Special Needs Plans (SNPs) can be an HMO, PPO, or a POS plan. You can join an SNPs plans if you have specific conditions, certain health care needs, or have Medicaid. SNPs plans are available to people who:

• Are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid,
• Live in certain institutions (like a nursing home) or require nursing care at home, or
• Have specific chronic or disabling conditions (like diabetes or chronic heart failure)

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans give you all the benefits of Original Medicare plus extra benefits. With an HMO plan:

• You choose a doctor who will provide your everyday care called a primary care provider (PCP).
• Your PCP will arrange for any referrals that you need to see specialists.
• You are usually only covered for care and services you get from your HMO network of doctors.
• In an emergency, you can go to any doctor or hospital.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans give you all the benefits of Original Medicare plus extra benefits, just like HMOs with out-of-network coverage. In most cases, PPOs will:

• Have a network of doctors, other health care professionals, and facilities.
• Let you also get covered services outside the network, often at a higher cost.