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MoneyGeek Logo IconBest Health InsuranceAlabama
2023

Best Health Insurance in Alabama

Best Overall for Health Insurance in Alabama

With a MoneyGeek rating of 79 out of 100, Celtic Insurance Company is the overall best health insurance in Alabama. Aside from having the best MOOP rating in the Yellowhammer State, the insurer also excels in claims management and plan options.

We examined data from 14 Silver Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plans and five Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans in Alabama to determine the best health insurance.

MoneyGeek Pick: Celtic Insurance Company

Celtic Insurance

pros

0% claims denied vs. other insurers

Lowest MOOP cost in the state

Many plans to choose from

cons

Relatively high plan rates compared to other insurers

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Celtic Insurance Company is MoneyGeek’s pick for the best health insurance in Alabama. It provides seven Silver EPO plans, the third most common plan type. EPO plans combine aspects of HMO and PPO plans.

At around $599 per month, Celtic Insurance Company's premiums are around average but not the lowest. The MOOP expenses for its plans are the lowest at approximately $7,357. Since Celtics Insurance Company has a 0% average denial rate, it is likely that your insurance claims will be approved, and you will be paid for any necessary medical services.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans from Celtic Insurance Company:

  • Clear Silver: around $585 per month; MOOP $5,400
  • Clear Silver + Vision + Adult Dental: around $608 per month; MOOP $5,400
  • Focused Silver: around $591 per month; MOOP $7,500

Best Health Insurance in Alabama for Low Out-of-Pocket Costs

Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best health insurance in Alabama for low out-of-pocket costs, with a MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100. The company scored well in terms of affordability, providing the cheapest rates in the state than other insurers. It also scored highest for plan types and low MOOP costs.

MoneyGeek examined four Gold EPO plans, five Gold PPO plans and one Platinum PPO plan for this category.

MoneyGeek Pick: Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield

pros

Provides the most affordable insurance rates

Flexible plan types for consumers

Lowest average MOOP cost vs. other insurers

cons

Consumers may be potentially denied of a plan because of its 17.85% average denial rate

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek named Blue Cross Blue Shield as the best health insurance in Alabama for low out-of-pocket costs, offering five Gold PPO plans and one Platinum PPO plan. Consumers have a wide range of options when it comes to plan types with this insurer. The provider also has the cheapest average rate at $531 compared to other insurers in the state.

Although Blue Cross Blue Shield also has the lowest average MOOP cost in Alabama at $5,847, it is one of the insurance providers with the most likely potential denial of plans among consumers.

Plan Recommendations

We recommend the following PPO plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield:

  • Blue Choice Platinum for Business: approximately $536 per month; MOOP $4,000
  • Blue Access Gold for Business: approximately $473 per month; MOOP $6,000
  • Blue Cross Select Gold: approximately $723 per month; MOOP $6,000

Best Cheap Health Insurance in Alabama

Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best cheap health insurance in Alabama, earning a MoneyGeek rating of 85 out of 100.

To find the winner and suggested plans for this category, we assessed 14 Silver EPO plans and five Silver PPO plans.

We scored this category differently, giving greater weight to affordability. Keep in mind that out-of-pocket expenses are typically higher for plans with lower monthly premiums. If you do not think you will have many medical needs, this trade-off can be worthwhile.

MoneyGeek Pick: Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield

pros

Most affordable premiums among insurance providers

Provides flexible insurance plan options

One of the more affordable MOOPs in the state

cons

Relatively high average denial rate

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Blue Cross Blue Shield emerged as MoneyGeek’s pick for the best affordable health insurance in Alabama. Among the companies in the state, the insurer’s plans can be purchased for an average of $422. However, the average MOOP cost for Blue Cross Blue Shield’s health plans is $7,742, and consumers should be wary of the company’s 17.85% denial rate.

This insurance provider has five Silver PPO plans and two EPO plans to choose from. PPO plans frequently cost more than an HMO but have a larger network. Importantly, to see a specialist, you do not typically require a recommendation.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following affordable plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield:

  • Blue HSA Silver for Business: around $337 per month; MOOP $6,000
  • Blue Secure Silver for Business: around $377 per month; MOOP $8,550
  • Blue Saver Silver EPO: around $538 per month; MOOP $8,650

Best Health Insurance for Low Income in Alabama

The best health insurance in Alabama for low-income individuals is provided by Celtic Insurance Company, scoring 90 out of 100.

In Alabama, we evaluated 14 Silver EPO plans and three Silver PPO plans. Only health insurance providers with cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) and low fixed rates were evaluated.

If your income is below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL), CSRs can help you avoid the trade-off between higher out-of-pocket costs and cheaper premiums. Cost-sharing is higher for CSR plans than it is for conventional Silver policies, which cover roughly 70% of medical expenses. In Alabama, here are some considerations based on your income:

  • Between $27,180 and $33,975 in earnings per year (201% to 250% of the FPL): Eligible for a plan that covers roughly 73% of medical expenses.
  • Between $20,385 and $27,180 in earnings per year (151% to 200% of the FPL): Eligible for a plan that covers roughly 87% of medical expenses.
  • Earnings of under $20,385 per year (up to $150% of the FPL): Eligible for a plan that covers approximately 94% of medical expenses.

These brackets vary based on the size of your household.

MoneyGeek Pick: Celtic Insurance

Celtic Insurance

pros

Among the most affordable rates for low-income Alabama residents

0% average denial rate

An average MOOP of $6,100 for its plans, the best among providers

Many plan types to choose from

cons

No HMO plans

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Celtic Insurance Company emerged as MoneyGeek’s best health insurance in Alabama for low-income individuals. The average cost of the plans this insurer offers is $599 per month. Its average MOOP is $6,100. With this company's spotless track record of accepting claims, you won’t have to worry about any denials.

Seven Silver EPO plans with cost-sharing reductions are available from Celtic Insurance Company.

Plan Recommendations

Celtic Insurance Company’s Clear Silver plan offers lower out-of-pocket expenses for the same premium for Alabamans in lower income levels. These are some of the lower overall out-of-pocket costs based on income levels:

  • 201% to 250% of the FPL: $585 per month; MOOP $4,200
  • 151% to 200% of the FPL: $585 per month; MOOP $1,500
  • Up to 150% of the FPL: $585 per month; MOOP $550

Best Health Insurance for Young Adults in Alabama

Blue Cross Blue Shield provides the best health insurance in Alabama for young adults, earning a MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100.

MoneyGeek evaluated providers offering Bronze or Catastrophic plans to identify the best companies for young adults. Only individuals under the age of 30 can get Catastrophic coverage. These plans typically have the lowest premiums but the greatest out-of-pocket expenses.

We evaluated six Bronze EPO plans, 10 Expanded Bronze EPO plans, four Expanded Bronze PPO plans and one Catastrophic PPO plan for this category.

MoneyGeek Pick: Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield

pros

Lowest average MOOP among insurers analyzed

Provides flexible plan types

Cheapest average rates

cons

Denial rate is quite high

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Four Expanded Bronze PPO plans and one Catastrophic PPO plan are available from Blue Cross Blue Shield for young adults in Alabama for an average cost of $275 a month and an average of $8,056 MOOP. However, this company rejects around 17.85% of insurance claims.

The level of coverage you will have depends on your metal tier. Bronze, Expanded Bronze and Catastrophic plans are frequently chosen by younger people who do not require a lot of coverage.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the best health plans for young adults offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield:

  • Blue Saver Bronze for Business: $204.51 per month for 18-year-olds and $229.37 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,850
  • Blue HSA Bronze: $216.40 per month for 18-year-olds and $348.97 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,000
  • Blue Saver Bronzer: $214.12 per month for 18-year-olds and $345.30 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,950

Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Alabama

Different plan types are offered by health insurance companies. The top Alabama-based service providers for all plan categories are listed below:

  • PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield (MoneyGeek score: 100 out of 100)
  • EPO: Celtic Insurance Company (MoneyGeek score: 92 out of 100)

Only Silver plans were used for this recommendation. This tier strikes the perfect mix between price and coverage, making it perfect for the average person who needs quality medical insurance at a reasonable price.

