Part 2: Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and Non-Medical Transportation: How Vulnerability Influences Coverage

In recent years, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) have begun to offer non-medical transportation as a supplemental benefit. Why is this so important?

Transportation can be a critical barrier to healthcare access, especially for individuals in high-risk or high-vulnerability areas. Below is an overview of how vulnerability—and specifically transportation-related vulnerability—appears to influence the availability of these benefits, based on recent data insights.

1. Vulnerability Drives the Need

The data shows that more vulnerable areas tend to have more SNPs offering transportation benefits. This makes sense: counties where social, economic, or health-related vulnerabilities are higher often have a greater need for reliable transportation to reach medical appointments, pharmacies, or even grocery stores.

2. High Vulnerability, High Support

When we look at counties with very high overall vulnerability—and especially high transportation-specific vulnerability—we see the largest number of SNPs that include non-medical transportation benefits. This suggests that plans are recognizing the needs of communities that face more pronounced barriers and are tailoring benefits accordingly.

3. Proactive Planning in Lower-Risk Areas

Interestingly, even in low vulnerability areas, some SNPs still offer transportation benefits. This indicates that while vulnerability is a key driver, certain plans may be proactively providing transportation options to help members stay engaged in preventative care and social activities, regardless of their overall risk profile.

4. Proportion Matters

As overall vulnerability increases, so does the proportion of SNPs offering transportation benefits. In other words, it’s not just the total number of plans that goes up in higher-risk areas—the percentage of plans offering these benefits also rises.

5. Transportation-Specific Focus

A similar pattern emerges when focusing on transportation-specific vulnerability (for example, areas where individuals have limited or no access to reliable transportation). While this trend is slightly less pronounced than the overall vulnerability data, it still underscores how closely plans align their benefits with community needs.

6. Significant Support in High-Risk Areas

In the highest vulnerability quintiles, over 60% of SNPs offer transportation benefits. This is a substantial figure that points to a growing recognition among health plans that provide access to transportation is crucial for patient well-being—especially in communities where getting around is already a challenge.

7. The Clear Correlation

The takeaway is straightforward: Higher vulnerability correlates with a higher likelihood of SNPs providing transportation benefits. Whether it’s because plans see a market opportunity or genuinely aim to address social determinants of health, the relationship is evident.

8. Inclusive Benefits

Finally, counties with higher vulnerabilities are more likely to have SNPs that include non-medical transportation as a standard benefit. This inclusivity can help reduce isolation, ensure consistent access to care, and improve overall health outcomes.

Questions for Further Thought

• Are Medicare Advantage Plans adapting SNPs benefits to meet the needs of vulnerable communities? These data suggest a “yes,” but there may still be gaps in coverage or awareness.

• Do brokers fully understand these benefits when helping beneficiaries choose plans? Education and awareness among brokers could be key to ensuring that individuals who need transportation benefits can find them.

• Any Other Observations? Are there regional differences or specific plan characteristics that influence how transportation benefits are offered?

Conclusion

These findings highlight a strong correlation between community vulnerability and the provision of non-medical transportation benefits by Special Needs Plans. As health plans increasingly focus on social determinants of health, providing transportation assistance can be a critical step toward ensuring equitable access to care and services.

If you have insights or experiences with SNPs and transportation benefits—especially regarding how brokers present these options or how beneficiaries utilize them—we’d love to hear from you. The more we share knowledge, the better equipped we are to advocate for meaningful benefits that address real-world challenges.

Source data: [mimilabs Part C & D Enrollment files Feb-2024; benefits file 2024 Q1].