Medicare Advantage Plans, Colbert County, AL, 2024
We reviewed the top 32 Medicare Advantage Plans available in Colbert County, Alabama for 2024. Here's what we learned:
Key Facts
- The average premium is $17.53 per month.[3]
- The average out-of-pocket limit is $5,392 per year.[3]
- The average drug plan deductible (for plans that include Part D) is $146.80 per year.[3]
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rated 68% of all plans available in Colbert 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: Colbert County, AL Medicare Special Needs Plans.
Colbert 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 Value Plus | PPO | $27 | $7,900 | $300 | |
Blue Advantage Complete | PPO | $0 | $5,100 | $0 | |
Blue Advantage Premier | PPO | $159 | $3,400 | $0 | |
Cigna Courage Medicare | HMO | $0 | $5,400 | N/A | |
Cigna Preferred AL Medicare | HMO | $0 | $8,850 | $195 | |
Cigna Preferred Medicare | HMO | $0 | $4,900 | $0 | |
Cigna Preferred Plus Medicare | HMO | $32 | $4,500 | $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 | |
Cigna True Choice Access Medicare | PPO | $0 | $5,100 | $0 | |
Cigna True Choice Savings Medicare | PPO | $0 | $5,750 | $0 | |
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 | |
Devoted CHOICE Alabama | PPO | $0 | $5,500 | $150 | |
Devoted GIVEBACK Alabama | HMO | $0 | $6,000 | $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. |
Colbert County, AL
Medicare Advantage Plan Information
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are the private health insurance alternative to Original Medicare. There are 32 MA plans currently available in Colbert 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 Colbert 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/
3 Plan Types to Choose in Colbert County
Medicare allows 7 distinct types of private health plans, although the availability of these plans may vary by location. In Colbert County, people on Medicare (beneficiaries) can select from 3 out of the 7 plan types, which are 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. |
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 Colbert 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 Prescription Drug Coverage
Some individuals may be eligible to join a standalone prescription drug plan. Otherwise known as a PDP or Part D plan, a standalone prescription drug plan adds prescription coverage to Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans that do not include coverage for prescriptions.
It’s important to note that health plans that include prescription drug coverage may disenroll members who sign up for a separate drug plan. You cannot be enrolled in plans with overlapping benefits.
Medicare Advantage Is Just One Option in Colbert 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 are not aware of the benefits of Medicare Supplement Insurance, and how it helps pays medical bills from an extended illness or hospital stay, check out our Medigap page and compare Medicare supplement plans in your area. All Medicare supplements are standardized and regulated. That means you can go with the lowest cost policy and get all of the same benefits.
IMPORTANT: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplements are not compatible insurance. Medicare Supplements work with Original Medicare and cannot be purchased while you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
Medicare SNP Plans Available in Colbert 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 has a special directory for Colbert County, Alabama Special Needs Plans. Although managed under the Medicare Advantage program, SNP plans are designed specifically for three types of people:
- People on Medicare in a nursing home or receiving skilled nursing care at home;
- People on Medicare with both Medicare and Medicaid benefits; and
- People on Medicare 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 Cherokee, Leighton, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and all other areas of Colbert 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 Colbert 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 Colbert 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."