Alabama residents can enroll in Original Medicare (parts A and B) for coverage or choose from various Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. Original Medicare enrollees can also get a Medicare supplement plan.

Medicare is a national insurance program managed by the federal government for older Americans and people with certain disabilities or chronic health conditions. While Original Medicare (parts A and B) is available nationally, Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans vary by location.

Keep reading to learn which Medicare plans are available in Alabama, how they differ, and when to enroll.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported the following information on Medicare trends in Alabama for the 2025 plan year:

  • A total of 1,109,480 residents of Alabama are enrolled in Medicare.
  • The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium increased by $15.69 in 2025 in Alabama compared with $14.76 in 2024.
  • There are 93 Medicare Advantage plans available in Alabama for 2025, which has stayed consistent from 2024.
  • All Alabama residents with Medicare have access to buy a Medicare Advantage plan, including plans with $0 premiums.

Medicare has many different parts. Next, we’ll review a few of these parts and how they work in Alabama.

Original Medicare

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

  • Medicare Part A covers hospital costs. This includes inpatient healthcare services you may receive while admitted to a hospital, as well as some limited care in a skilled nursing facility or at home.
  • Medicare Part B covers 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, as it does not cover all healthcare services. 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 Medicare Advantage 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, or Medigap plans, help pay costs Original Medicare doesn’t cover such as:

  • copays
  • coinsurance
  • deductibles

These plans are standardized, which means they offer the same coverage regardless of which company sells them.

Many insurance companies offer Medigap plans in Alabama. In 2025, some of the companies offering Medigap plans in this state include:

  • AARP – UnitedHealthcare
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
  • Cigna
  • Colonial Penn
  • GPM Health and Life Insurance Company
  • Great Southern
  • Humana
  • Lumico
  • Mutual of Omaha (Omaha Insurance Company)
  • Pan-American
  • State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
  • United American Insurance Company

Alabama offers 12 different plan options. 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 7 months beginning 3 months before your 65th birthday, through your birthday month, and 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-on enrollment: From April 1 through June 30, if you don’t have Medicare Part A but are 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 with whom you already have relationships, 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.

Several private insurance companies offer various types of Medicare Advantage plans and plans for people with disabilities and those who receive low-income subsidies in Alabama.

Overall, monthly premium costs have increased for 2025 Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama.