UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete 2027: Who Qualifies, States and Benefits

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 12, 2026

UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete is UnitedHealthcare’s line of Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), Medicare Advantage plans built for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. You’ll see names like UHC Dual Complete and UHC Preferred Dual Complete, followed by a state and plan code.

CMS’s 2027 plan data lists 136 individual Dual Complete plans in 39 states and 2,430 counties, down from 170 plans in 2026. Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and people with Medicaid can often change plans at other times of the year too.

Dual Complete plans are sold in 39 states for 2027. These are the 15 states with the largest footprint:

Source: CMS 2027 Plan Benefit Package and plan service area data, individual (non-employer) plans.

Dual Complete is also sold in parts of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and West Virginia. Check by ZIP code for the plans in your county.

To join a Dual Complete plan, you generally need:

• Medicare Part A and Part B
• Medicaid from your state, either full Medicaid or a qualifying level of help such as a Medicare Savings Program, depending on the plan
• An address in the plan’s service area

Each plan sets which Medicaid levels it accepts, and you’ll need to keep your Medicaid to stay in the plan. People with both Medicare and Medicaid can often change plans outside Annual Enrollment through special enrollment periods. Learn more in our guide to Medicare Advantage special needs plans.

Of the 136 Dual Complete plans for 2027, 73 are HMO-POS plans, 55 are PPOs and 8 are HMOs. Here’s what else CMS’s 2027 benefit data shows. Amounts and rules depend on the plan and county:

• An over-the-counter allowance on every Dual Complete plan for 2027.
• Food and grocery help on every Dual Complete plan, for members who qualify.
• Prescription drug coverage. Many people with Medicaid also get Extra Help, which lowers drug costs.
• Dental, vision and hearing benefits may be included, depending on the plan.

Medicaid may also help pay your Medicare premiums and cost-sharing, depending on your level of coverage. Check each plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits for exact amounts.

Comparing CMS’s 2026 and 2027 plan data, the Dual Complete lineup changed in a few ways:

• Fewer plans. 136 individual Dual Complete plans for 2027, down from 170.
• Fewer HMO-POS and PPO plans. HMO-POS plans drop from 94 to 73 and PPOs from 63 to 55.
• New plan codes. Many plans have new state and letter codes for 2027, so your plan may have a new name even if it continues.

UnitedHealthcare overall is adding 40 special needs plans for 2027 while exiting about 140 counties and leaving Wyoming. If you’re in a Dual Complete plan now, read your Annual Notice of Change carefully. See our guide to UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans for the full lineup.

1. Confirm your Medicaid level. Each plan sets which levels it accepts.
2. Confirm your county. Dual Complete plans differ by state and county.
3. Check your doctors and hospitals. Make sure they accept the plan.
4. Run your prescriptions. Confirm your drugs are on the plan’s list.
5. Read your Annual Notice of Change. Your plan may have a new name or code for 2027.
6. Mark the dates. Medicare Open Enrollment 2027 runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.