Best Cheap Medicare Advantage Plans in Alabama (2025)
Aetna has the best Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama because of its affordable rates and high-quality coverage.
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
Aetna charges a low average rate of $4 per month, and its 4.5-star rating is the best in the state. Also, going to the doctor is affordable because of Aetna's low copayments and $0 preferred generic prescriptions.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has the best plans in Alabama for people who need a lot of medical care. The company has a low cap on the amount you'll spend on care in a single year and highly rated plans.
ValuePenguin editors compared Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama based on cost, quality ratings and plan benefits.
Compare Alabama Medicare Advantage plans
Aetna has the best Alabama Medicare Advantage plans because of its cheap rates and high-quality coverage.
Viva Health is the best choice for customer satisfaction in Alabama. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has the lowest average limit on how much you'll spend for medical care each year, making it a good option for people who have an ongoing illness.
Medicare star ratings measure plan quality, coverage and customer satisfaction. Consider plans with a 4-star rating or higher to avoid headaches down the road.
Company | Monthly cost | Medicare.gov rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $4 | |
| Viva Health | $51 | |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama | $62 | |
| Cigna | $3 | |
| AARP /UHC | $8 | |
In Alabama, it costs an average of $23 per month for a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage. Keep in mind that every company that sells Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama offers at least one $0 per month plan.
It's important to remember that there are usually trade-offs when choosing your plan. For example, Aetna is the best cheap insurance company, but plans can have a high out-of-pocket maximum , which means you're not as well protected against large medical bills. On the other hand, Viva Health's strong ratings mean it offers high-quality service, but it has a smaller network of doctors and hospitals.
When comparing Medicare Advantage plans, remember cheap plans tend to be good for people who are in good health. You'll keep your monthly costs low and pay as you go for the health services you use. But if you expect to need expensive medical care such as surgery, it is often worth it to get a more expensive plan with better benefits. This can limit your total spending and help you save money.
Also remember, if you have a low income, there are resources available to help you pay for health insurance and medical costs. In Alabama, people with a low income can be part of the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which can help pay for plans and, in some cases, cover the cost of medical care.
Watch out for Medicare Advantage plans without prescription drug coverage: These cheap plans may seem like a good deal, but they're usually not a good idea unless you have other prescription drug coverage.
If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can't enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan for prescription drugs.
Aetna: Best cheap Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama
In Alabama, Aetna's Medicare Advantage plans cost $4 per month, on average. With a 4.5-star overall rating from Medicare.gov, Aetna's Medicare Advantage plans are both cheap and high-quality.
Aetna's plans are best if you have average medical needs. That's because it has the highest out-of-pocket maximum (OOPM) in Alabama. The average Medicare Advantage plan in Alabama has an out-of-pocket maximum of $5,816 while Aetna's plans have an out-of-pocket maximum of $8,653, on average.
That means if you get seriously sick or injured, you could pay close to $3,000 more per year with an Aetna plan compared to the state average.
Nearly all of Aetna's Alabama plans are PPOs (preferred provider organization), which means you'll be covered for medical care outside of your health network. Also, with a PPO, you don't need to see your primary care doctor before seeing a specialist, giving you more flexibility compared to an HMO (health maintenance organization).
Although PPOs are typically more expensive than HMOs, Aetna's plans cost significantly less than overall the Alabama state average.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama: Best for people with ongoing illnesses
If you want the lowest out-of-pocket maximum you can get, consider a plan from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, which has an average out-of-pocket maximum of $4,464.
Although Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has low out-of-pocket maximums in Alabama, it also has the highest monthly rates. That means it's only a good idea to buy a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan if you have a serious or ongoing health problem or you're expecting a large medical bill.
BCBS Medicare Advantage plans have a good set of add-on benefits including for hearing aids, dental, vision care and a prepaid debit card you can use to pay for gyms and fitness classes.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is well-rated by its customers, who give it 5 stars for healthcare quality and the company's customer service.
The area where Blue Cross Blue Shield falls short is speed of getting appointments. BCBS only gets 2 stars in the category.
