The Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Alabama

Which Alabama Medicare Supplement is Best for Me?

Most Medicare experts agree that Original MedicareOriginal Medicare is private fee-for-service health insurance for people on Medicare. It has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage. Part B is medical coverage...., combined with Medicare supplemental insurance, provides the best Medicare insurance coverage Alabama seniors can get. But, which supplement is the right one for you?

This is a complicated question. After all, we're all different and have different needs. For most of us, it boils down to what we can afford and our health. Although there are 10 standardized plans, most seniors choose one of the three best Medigap plans available in Alabama : F, G, and N. Keep reading and we'll explain why.

Related: Are Medicare Supplement Plans Worth It?

Top 3 Medicare Supplements in Alabama

Looking for the three best Medigap plans available in Alabama? They are Medicare Supplement Plan FMedicare Supplement Plan F is the most comprehensive Medicare supplement plan available. This plan covers all Original Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, leaving you with no out-of-pocket costs on all Medicare-approved services...., Medicare Supplement Plan GIf you're turning age 65 this year, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the most comprehensive Medicare supplement you can buy. It's also the most popular. You might be thinking that Medicare Supplement Plan F is..., and Medicare Supplement Plan NMedicare Supplemental Plan N is one of the ten standardized Medigap plans. Although it is one of the newest plans available, Medicare Plan N is quickly becoming a favorite with Baby Boomers aging into their.... Here are the 10 best insurance companies that offer these plans:

1. 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plan F in Alabama
2. 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plan G in Alabama
3. 10 Best Medicare Supplement Plan N in Alabama

Looking for a different plan? Compare the best Medicare supplement plans in Alabama. You can also write a Medicare supplement review and let others know about a good or bad experience with a particular carrier.

Alabama Medicare Supplement Plan F Comparison Chart

Medicare Supplement Plan F is the most popular Medigap plan available in Alabama. Here are the 10 best Plan F policies available in Alabama based on our reviews (click for details):

Alabama Medicare Supplement Plan G Comparison Chart

Medicare Supplement Plan G is rapidly gaining popularity among Alabama seniors. With Plan F going away in 2020, it is expected to be the new gold standard. Here are the 10 best Medigap Plan G policies available in Alabama based on our reviews (click for details):

Alabama Medicare Supplement Plan N Comparison Chart

Medicare Supplement Plan N is similar to Plan D, but covers Medicare Part B coinsuranceCoinsurance is a percentage of the total you are required to pay for a medical service. ... costs differently. Due to its lower cost and good coverage, it's catching the attention of many Alabama seniors. Here are the 10 best Medigap Plan N policies available in Alabama based on our reviews (click for details):

About our Alabama Supplemental Medicare Insurance Reviews

We review all major Medicare Supplement insuranceMedicare Supplements are additional insurance policies that Medicare beneficiaries can purchase to cover the gaps in their Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) health insurance coverage.... carriers servicing Medigap policies in Alabama. Our reviews are unbiased. We use a balanced formula that looks at years in business, A.M. Best financial strength rating, plans serviced, plan premiumsA premium is an amount that an insurance policyholder must pay for coverage. Premiums are typically paid on a monthly basis. In the federal Medicare program, there are four different types of premiums. ..., and fees. Our current formula does not take rate increase history into account.

Our review of Medicare Supplement Plans in Alabama is based on a statewide analysis, not nationwide. We recommend consumers use our 5-star ratings as one aspect of their decision-making process. It helps compare insurance carriers at-a-glance.

How Much do Supplemental Medicare Plans Cost in Alabama?

The Centers for Medicare and MedicaidMedicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health care coverage to low-income families and individuals in the United States.... updates their Medicare supplement cost information annually. We show estimated monthly premiums for all Medicare supplement insurance plans in Alabama. Premiums shown come from our most recent review of each carrier and are based on a 65-year-old, non-smoking woman. Use our rates to compare carriers. Your agent will quote your final rate based on where you live, your current age, sex, and use of tobacco. Call 1-855-728-0510 (TTY 711) to speak with an agent and get a quote.

Medicare Supplement Plans in Alabama are Standardized

The Alabama Department of Insurance and the federal government have worked together to standardize Medicare supplemental insurance policies. Insurance companies must clearly identify plans as Medicare Supplement Insurance and each Medigap policy must use a standardized letter code, A through N. Each lettered plan offers the same benefits, regardless of the carrier offering it. Only the rates are different. That means that a Plan F from AARP (UnitedHealthcare) has exactly the same health coverage as a Plan F from Blue Cross. The lettered plans make supplemental insurance easy to compare and understand vs. the HMO or PPO plans you can get through Medicare Advantage.

NOTE: Medigap, Medicare Supplements, and Medicare Plans are all names used interchangeably for supplemental insurance that fills the gaps (i.e., copay, coinsurance, and other major medical expenses) in Original Medicare coverage.

All Alabama Medicare supplement policies offer the same basic benefits, however, some offer additional gap coverage. This lets you get the additional insurance you need to cover the gaps in your Medicare Parts A and B benefits.

Each insurance company decides which policies it wants to sell, although state laws might affect which ones they offer. Insurance companies that sell Medicare supplemental insurance:

• Don't have to offer every Medigap plan
• Must offer Medigap Plan AMedicare Supplement Plan A is often confused with Medicare Part A, which is the Medicare coverage that pays for your inpatient hospital care. Medicare Supplement Plan A, which is also known as Medigap Plan A,... if they offer any Medigap policy
• Must also offer Plan C or Plan F if they offer any plan

For more information, visit the Alabama Department of Insurance website at http://www.aldoi.gov/.

Alabama Med Supp Plan Comparison Chart

The comparison chart below shows the benefits offered by each standardized Medigap plan.

Medigap Benefits	A	B	C	D	F*	G	K	L	M	N
Medicare Part A Coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefifits are used up	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Medicare Part B Coinsurance or Copayment	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	Yes	Yes**
Blood (First 3 Pints)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	Yes	Yes
Part A HospiceHospice is a special way of caring for people who are terminally ill. Hospice care involves a team-oriented approach that addresses the medical, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient.... Care Coinsurance or Copayment	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	Yes	Yes
Skilled Nursing Facility Care Coinsurance	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	Yes	Yes
Medicare Part A Deductible	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	50%	75%	50%	Yes
Medicare Part B Deductible	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Medicare Part B Excess ChargesA Medicare Part B excess charge is the difference between a health care provider’s actual charge and Medicare’s approved amount for payment....	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Foreign Travel Emergency (Up to Plan Limits)	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Out-of-Pocket Limit***	None	None	None	None	None	None	$5,240	$2,620	None	None

^* Medicare Plan F also offers a high-deductible plan. If you choose this option, this means you must pay for Medicare-covered costs up to the deductible amount of $2,240 before your Medigap plan pays anything.

^** Medicare Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don't result in an inpatient admission.

^*** After you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the Medigap plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.

It's important to compare Medigap insurance with Medicare Advantage plansMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B)..... At first glance, it looks like Medicare Advantage plans are less expensive and offer more benefits. But, you need to dig deeper to get to the truth. If you are simply comparing the monthly premiums, you may be in for a very big surprise with a Medicare Advantage plan in most areas of Alabama.

To really understand the difference between Medicare supplements and Medicare Advantage plans you need to look at total cost. It's true, Medicare Advantage plans have many advantages and disadvantages, but your out-of-pocket costsOut-of-Pocket Costs for Medicare are the remaining costs that are not covered by the beneficiary's health insurance plan. These costs can come from the beneficiary's monthly premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.... are not one of its advantages.

Enrolling in Part D to Get Prescription Drug Coverage with a Alabama Medicare Supplement

To get prescription drug coverage with a Medigap policy you need a stand-alone Alabama Medicare Part D plan. The most basic plans start at less than $20 and are worth getting, even if you don't have regular prescriptions.

You can join a Part DMedicare Part D plans are an option Medicare beneficiaries can use to get prescription drug coverage. Part D plans provide cost-sharing on covered medications in four different phases: deductible, initial coverage, coverage gap, and catastrophic. Each... plan as soon as you have both your Part A and Part B benefits. But, don't delay. Once your initial enrollment has passed, you won't be able to join a plan until the next open enrollment periodDuring the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan members can change, switch, or drop a plan they chose during the Annual Election Period. OEP starts on January 1 and ends on.... Medicare's Annual Election Period for Part D plans every Fall from 15 October through 7 December.

CRITICAL: If you don't enroll in a Part D plan when you are first eligible, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the U.S. Federal agency that runs the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Programs.... will penalize you with additional fees when you want to join a plan later on. You may not have regular prescriptions now, but it pays to join a basic plan as soon as you can to avoid the penalty later.

Still Unsure About How Supplemental Medicare Insurance Works in Alabama?

Are you trying to reduce your overall health care costs by lowering your out-of-pocket costs? One of these article may be what you're looking for:

• What is the difference between Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans?
• What is the Best Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan?
• Can I get a Medicare supplement plan if I am are under 65?
• When can I change my Medicare supplemental insurance plan?
• What is the cheapest Medicare supplement plan?
• Steps to Picking the Right Medicare Supplement Plans

You Have Questions About Medicare Supplements And We Have Answers

We get it. Figuring out which Alabama Medigap plan is right for you is difficult. Here are a few of the most frequent questions we answer.

A Alabama Medigap Plan Does Not Cover Dental

We all need routine dental care and dental restoration work as we age, but it's not covered by Original Medicare or a Medigap plan. For coverage, you'll need a stand-alone Alabama dental insurance policy.

Need Local Help?

The State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) provide free, one-on-one insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers. The Alabama SHIP is a grant-funded project of the federal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). You can reach them by phone or on their website:

• 1-800-AGE-LINE (1-800-243-5463)
• http://www.alabamaageline.gov/

Additional Foot Notes

^[3] The sample premium is for a 65-year-old, non-smoking, woman living in Alabama. The rate was accurate on the date of publication. Rates change frequently and they are priced by county. You must contact a licensed agent to get a current rate for your situation.

^[4] Review rating stars are derived from MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer.... reviews on our Medigap Plan pages.

Citations & References

medicare.gov

• Medicare.gov: the official U.S. government site for Medicare | Medicare https://www.medicare.gov/
• Medicare costs at a glance | Medicare https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/medicare-costs-at-a-glance
• Find a Medigap policy that works for you https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/medigap-home.aspx
• Drug coverage (Part D) | Medicare http://www.medicare.gov/part-d/index.html

ssa.gov

• The United States Social Security Administration https://www.ssa.gov/
• Medicare Benefits | SSA https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/

The Medicare Supplement information on this page originates from CMS Data Files, is maintained by David Bynon, and was last updated on September 17, 2021.