Alabama Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Alabama?

Alabama fell two spots in the United Health Foundation's 2009 survey of the healthiest states to live in, coming in at number 48.

The good news:

• The rate of the percentage of uninsured residents continued to fall – from 13.6 percent in 2008 to 11.9 percent. The percent has fallen from 16.9 percent in 1990.
• The prevalence of smoking in Alabama fell from 25.3 percent of the population to 22.1 percent.

The bad news:

• In the past year, the percentage of children classified as "in poverty" continued to rise, up from 22.5 percent in 2008 to 23.7 percent in 2009.
• Obesity is still a major concern, with 32.2 percent of the population classified as obese. Only one state – Mississippi – did worse on this scale.
• The state was ranked among the 10 worst states in 12 categories.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Prevalence of binge drinking (11.4 percent) – 6th
• Geographic disparity – 12th
• Prenatal care – 13th
• Public health funding – 14th
• Prevalence of smoking – 41st
• Preventable hospitalizations – 43rd
• Cancer deaths – 44th
• High school graduation – 44th (66.2 percent of ninth graders eventually graduate)
• Air pollution – 45th
• Poor physical health days – 46th
• Children (under 18) in poverty – 47th
• Poor mental health days – 47th
• Infant mortality – 48th
• Premature death – 48th
• Cardiovascular deaths – 49th
• Prevalence of obesity (32.2 percent) – 49th

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Alabama.

Does Alabama have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Alabama Health Insurance Plan
Toll-free 1-800-513-1384 or (334) 353-8924

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Alabama will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Alabama's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Alabama

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Alabama and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Alabama.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Alabama

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Alabama.

USNews health insurance rankings for Alabama

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Alabama.

Official State Goverment Sites with Alabama Health Insurance Information

Alabama Department of Insurance, consumer page -- provides regulation of the insuance industry to provide consumer protection and help maintain market stability.

All Kids -- the state's SCHIP program to provide low-cost, comprehensive health insurance for children 18 years and younger.

Alabama Department of Senior Services -- Medicare resources (state health insurance assistance program) and more for Alabama's older population.

Alabama Medicaid Agency -- The state/federal program that pays for medical and long-term care services for low-income pregnant women, children, certain people on Medicare, disabled individuals and nursing home residents -- has income and other requirements.