So even though customers are satisfied with their ability to see a doctor and the quality of the healthcare they get, there may be delays in getting to see a doctor.
Best for Customer Satisfaction: Viva Health
Viva Health has an excellent reputation for customer satisfaction.
The company scored a 5-out-of-5 star rating in several important categories related to customer satisfaction, such as customer service, rating of health plan, care coordination and complaints about the health plan.
The company also gets significantly fewer complaints than an an average company its size. There's at least one $0 plan offered in every county where Viva operates. But some plans cost as much as $103 per month.
All of Viva's plans are HMOs, which means you're usually only covered for healthcare if you go to a doctor or facility that's in the plan's network. This means it's especially important to check that the plan's network includes the doctors you prefer.
Viva Health has a small network compared to larger competitors, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield has the largest network of doctors nationwide, and 90% of doctors and hospitals in the country accept it.
If you want maximum flexibility about where you go for medical care, Viva is not the best option. Instead, consider one of the PPO plans offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama.
For travelers and those who spend time out of state, keep in mind that Viva's network only includes medical companies within Alabama. While plans will cover emergency or urgent care from any doctor when you're outside of the plan's service area, there can be fine print and exclusions, so you may not want to rely on this if you travel frequently.
How to sign up for Medicare in Alabama
To get started with Medicare, first sign up for Medicare Parts A and B through the Social Security Administration.
Next, visit Medicare.gov to browse the coverage options offered in your county. This can include a bundled Medicare Advantage plan, a Medicare Supplement plan or a Medicare Part D plan for stand-alone prescription drug coverage.
Any cost for Medicare plans from private insurance companies is on top of the $185 per month you'll pay for Medicare Part B.
If you need Medicare-related help or advice, the Alabama SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free insurance counseling.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best Medicare plan in Alabama?
Aetna has the best Medicare plans in Alabama because of its high 4.5- out of 5-star rating and cheap monthly costs.
But, Blue Cross Blue Shield may be a better option if you expect to need a lot of medical care in the coming year because the company has a low annual spending cap, called an out-of-pocket maximum.
How much does the average Medicare Advantage plan cost per month in Alabama?
The average Medicare Advantage plan costs $23 per month, on average, in Alabama. However, you can get a free Medicare Advantage anywhere in the state.
What Medicare Advantage plans are available in Alabama?
Seven companies sell Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama including Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Alabama, VIVA Health, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Devoted Health and Humana.
Aetna offers the best combination of price and quality, but BCBS and VIVA Health are also good choices.
Methodology and sources
Data on Medicare plans came from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the public use files. Special Needs Plans (SNPs), Medicare-Medicaid plans, Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans, plans without prescription drug coverage and employer group plans were excluded.
The best Medicare Advantage companies were chosen based on cost, coverage and quality. Star ratings came from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), and complaint data came from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), an industry group.
ValuePenguin.com is owned and operated by LendingTree, LLC ("LendingTree"). All rights reserved.
Invitations for application for insurance may be made through QW Insurance Solutions, LLC ("QWIS"), a separate subsidiary of QuoteWizard, LLC ("QuoteWizard"), a LendingTree subsidiary, or through its designated agents, only where licensed and appointed. QWIS is a non-government licensed health insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Find licensing information for QWIS.
Callers will be directed to a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Supplement insurance and/or Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations. Calls will be routed to a licensed insurance agent who can provide you with further information about the insurance plans offered by one or more nationally recognized insurance companies. Each of the organizations they represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal.
Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 73 organizations that offer 5,110 products in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options.
These numbers provided are not specific to your area, but rather represent the number of organizations and the number of products available on a national basis. We will connect you with licensed insurance agents who can provide information about the number of organizations they represent and the number of products they offer in your service area. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information contained on this website.
Medicare supplement insurance is available to people age 65 or older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and in some states to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or end stage renal disease.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits are offered by these carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare and WellPoint.
MULTIPLAN_QW.VP.WEB_C
Editorial Note: We are committed to providing accurate content that helps you make informed financial decisions. Our partners have not endorsed or commissioned this content.