi)
A Medicare Advantage plan for people who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal (Medi-Medi) that coordinates the two. The plan choice is yours; HICAP gives free, unbiased help.
A directory listing, not an eligibility decision.
UniHealth can identify a possible match, but the responsible program makes the final decision.
What to know
- Why it may fit
- Your circumstances can be checked against the program’s published guidelines.
- What to do next
- A Medicare plan for people who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal. In California, many are called Medi-Medi Plans. Joining one is your choice.
- Who runs it
- CMS / DHCS / contracted plans
What the program may consider
- Medicare Parts A and B
- Qualifying Medicaid eligibility level
- D-SNP serves Santa Clara County
- Doctors, medicines, pharmacies and total costs
How to get it
A Medicare plan for people who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal. In California, many are called Medi-Medi Plans. Joining one is your choice.
Before you start
- You need this first Original Medicare. You need Medicare Part A and Part B.
- You need this first Aged, Blind and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Medi-Cal. You also need Medi-Cal. It must stay active for you to keep the plan. Medi-Medi Plans need full Medi-Cal.
- Having this helps Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB). Some plans of this kind may also take people who only get help with Medicare costs, like QMB. Ask the plan.
How to apply
Request to join a Medicare health or drug plan
Only the person or their legal representative can ask to join. The plan's own phone line and website also take requests.
The same application can also ask for Medicare Advantage, Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP), Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP) and Medicare Part D and other drug coverage.
- OnlineMedicare.gov plan finderSee the plans in your area. You can also ask to join a plan there.
- Phone1-800-MEDICARE: 1-800-633-4227
- PhoneHICAP free Medicare counseling: 1-800-434-0222Free, unbiased help with Medicare choices.
- PhoneSourcewise information line: (408) 350-3200Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ask for the program you need.
- Online formSourcewise HICAP counseling requestAsk for yourself or for someone else.
- In personHICAP counseling sitesSenior centers, libraries and community centers. Call the site or book online.
Getting help
You start this yourself
Only you can choose and join a plan. A guardian, or someone with legal power to make your health decisions, may join for you. Others can help, but the choice and the request must be yours. HICAP gives free, unbiased help.
Only you, or someone with legal authority for you, can sign.
What happens after you apply
With full Medi-Cal, you can join an integrated plan in any month. An integrated plan also covers your Medi-Cal benefits. Medi-Medi Plans are integrated and are for people 21 or older. Ask the plan or 1-800-MEDICARE if a plan is integrated. You can also join October 15 to December 7.
YouA helper can help with this
You choose a plan and ask to join. Use Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact the plan.
YouOnly you can do this
The plan checks that you have Medi-Cal. It may ask for your Medi-Cal card or a county letter.
Your health plan
Your Medi-Cal plan changes to match. When you join a Medi-Medi Plan, you get the same company's Medi-Cal plan.
The state
The plan mails you a letter. It confirms you are in and says when coverage starts.
Your health planWithin 10 days after Medicare accepts the request.
The plan mails your member card. Show it when you get care, and keep your Medicare card too.
Your health planOnly you can do this
Coverage starts the first day of the next month. If you joined before your Medicare started, it starts with your Medicare. If you joined October 15 to December 7, it starts January 1.
Your health plan
What only you can do
- Choose a plan yourself, or through your legal representative. HICAP can explain your options for free.
- Sign the plan form, or agree by phone or online.
- Renew your Medi-Cal on time. If Medi-Cal ends, you can lose this plan.
- How long it takes
- If you join before your Medicare starts, the plan starts when Medicare does. Otherwise it starts the first of the month after the plan gets your request. Changes made October 15 to December 7 start January 1.
- You are enrolled when
- You are enrolled when the plan's letter confirms your start date and you have its member card. Your Medi-Cal plan should match.
- To keep it
- Renew your Medi-Cal every year when the county asks. If Medi-Cal ends, the plan may keep you up to 6 months while you get it back.
Can’t be combined with
- Enhanced Care Management. Members of these plans cannot get Enhanced Care Management from a Medi-Cal plan. The plan gives its own care coordination.
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Joining PACE ends this plan.
- Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). You cannot use a Medigap policy with this kind of plan.
- Medicare GUIDE dementia care and caregiver respite. Joining this kind of plan ends GUIDE, Medicare's dementia care program.
Coming changes
- Starting January 1, 2027: Starting January 1, 2027, some of these plans take new members only from the same company's Medi-Cal plan.
- Starting January 4, 2027: Some people who are not citizens lose Medicare on January 4, 2027. Citizens and green card holders keep it. So do Cuban or Haitian entrants and some Pacific island residents. Social Security writes first to people who will lose it. Their plan ends too.
Choosing a Medicare plan is your decision. UniHealth does not choose, recommend, or enroll anyone in Medicare plans. For free, unbiased help, call HICAP at 1-800-434-0222.