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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

How to enroll in a FIDE SNP

MMAI Members

Members of an MMAI plan offered by Aetna, Humana, Meridian, and Molina 

  •  CMS will automatically enroll these members in the Illinois FIDE SNP offered by these companies with a start date of January 1, 2026.
    • These members do not need to take any action. They will receive an Annual Notice of Change from the FIDE SNP by September 30, 2025 informing them of this transition and their options to select other forms of coverage.
    • These members can enroll in other forms of coverage, including other FIDE SNPs, beginning October 15, 2025. See Key Medicare Enrollment Events and Dates.   

Members of the Blue Cross Blue Shield MMAI Plan 

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield will not be offering a FIDE SNP for 2026.

  • BCBS mailed letters on October 2, 2025 notifying their members of the MMAI transition and their options to select other forms of Medicare coverage.

  • These members can choose to enroll in one of the Illinois FIDE SNPs or other forms of Medicare coverage beginning October 15, 2025. See Key Medicare Enrollment Events and Dates.  

Medicare Benefits: 

  • If these members do not make an active enrollment choice prior to December 31, 2025, CMS will automatically enroll them in Original Medicare with a Medicare drug plan starting January 1, 2026. 

  • Medicare is the primary payer of all Medicare covered benefits. 

  • Members must have Medicare coverage. Members cannot opt out of Medicare coverage.

Medicaid Benefits:

  • LTSS members will be automatically enrolled in the BCBS HealthChoice IL MLTSS plan. 

  • Non-LTSS members will receive services in the HFS FFS program.

  • See Dual Members Who Do Not Choose a FIDE SNAP on this page for more information on Medicaid benefits.  

Members not in MMAI who are eligible for FIDE SNP Enrollment

Follow these steps to enroll

  • Visit Medicare.gov, select the “Find Plans Now” button, and follow the steps to view Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans available in your zip code. Make sure to select “Medicaid” when asked if you get help with your Medicare health or drug costs. Please note that information about Calendar Year 2026 plans will not be available in  Medicare.gov until a few days before October 15, 2025. 
  • Call the plan or visit their website. Websites are active beginning  October 1, 2025.
  • Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. 

Key Medicare Enrollment Events and Dates

Open Enrollment Period (OEP) 

OEP is a chance to review your current Medicare plans and compare all the 2025 health and prescription drug options. 

  • October 15 - December 7 of each year
  • Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage (or add or drop drug coverage)
  • Switch from Original Medicare  to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare
  • Join, drop, or switch to another Medicare drug plan if a member is in Original Medicare.
  • Coverage starts January 1 of the next year (the plan must get your enrollment request by December 7)

Special Enrollment  Periods (SEP) for Dually Eligible Individuals Throughout the Calendar Year

Integrated Care SEP:

o   In Illinois,  members eligible for a FIDE SNP can enroll once-per-month in a FIDE SNP using the Integrated Care SEP.

o   In Calendar Year 2025, coverage will begin January 1, 2026 because January 1, 2026 is the first date that FIDE SNP coverage begins in Illinois.

o  Beginning January 1, 2026, coverage will start the first of the month after the plan gets your request

Dual/LIS SEP: 

o   Once-per-month, any dually eligible member in a Medicare Advantage Plan, including a FIDE SNP, can choose to go back to Original Medicare and a standalone prescription drug plan (PDP) and switch between standalone PDPs using the Dual/LIS SEP.

o   Coverage will start the first of the month after the plan gets your disenrollment request. 

  • The Integrated Care SEP and the Dual/LIS SEP won’t allow enrollment into non-D-SNP Medicare Advantage Plans or switching between the non-D-SNP Medicare Advantage plans. 

Other Medicare Enrollment Periods

  • In addition to the CMS open enrollment period and the special enrollment periods above, there are other opportunities to enroll in Medicare .
  • See this link for more information about the various Medicare enrollment periods.

Dual Members Who Do Not Choose a FIDE SNP

Medicare Coverage Options

• Return to Original Medicare with a Medicare Drug Plan; or

• Select a different Medicare Advantage plan (FIDE SNPs are Medicare Advantage Plans):

o Most Medicare Advantage plans cover prescription drugs.

o If members choose a Medicare Advantage plan without prescription drug coverage, members should also select a Medicare Drug Plan for prescription drug coverage.

o If members do not choose to enroll in a plan with prescription drug coverage, CMS will assign members to a Medicare Drug Plan.

  • Medicaid Coverage

 Member

 

      Medicaid Managed Care Medicaid Fee For Service (FFS) Program

Members Receiving LTSS Services 

 

 

  • Members must be enrolled in a HealthChoice IL Managed Long-Term Services and Support (MLTSS) plan for LTSS services.

  • Members will be auto enrolled in the MLTSS plan of the affiliated FIDE SNP and have(i) one change period prior to the effective date of enrollment to switch to another MLTSS plan and (ii) a change period of 90 days after the effective date of enrollment to choose another MLTSS plan. Currently, to switch plans, members must call the HFS Client Enrollment Broker at 1-877-912-8880.

  • The MLTSS health plan is only responsible for nursing facility services, HCBS waiver services, behavioral health, transportation and other services not covered by Medicare

  • Humana FIDE SNP members who disenroll will be auto-enrolled in a MLTSS plan. 

  • Members must use their HealthChoice IL Managed Care Plan ID card to access LTSS services. 

 

 

  • Members will receive non-LTSS services in the Medicaid FFS Program (e.g., non-Medicare prescription drugs, non-Medicare home health, non-Medicare DME).

  • Members must use their HFS Medical card to access Medicaid services. 

 

 

Members NOT Receiving LTSS Services 

 

 

N/A – Members do not receive Medicaid services from a managed care plan.

 

 

  • Members will receive Medicaid services in the Medicaid FFS program.

  • Members must use their HFS Medical card to access Medicaid services.