Updated: June 8, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Alabama residents can choose from 40 Medicare Advantage plans from seven insurers, including HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and regional PPO options. Many plans have $0 monthly premiums, though costs reach up to $163 per month depending on the plan type and level of coverage.
Top Alabama Medicare Advantage providers include Humana for PPO plans, Cigna HealthCare for HMO and UnitedHealthcare for HMO-POS.
When selecting a Medicare Advantage plan, weigh factors like monthly premiums, maximum out-of-pocket limits, provider networks and prescription drug benefits.
We reviewed the best Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama to identify leading insurers across major plan types. Our analysis focused on CMS star ratings, monthly premiums and maximum out-of-pocket limits.
Cigna HealthCare tops the HMO category with a 4.0 CMS star rating and a $6 monthly premium. UnitedHealthcare leads HMO-POS with an $18 average monthly premium and a $5,725 MOOP. Humana's best PPO plan carries a 4.0-star rating and a $3,000 MOOP at $28 a month.
| HMO | Cigna HealthCare | 4.00 | $6 | $5,636 | HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) |
| HMO-POS | UnitedHealthcare | 3.75 | $18 | $5,725 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC AL-0003 (HMO-POS) |
| PPO | Humana | 4.00 | $28 | $3,000 | HumanaChoice H5216-368 (PPO) |
Medicare Advantage Plans Explained
Private insurers sell Medicare Advantage plans as an alternative to Original Medicare, bundling hospital and medical coverage in a single policy. Most plans also add prescription drugs, dental, vision and hearing benefits that traditional Medicare excludes.
Best HMO
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Best HMO-POS
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Best PPO
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Alabama's 15 Medicare Advantage HMO plans include 11 with $0 monthly premiums. Out-of-pocket maximums go from $1,900 to $9,250 with a $6,177 average. The average CMS star rating across the category is 3.83, and 11 of the 15 plans hit four stars or higher. All 15 include enhanced Part D drug coverage.
| Cigna HealthCare | 4.00 | $6 | $5,636 | 4 | 4.81 |
| Humana | 3.67 | $7 | $5,748 | 4 | 4.46 |
| Aetna | 3.50 | $0 | $6,750 | 1 | 4.16 |
| Devoted Health | 3.50 | $0 | $6,202 | 2 | 4.12 |
| VIVA Medicare | 4.00 | $48 | $7,841 | 4 | 3.75 |
HMO Medicare Advantage plans offer affordable premiums and coordinated care, but you'll need to stay within their provider network and get referrals for specialists. HMO plans work well if you're comfortable having a primary care physician manage your care and don't regularly need out-of-network providers.
HMO-POS plans are flexible and cover limited out-of-network care. UnitedHealthcare offers four HMO-POS plans in the state.
Maximum out-of-pocket limits range from $4,900 to $6,700. All plans include Part D prescription drug coverage.
| UnitedHealthcare | 3.75 | $18 | $5,725 | 4 | 5 |
HMO-POS plans might work well for you. These plans keep most of the cost benefits of standard HMOs while letting you visit out-of-network providers when necessary, though you'll pay more for that flexibility. They're useful for residents who travel frequently or need out-of-network care.
PPO Medicare Advantage plans let you see out-of-network providers, and that broader access comes with higher costs than more restrictive plan types. Alabama has 20 PPO options from six insurers. The average monthly premium is $22, and 11 of the 20 plans are $0 a month.
PPO MOOPs average $5,747 and go from $1,800 to $9,250, higher than other plan types because of the added out-of-network exposure. The average CMS rating for Alabama PPO plans is 3.8 stars, with most plans at 3.5, which is lower than the HMO category average. All 20 PPO plans include enhanced Part D prescription coverage, and 18 of the 20 waive deductibles on select drug tiers.
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 3.50 | $163 | $2,900 | 3 | 5 |
| Humana | 4.00 | $28 | $3,000 | 8 | 5 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 4.00 | $0 | $6,700 | 1 | 4.44 |
| Aetna | 4.50 | $11 | $9,156 | 3 | 4.06 |
| Cigna HealthCare | 3.00 | $0 | $6,800 | 1 | 3.97 |
| Devoted Health | 3.50 | $0 | $7,012 | 4 | 3.94 |
PPO Medicare Advantage plans provide the greatest flexibility by letting you choose any Medicare provider without referral. You can access both in-network and out-of-network care, though out-of-network services will cost you more. But you'll pay higher monthly premiums and maximum out-of-pocket costs than more restrictive HMO plans.
The best plan isn't just about low premiums. You'll want to verify your doctors are covered, your medications are included and the total costs fit your budget.
Confirm your current doctors, specialists and preferred hospitals participate in any plan you're considering. UAB Hospital in Birmingham and Huntsville Hospital are two anchor facilities to verify. HMO plans limit you to in-network providers except in emergencies. PPO plans extend coverage out-of-network. Our guide to health insurance network types explains the differences in full.
Your MOOP is the most your plan will ask you to spend on covered services in a year. A $0-premium plan with a $7,550 MOOP can end up costing more than a plan with a $25 monthly premium and a $6,700 MOOP if you use regular medical care in Mobile or Montgomery. Do the math for your actual usage before deciding.
Look up each of your medications on the plan's drug formulary and note the tier. Tier placement is what determines your out-of-pocket cost at the pharmacy. Most Alabama Medicare Advantage plans bundle Part D drug coverage, but some require separate enrollment. Higher-tier drugs carry higher cost-sharing regardless of plan type.
Many Medicare Advantage plans add dental, vision, hearing aids, fitness memberships and transportation to medical appointments. Fitness locations vary by plan and area (the YMCA in Tuscaloosa is one example of a site that appears in some Alabama plan networks).
Each plan's CMS star rating scores quality and performance from one to five stars, drawing on member satisfaction data, care coordination results and health outcomes across Alabama providers. A higher rating doesn't always mean the lowest cost, but it signals more consistent care.
Network design is the biggest factor in Medicare Advantage costs in Alabama. More restrictive plans (HMOs in particular) carry lower premiums and lower MOOPs. Plans with broader provider access cost more each month and expose you to higher annual out-of-pocket spending.
HMO-POS plans offer the strongest overall value, with an average premium of $18 per month and the lowest average maximum out-of-pocket cost at $5,725. Standard HMO plans average $19 per month with a $6,178 MOOP, while PPO plans cost about $22 monthly with a $5,748 MOOP. Regional PPO plans are the most expensive, averaging $86 per month in premiums and a $6,500 MOOP, reflecting their wider networks and added out-of-state coverage.
| HMO | $0 | $19 | $6,178 |
| HMO-POS | $16 | $18 | $5,725 |
| PPO | $0 | $22 | $5,748 |
| Regional PPO | $86 | $86 | $6,500 |
Get answers about Alabama Medicare Advantage plans:
In Alabama, you can enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from Jan. 1 to March 31. You may also enroll during a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify due to circumstances like relocating or losing other coverage.
Most Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama include prescription drug benefits as part of their coverage. Before enrolling, confirm your medications appear on the plan's formulary and review their tier levels, which directly impact your out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy.
Moving counties in Alabama may require changing your Medicare Advantage plan since provider networks are location-specific. Notify your current plan within 30 days of relocating to determine if coverage continues in your new area, and utilize the Special Enrollment Period to select an alternative plan if needed.
MoneyGeek analyzed Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama using a scoring system:
These factors create a fair comparison of Medicare Advantage plans, weighing costs against care quality and service.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). His career began in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
