Medicare Advantage Plans, Barbour County, AL, 2024
We reviewed the top 17 Medicare Advantage Plans available in Barbour County, Alabama for 2024. Here's what we learned:
Key Facts
- The average premium is $21.78 per month.[3]
- The average out-of-pocket limit is $5,288 per year.[3]
- The average drug plan deductible (for plans that include Part D) is $140.83 per year.[3]
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rated 88% of all plans available in Barbour County 4 stars or higher.[3]
- There are no 5-star plans available.
- There are 3 plan types to choose from, including PPO, HMO-POS, HMO, and possibly SNP plans (see: Barbour County, AL Medicare Special Needs Plans.
Barbour County, Alabama Medicare Advantage Plans
Plan Name | Type | Premium | MOOP | Rx Ded. | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Humana USAA Honor* | PPO | $0 | $3,400 | N/A | |
Humana Value Plus H5216-179* | PPO | $41 | $3,000 | $545 | |
HumanaChoice H5216-269* | PPO | $0 | $5,900 | $150 | |
HumanaChoice H5216-368* | PPO | $7 | $6,700 | $150 | |
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC AL-0001 | HMO-POS | $0 | $4,900 | $0 | |
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC AL-0002 | HMO-POS | $39 | $3,800 | $0 | |
AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx AL-MA01 | HMO-POS | $0 | $5,500 | N/A | |
Aetna Medicare Eagle | PPO | $0 | $5,500 | N/A | |
Aetna Medicare Essential | PPO | $0 | $6,000 | $0 | |
Aetna Medicare Freedom | PPO | $0 | $5,000 | $0 | |
Aetna Medicare Value Plus | PPO | $27 | $7,900 | $300 | |
Blue Advantage Complete | PPO | $0 | $5,100 | $0 | |
Blue Advantage Premier | PPO | $159 | $3,400 | $0 | |
Humana Gold Plus H5619-089 | HMO | $0 | $5,900 | $0 | |
HumanaChoice R7315-001 | PPO | $0 | $5,900 | N/A | |
HumanaChoice R7315-002 | PPO | $75 | $6,700 | $545 | |
*Rated by CMS as one of the best Medicare Advantage plans available in Alabama based on the most recent Part C and Part D performance ratings.[4] **Certain PFFS, MSA, and HMO-POS plans have a combined in and out-of-network maximum. Limits are detailed on the plan pages. |
Barbour County, AL
Medicare Advantage Plan Information
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are the private health insurance alternative to Original Medicare. There are 17 MA plans currently available in Barbour County. The coverage is provided under strict Medicare regulations and oversight. Also known as Medicare Part C, most MA plans have additional benefits unavailable through Original Medicare.
Prescription medication coverage is one of the most popular additional benefits. These plans are also known as Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MAPDs). These Barbour County plans offer people on Medicare comprehensive coverage that can help them reduce their out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama with a star rating of 4.0 or higher are often the plans people consider first. See: medicarewire.com/medicare-advantage/alabama/
Types of MA Plans in Barbour County
A notable advantage of Medicare Advantage plans lies in their diverse range of plan types. While the most prevalent options are HMOs and PPOs, several other plan types exist, although availability varies by region. In Barbour County, people on Medicare (beneficiaries) can access 3 distinct plan types, each offering unique benefits. Here's an overview of what each plan type provides:
Plan Type | Description |
---|---|
HMO | Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) members usually receive services through the plan's local network of providers. Referrals are typically required to see a specialist and other providers. However, plans allow out-of-network care for emergencies and out-of-area dialysis. Prescription drug coverage is often included in HMO plans, and many plans include some coverage for dental, vison, and hearing. |
PPO | Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) members can usually use in-network and out-of-network providers for care, including hospitalization. However, visits to non-network providers could cost significantly more. PPO plans often include prescription drug coverage and other benefits, and referrals are typically not required for specialist visits. |
HMO-POS | An HMO-POS (point-of-sale) plan offers the same features as an HMO plan. There is however one major difference. HMO-POS plans allow members to access healthcare providers outside of the plan's network to receive some or all of their services. In most cases, to go out of the plan's network a member will need to get a referral from their physician. Plus, there are separate deductibles for in-network and out-of-network services. |
SNP |
See below. |
Getting Enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan
If you are age 65 or older, you most likely qualify to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that's available in Barbour County.
