Best Medicare Companies in Valley, Alabama (2024)

In Valley, Alabama, there are several Medicare companies that offer Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans to eligible individuals. Here’s the nine most prominent Medicare companies in Valley, Alabama:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
• Humana
• UnitedHealthcare
• Aetna
• Cigna
• Mutual of Omaha
• AARP Medicare Supplement
• WellCare
• CarePlus Health Plans

Each of these companies offers different Medicare plans with varying costs, benefits, and coverage options. It’s important to do research and compare plans to find the one that best meets your healthcare needs and budget.

In Valley, Alabama, the top three who are eligible for Medicare include:

• Individuals who are 65 years or older
• Individuals who have a qualifying disability and have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for at least 24 months
• Individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) regardless of their age

There are four main types of Medicare plans that are available to eligible individuals in Valley, Alabama:

• Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers inpatient hospital care, hospice care, skilled nursing facility care, and home health care.
• Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers outpatient services such as doctor visits, preventive services, and medical equipment. There is a monthly premium for Part B.
• Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage): Private insurance plans that are approved by Medicare and provide all of the benefits of Part A and Part B, often including prescription drug coverage and other additional benefits.
• Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): Optional prescription drug coverage that can be added to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or Medicare Advantage plans.

In addition, there are also Medicare Supplement plans (also known as Medigap plans) which are offered by private insurance companies to cover the “gaps” in coverage that Original Medicare does not cover, such as:

• deductibles
• copayments
• coinsurance

It’s important to note that Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans have their own rules and restrictions, and may have different costs and benefits. It’s important to research and compare plans to find the one that best meets your healthcare needs and budget

The Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a time period outside of the initial enrollment period during which individuals can sign up for or make changes to their Medicare coverage. The SEP allows individuals to enroll in or make changes to their Medicare coverage when certain qualifying life events occur.

Here’s the five examples of qualifying life events that may trigger a SEP include:

• Losing employer-provided health coverage
• Moving to a new area that is not in the service area of your current Medicare plan
• Qualifying for Medicaid
• Losing Medicare coverage due to a plan leaving the Medicare program or losing contract with Medicare
• Becoming eligible for a Special Needs Plan (SNP)

During the SEP, eligible individuals can:

• Enroll in or switch to a Medicare Advantage plan, a Medicare Part D plan or
• Make changes to their existing coverage
• The SEP may also allow individuals to add or drop prescription drug coverage
• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare

It’s important to note that the length of the SEP and the specific rules may vary depending on the qualifying life event. It’s important to contact Medicare or a Medicare representative to determine eligibility and enrollment options during the SEP.

The Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) is a period of time during which individuals who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can make changes to their coverage. The MADP takes place from January 1 to March 31 each year.

During the MADP, individuals who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can make any of the three changes:

• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)
• Enroll in a Medicare Part D plan if they are switching back to Original Medicare and do not have prescription drug coverage
• Make changes to their existing Medicare Part D plan

It’s important to note that during the MADP:

• individuals cannot switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan
• make changes to their existing Medicare Advantage plan, other than switching back to Original Medicare
• switching back to Original Medicare during the MADP does not guarantee the ability to enroll in a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan