What else do I need to know before I enroll?

Some people are not eligible, including some noncitizens, people who have certain types of other health insurance, people who are residents of a regional treatment center, who have a spenddown at the time of enrollment, and others.

This program is managed by health plans at no additional cost to the member. With SNBC, you keep all the benefits of Medical Assistance, and may get additional benefits like:

• A designated person at the health plan who helps you receive the care and support services you need
  • This is often referred to as a care coordinator or care navigator.
• A 24-hour nurse phone line to answer questions about your health
• Tips for navigating your healthcare needs
• The option to join a health plan advisory committee to provide insight to health plans regarding health care needs for people with disabilities

How to find a provider

If you want to know which providers are included in a plan’s network, use the information on the SNBC directory to contact the health plan directly.

What is covered by SNBC?

The following is a summary of the types of covered health care services. Some health plans may offer some additional benefits. Call the health plan to learn more about additional benefits offered.

• Acupuncture services
• Adult mental health rehab services including crisis services, assertive community treatment, adult rehabilitative mental health services and intensive residential treatment services
• Advanced practice nurse services
• Behavioral health home
• Cancer clinical trials
• Care management services (acute medical)
• Certified community behavioral health clinic
• Chemical dependency treatment
• Child and Teen Checkups program services
• Children’s residential mental health treatment
• Chiropractic services for members age 21 and under
• Clinic services
• Community health worker services
• Community paramedic services
• Dental services
• Disease management
• Early intensive development and behavioral intervention services
• Family planning services
• Health care home services
• Home health care, specifically home health aide services, skilled nurse visits, and home care therapies (physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy and speech therapy)
• Hospice services
• Inpatient hospital services
• Interpreter services
• Laboratory, diagnostic and radiological services
• Medical emergency, poststabilization care and urgent care services
• Medical supplies and equipment
• Medication therapy management services
• Medical transportation
• Mental health services, including diagnostic assessment and testing, crisis assessment and intervention, day treatment or partial hospitalization, individual and family group therapy, inpatient and outpatient treatment, neuropsychological assessment and rehab, medication management and targeted case management
• Nursing home services (the health plan will pay for 100 days for people admitted from the community; additional days will be paid by MA fee-for-service coverage)
• Obstetrics and gynecological services
• Outpatient hospital services
• Physician services
• Podiatry services
• Preadmission screening and OBRA Level 1 (NF)
• Prescription and over-the-counter drugs not covered by Medicare Part B or D
• Prosthetic and orthotic devices
• Psychiatric residential treatment facility
• Public health services
• Reconstructive surgery
• Regional treatment center services (under certain circumstances)
• Rehabilitation and therapeutic services
• Transplants
• Treatment of end-stage renal disease
• Tuberculosis-related services
• Vaccines and immunizations
• Vision care

Services continued through MA fee-for-service or through your county or Tribe:

• Abortion services, as allowed by state and federal law
• Child welfare targeted case management
• Circumcision for newborns, as allowed by state law
• Individual education plan and individual family service plan services
• Intermediate care facility for people with developmental disabilities services
• Long-term-care coordination
• Moving Home Minnesota
• Nursing home services (after the first 100 days, which are paid for by the health plan)
• OBRA Level 2 assessments
• Personal care assistance or Community First Services and Supports
• Home care nursing
• Relocation service coordination
• Vulnerable adult-developmental disability targeted case management
• Waiver services, including Community Access for Disability Inclusion, Community Alternative Care, Brain Injury and Developmental Disabilities program services

Disability Hub MN: Questions about health plan choices

Health plans: Providers and services, or care coordinators

SNBC directory: Finding plans and providers, checking coverage

Guide to SNBC enrollment: Rights and responsibilities, filing an appeal

SNBC Health Plan Coverage brochure: Overview of the program

Summary of Coverage: overview of coverage, cost sharing and limits

SNBC spenddown fact sheet: how Medical Assistance spenddowns work

How do I choose between the two SNBC programs?

There are two programs for you to choose from within SNBC:

• You can enroll in SNBC for Medical Assistance and get your Medicare fee-for-service. This is called Non-Integrated SNBC or
• Combine your Medical Assistance and Medicare services into one plan. This is called Integrated SNBC.

Currently, only PrimeWest Health and South Country Health Alliance, offer an option to combine your Medicare and Medical Assistance into a single package of coverage. To learn more about integrated coverage use the SNBC directory to find the health plans available in your county.

The Guide to SNBC enrollment has more information about covered services and key things to consider when choosing a health plan.

How do I opt out of the program or leave it after I join?

If you have been asked to choose an SNBC health plan, it is optional. If you don't want to enroll, you can opt out of the program by completing the SNBC opt out form.

If you are in SNBC, you can disenroll at any time, to be effective the first of the next month.

If you have Non-Integrated SNBC, you can opt out by:

• Contacting your county or Tribal nation for assistance
• Submitting the online SNBC Choice Form
• You can also print and complete the SNBC Choice Form and fax or mail it to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
  • Fax the form to 651-431-7464
  • Mail to:
    Managed Care – Department of Human Services
    PO Box 64838
    St. Paul, MN 55164-0838

If you have Integrated SNBC, you can opt out by contacting your health plan directly.

Will I have to change my providers if I join SNBC?

It depends. You will not have to change providers if all your providers are part of an SNBC health plan network. Please check with the health plan to ensure your providers are covered.

You will not have to change providers for the following services, which will be paid through Medical Assistance fee-for-service (often referred to as straight MA) coverage:

• Personal care assistance services/Community First Services and Supports
• Home care nursing
• Brain Injury waiver services
• Community Access for Disability Inclusion Waiver services
• Community Alternative Care Waiver services
• Developmental Disabilities Waiver services

Cost and spenddown information

There is no additional cost to enroll in either Integrated or Non-Integrated SNBC programs. Some members even save money because there are:

• No copays for Medical Assistance-covered , prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs (but you still have to pay your Medicare Part D copays).
• No health plan premiums, deductibles or co-payments.

If you are on Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD) or have a spenddown, you must continue to pay your MA-EPD premium or spenddown to remain eligible for Medical Assistance.

What happens when I turn 65?

SNBC members are disenrolled from SNBC when they turn 65 years old. Members with a birthdate on the first of the month will be disenrolled from SNBC on the last day of the month before they turn age 65. All other members will be disenrolled from SNBC on the last day of the month they turn age 65.

• You will be enrolled in a Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+) health plan for your Medical Assistance if you are eligible.
• If you have both Medicare and Medical Assistance, you can also choose to enroll in Minnesota Senior Health Options, a managed care program that combines your Medicare and Medical Assistance into one health plan.
• If you are unable to enroll in a senior managed care plan, you will get your Medical Assistance as fee-for-service coverage.

You will get a letter 90 days before your 65th birthday to let you know of the change in your health plan options. If you will be turning 65 years old, you can call Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line^®) at 800-333-2433 for help with your health plan questions.

Health care advisory committee meetings for seniors and people with disabilities

For information about upcoming public meetings, see the Special Needs Purchasing Advisory Meetings page.

Plan changes and updates

• As of January 1, 2026, Medica and UCare will no longer be providing Integrated SNBC to members.