There are several different Medicare Election Periods. This is when you can join or change your plan elections. Most people wait until October 15 to December 7 to make changes. This is the Annual Enrollment Period.
Most of us also get an Individual Election Period (IEP), but it only comes around once. Your IEP is a 7-month period around your 65th birthday. It starts three months before your birth month and ends three months after, so you have plenty of time. If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your IEP starts on the 25th month of your benefits.
Adding Medicare Part D for Prescription Coverage
Some people may qualify to join a standalone prescription drug plan. A Medicare Part D plan, or PDP, adds coverage for prescription Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans that don't include prescription coverage.
It is important to note that plans that provide prescription drug coverage can disenroll members who join a standalone PDP. Medicare does not allow you to be enrolled in plans that provide overlapping benefits.
An Option to Medicare Advantage
If you are concerned that a private health plan may limit your care, or that the pros and cons of Barbour County Medicare Advantage plans are too confusing, Medicare Advantage is not the only way to get more coverage. Another option is to hold on to your Original Medicare and additional coverage with a Alabama Part D Plan (prescription coverage) and a Alabama Medigap plan to help cover some of your deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
If you're not familiar with Medigap policies, and how they protect you from out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare, please review our Medicare Supplement directory, where you can learn about and compare Medigap plans. All Medigap plans are standardized. That means you can choose the plan you need based on the best price without worrying about the benefits.
NOTE: If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan you cannot buy a Medicare Supplement for additional coverage. Medicare Supplements only work with Original Medicare.
Medicare SNP Plans Available in Barbour County
Some Americans may have special circumstances, including institutional care, care for chronic health conditions, and dual eligibility for both Medicare and Medicaid. If you or a loved one have one of these special needs, look into the availability of a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan (SNP).
MedicareWire catalogs Medicare SNP plans available in Barbour County, Alabama in their own directory. We do this because Special Needs Plans are designed specifically for three types of people:
- People in a nursing home or receiving skilled nursing care at home;
- People with both Medicare and Medicaid benefits; and
- People with certain chronic health conditions.
Plan Availability
The MA and MAPD plans on this page are available to people on Medicare enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B living in Clayton, Clio, Eufaula, Louisville, and all other areas of Barbour County, Alabama.
Plans Offered
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aspire Health Plan, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Cigna Healthcare, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Scott and White Health Plan now part of Baylor Scott & White Health, UnitedHealthcare(R), and Wellcare.
Citations & References
- CMS.gov, "2024 Medicare Part C Landscape Source Files", Last Accessed October 14, 2023
- CMS.gov, "2024 Part C and D Performance Data", Last Accessed October 14, 2023
- Medicare.gov, "Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans", Last Accessed 18 June, 2022
- CMS.gov, "Special Needs Plans (SNP)", Last Accessed 24 May, 2023
- Medicare.gov, "How to compare Medigap policies", Last Accessed 1 June, 2023
[3]Data & Statistics
The data presented on this page is derived from the 2024 Landscape Source Files and the Part C and D Performance Data published by CMS.
The average premium, average out-of-pocket limit, and average drug plan deductible statistics for Barbour County, Alabama are derived from the most recent Landscape Source Files, excluding employer, MMP and SNP plans. MedicareWire publishes Special Needs Plans here.
Star rating statistics are derived from the most recent Part C and D Performance Data, excluding employer, MMP, SNP, and plans that have not yet been rated by CMS.
[4]Highest-Rated Medicare Advantage Plans
CMS publishes the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Star Ratings each year to measure the quality of health and drug services received by people on Medicare in Barbour County. MedicareWire highlights plans rated 4.0 or better as "highest-rated" or "top-rated" because they received the overall highest summary rating from CMS. According to CMS, "The Star Ratings system helps Medicare consumers compare the quality of Medicare health and drug plans being offered so they are empowered to make the best health care decisions for them."