There are five Silver PPO plans and 14 Silver EPO plans available in Alabama.

MoneyGeek Pick for PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

In Alabama, Blue Cross Blue Shield offers five Silver PPO plans with an average monthly cost of $420 and an average MOOP of $7,727. However, this insurer is known for denying health insurance claims.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans often cost more than HMOs, but they provide more flexibility in terms of provider networks and do not demand referrals for visits.

Plan Recommendations

We suggest the following Silver PPO plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield:

  • Blue HSA Silver for Business: around $337 per month; MOOP $6,000
  • Blue Secure Silver for Business: around $377 per month; MOOP $8,550

MoneyGeek Pick for EPO: Celtic Insurance

Celtic Insurance
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Seven Silver EPO plans with an average monthly cost of $599 and an average MOOP of $7,357 are available in Alabama from Celtic Insurance Company. This insurer rarely rejects health insurance claims.

An EPO plan has fewer coverage or reimbursement options for providers who are not in its network. EPO costs are often less than PPO costs for members who are on a tight budget.

Plan Recommendations

MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver EPO plans from Celtic Insurance Company:

  • Clear Silver: around $585 per month; MOOP $5,400
  • Clear Silver + Vision + Adult Dental: around $608 per month; MOOP $5,400

Best Short-Term Health Insurance in Alabama

National General Accident & Health, which received a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100, provides the best short-term health insurance in Alabama. Since short-term health insurance does not provide all the necessary health benefits that Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant plans do, it is best for people wishing to temporarily address coverage gaps.

mglogo
MoneyGeek Top Pick: National General Accident & Health
National General Accident & Health

National General Accident & Health stands out because it offers a wide range of plan options to accommodate various health care demands. For high-risk patients, the company offers plans with modest co-insurance and out-of-pocket expenses. Plans can have durations of three months to three years and offer several options for cost-sharing and prescription drug coverage.

How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Alabama

Your budget and medical needs, including how much you are willing to spend each month versus when you receive care, will determine which health insurance provider in Alabama is right for you. The following pointers can be useful when planning to get health insurance.

  • doctor icon

    Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you

    PPO plans are more accommodating when it comes to access to care outside of your network. A more restrictive EPO offers less out-of-network provider coverage or compensation. EPO costs are often less than PPO costs for members who are on a tight budget.

    There are 16 PPO plans and 34 EPO plans in Alabama.

  • money2 icon

    Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care

    Lower monthly rates for plans typically have higher out-of-pocket expenses. For instance, the Clear Silver plan from Celtic Insurance Company may cost an average of $585 a month, but the out-of-pocket maximum is $5,400. While this plan isn’t the cheapest option, the MOOP is the lowest out of the other plans evaluated.

Consider Alabama Medicare or Medicaid if You’re Eligible

Medicare is available to those 65 and older or with a qualifying disability or illness. It is a federal health insurance program that offers eligible people discounts on medical treatments. There are three components to Medicare:

  • Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers inpatient hospital stays, nursing homes, some home health care and hospice care.
  • Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers preventive services and outpatient care, such as doctor visits.
  • Part D (Prescription drug coverage): Assists in covering the cost of prescription medication.

MoneyGeek also provides information for locating the top Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama.

Medicaid is a different federal program that offers health insurance to people whose income is below a state-set limit. Through a number of programs in Alabama, families, children, pregnant mothers, elderly and disabled residents might be eligible for Medicaid benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Health Insurance in Alabama

Finding an ideal health insurance coverage can be complicated due to concerns about price and availability. MoneyGeek answers some frequently asked questions to help you research options.

About Brenna Kelly, Licensed Health Insurance Agent


Brenna Kelly, Licensed Health Insurance Agent headshot

Brenna Kelly is a licensed health insurance agent and health insurance content manager at MoneyGeek. Licensed in Florida, Brenna is qualified to advise on medical insurance, disability, long-term care, critical illness, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage Plans. She combines her experience in content production with expert insight into state, regional and local health insurance markets and policies. Brenna has also earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Central Florida.