If you live in Alabama and are age 65 or older, or about to turn age 65, you may be wondering about Medicare plans and what coverage options are available to you.

Medicare is a national insurance program managed by the federal government for older Americans, and people who have certain disabilities or chronic health conditions.

But Medicare is more than just a single health plan. There are multiple components, some of which are available through the federal government and some offered by private insurance companies. As such, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing which Medicare plan in Alabama might be best for you.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported the following information on Medicare trends in Alabama for the 2024 plan year:

  • A total of 1,092,706 residents of Alabama are enrolled in Medicare.
  • The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium increased by $2.80 in Alabama compared with last year — to $15.09 in 2024 from $12.29 in 2023.
  • There are 93 Medicare Advantage plans available in Alabama for 2024, compared with 108 plans in 2023.
  • All Alabama residents with Medicare have access to buy a Medicare Advantage plan, including plans with $0 premiums.
  • There are 31 plans available in Alabama for 2024 that offer additional options for chronically ill enrollees or Medicare Advantage enrollees who receive low-income subsidies (also called Extra Help, which helps cover Part D drug costs).

Medicare is made up of many different parts. We’ll go over a few of these parts and how they work in Alabama next.

Original Medicare

Parts A and B are the main components available from the federal government. Together, they make up what’s known as original Medicare.

  • Medicare Part A covers hospital costs. This includes inpatient health care services you may receive in a hospital, as well as some limited care in a skilled nursing facility or at home.
  • Medicare Part B is for general medical services. It includes coverage for medically necessary services and procedures you get from a regular doctor or specialist on an outpatient basis, including preventive care.

While parts A and B may seem pretty comprehensive, you may find that original Medicare doesn’t provide enough coverage. You have the option to purchase additional coverage from private insurance companies to help cover these gaps.

Medicare Advantage in Alabama

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans combine the components of original Medicare with additional coverage, like prescription drugs, vision, and dental.

These plans are sold through and administered by private insurance providers and are considered a full replacement for original Medicare. You choose the insurance company and plan type that best suits your needs.

A number of private insurance companies offer MedicareAdvantage plans in Alabama, including:

Not all of these Alabama Medicare Advantage plans are available in every county, so enter your specific ZIP code when searching for plans where you live.

Medicare supplement plans in Alabama

Medicare supplement plans help pay costs original Medicare doesn’t cover such as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. These plans sometimes are called Medigap plans.

Many insurance companies offer Medigap plans in Alabama. In 2024, some of the companies offering Medigap plans in this state include:

There are 12 total different plan options available throughout Alabama. You can search for those sold in your area by entering your ZIP code into Medicare’s Medigap plan finder tool.

You may qualify for Medicare plans in Alabama if you:

When can I enroll in Medicare plans in Alabama?

You can apply for Medicare online starting 3 months before you turn age 65. This is when your initial enrollment period begins. This period lasts from 3 months before your 65th birthday until 3 months after.

Other enrollment periods include:

  • Medigap initial enrollment. You can enroll in a Medigap plan for up to 6 months after you turn age 65.
  • General enrollment. From January 1 through March 31, you may enroll in a Medicare plan or Medicare Advantage plan if you did not enroll during your initial enrollment period.
  • Medicare Part D/add-ons enrollment. From April 1 through June 30, if you don’t have Medicare Part A, but you enrolled in Part B during the general enrollment period, you can choose a Part D prescription drug plan.
  • Open enrollment. From October 15 through December 7, you may enroll in, drop out of, or change your Part C or Part D plan, or you may switch back to original Medicare.
  • Special enrollment. For an approved reason, you may qualify for a special enrollment period of 8 months during which you may enroll in Medicare or switch your Part C, Part D, or Medigap plan.

Tips for enrolling in Medicare in Alabama

When choosing a Medicare plan in Alabama, you’ll want to be sure to consider the specifics of how each plan would affect you. Questions like these are important to keep in mind:

  • What are the costs? Consider not just premium costs, but how much you can expect to pay out of pocket when you seek care or fill prescriptions.
  • What is the plan design like? If you’re considering a Medicare Advantage plan, keep in mind that in Alabama, these plans can be structured in different ways. Do you prefer to have a primary care physician overseeing your care, or would you prefer to go straight to network specialists on your own?
  • Does the network make sense for your needs? Some networks are narrower than others. If you have regular doctors you already have relationships with, it’s important to check whether or not they are in a plan’s network.

The following resources can be useful in choosing a Medicare plan in Alabama:

  • Over 1 million people in Alabama are enrolled in Medicare.
  • There are several private insurance companies offering various types of Medicare Advantage plans and plans for chronically ill people and those who receive low-income subsidies in Alabama.
  • Overall, monthly premium costs have increased for 2024 Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama.