Medicare Advantage Plans, Clarke County, AL, 2024
We reviewed the top 15 Medicare Advantage Plans available in Clarke County, Alabama for 2024. Here's what we learned:
Key Facts
- The average premium is $24.39 per month.[3]
- The average out-of-pocket limit is $5,200 per year.[3]
- The average drug plan deductible (for plans that include Part D) is $154.00 per year.[3]
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rated 86% of all plans available in Clarke 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: Clarke County, AL Medicare Special Needs Plans.
Clarke 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 | |
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 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 | |
*Recognized as one of the top-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. |
Clarke County, AL
Medicare Advantage Plan Information
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans provide an alternative to Original Medicare for people on Medicare living in Clarke County. The 15 plans available are offered by Medicare-approved private companies that agree to provide coverage by Medicare's rules. MA plans, also known as Medicare Part C, can offer additional benefits unavailable through Original Medicare.
One of the most common additional benefits offered is coverage for prescription medications. These plans are commonly referred to as Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans (MAPDs), and they provide comprehensive coverage for people on Medicare in Clarke County seeking to minimize their out-of-pocket expenses.
The top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama have a star rating of 4.0 stars or higher. Many people often start their search with these plans. See: medicarewire.com/medicare-advantage/alabama/
3 Plan Types to Choose in Clarke County
The Medicare Advantage program was created to give people on Medicare (beneficiaries) a choice. To that end, Medicare developed 7 different types of private health plans. In Clarke County, 3 of the 7 types of Medicare Advantage plans are available, as follows:
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. |
How-To Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan
Most people with Medicare in Alabama qualify to join a Medicare Advantage plan. The availability of plans in your area that meet your needs may be the determining factor.
You are only allowed to join, drop or change Medicare Advantage plans during a Medicare Election Period. The period between October 15 and December 7 is the Annual Enrollment Period. That's when most people join or change their Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans or go back to Original Medicare.
There's also an Individual Election Period (IEP) that you can use once. Your IEP is a 7-month period of time around your 65th birthday. It begins three months before you turn 65 and ends three months later. If you have Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your IEP begins on the 25th month.
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 Clarke County
Medicare Advantage is one way to get full coverage healthcare. However, many people feel that Medicare Advantage plans have too many disadvantages. Another option is to keep Original Medicare benefits and add more coverage with a Alabama Medicare Supplement plan and a Alabama Medicare Part D plan (PDP) to help pay for your prescription medications.
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.
Clarke County Special Needs Plans (SNP)
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 Clarke 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 Coffeeville, Grove Hill, Jackson, Thomasville, Whatley, and all other areas of Clarke 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, "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 Clarke 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 Clarke 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."