Medicare Advantage Plans, Calhoun County, AL, 2024
We reviewed the top 25 Medicare Advantage Plans available in Calhoun County, Alabama for 2024. Here's what we learned:
Key Facts
- The average premium is $21.31 per month.[3]
- The average out-of-pocket limit is $5,417 per year.[3]
- The average drug plan deductible (for plans that include Part D) is $159.47 per year.[3]
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rated 75% of all plans available in Calhoun County 4 stars or higher.[3]
- There are 4 5-star plans available that qualify for the 5-star special enrollment period.
- There are 3 plan types to choose from, including HMO, PPO, HMO-POS, and possibly SNP plans (see: Calhoun County, AL Medicare Special Needs Plans.
Calhoun County, Alabama Medicare Advantage Plans
Plan Name | Type | Premium | MOOP | Rx Ded. | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIVA Medicare Plus* | HMO | $0 | $5,400 | $0 | |
VIVA Medicare Premier* | HMO | $96 | $4,500 | $0 | |
VIVA Medicare Prime* | HMO | $46 | $5,400 | $0 | |
VIVA Medicare Select* | HMO | $0 | $4,500 | N/A | |
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 Freedom | PPO | $0 | $5,900 | $0 | |
Aetna Medicare Giveback Choice | PPO | $0 | $8,850 | $250 | |
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 | |
Wellcare Assist | HMO | $21 | $4,500 | $545 | |
Wellcare Giveback Open | PPO | $0 | $7,350 | $545 | |
Wellcare No Premium | HMO | $0 | $4,500 | $0 | |
Wellcare No Premium Open | PPO | $0 | $5,500 | $0 | |
*Identified as one of the highest-rated Medicare Advantage plans available in Alabama based on the most recent CMS 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. |
Calhoun County, AL
Medicare Advantage Plan Information
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are the private health insurance alternative to Original Medicare. There are 25 MA plans currently available in Calhoun 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 often included as an additional benefit. Plans that include prescription coverage are called Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (or MAPDs). They help Calhoun County people on Medicare reduce their premiums and/or out-of-pocket costs.
The highest-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama have a CMS star rating of 4.0 stars or better. These plans are where many people start their search. See: medicarewire.com/medicare-advantage/alabama/
3 Plan Types to Choose in Calhoun 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 Calhoun 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 Calhoun County.
You can join or switch Medicare Advantage plans during a Medicare Election Period. For most people, the Annual Enrollment Period, which starts on October 15 and ends on December 7, is the time they update their plan choices.
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.
Medicare Advantage Is Just One Option in Calhoun County
If you are worried that your Medicare Advantage plan options in Calhoun County may not meet your needs, or that Medicare Advantage plans are bad, inconvenient, or will limit your services, there is another way to get more coverage. There are Medicare Supplements available in Alabama, as well as Medicare prescription drug plans. These work hand-in-hand with your Original Medicare to give you more coverage and more flexibility.
A Medicare Supplement protects you from big medical bills and may help you lower the total annual cost of your healthcare. See our directory of supplemental plans to compare supplemental Medicare insurance available in your area. The good news is that all supplemental insurance is standardized, offering you the luxury to buy the coverage you need based on the lowest price.
TIP: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplements do not complement each other as insurance options. Medicare Supplements are designed to work with Original Medicare and cannot be purchased while you are actively enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
Medicare SNP Plans Available in Calhoun County
Numerous individuals enrolled in Medicare have distinct health plan requirements, encompassing institutional care, the management of chronic conditions, and eligibility for both Medicare and Medicaid. If you or a family member has any of these specific needs, consider exploring your Special Needs Plan (SNP) options.
MedicareWire catalogs Medicare SNP plans available in Calhoun 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 Alexandria, Anniston, Eastaboga, Jacksonville, Ohatchee, Oxford, Piedmont, Weaver, Wellington, and all other areas of Calhoun 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, "Types of Medicare Advantage Plans", Last Accessed 17 May, 2022
- MedicareWire.com, "Special Needs Plans", Last Accessed 15 June, 2023
- Medicare.gov, "Learn How Medigap Works", Last Accessed 1 July, 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 Calhoun 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 Calhoun 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."