Alabama Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Alabama?

Alabama climbed five spots in the United Health Foundation's 2008 survey of the healthiest states to live in, coming in at number 40.

The good news:

• The rate of the percentage of uninsured residents fell from 14.9 percent to 13.6 percent. The percent has fallen from 16.9 percent in 1990.
• The study ranked Alabama higher for health determinants than for health outcomes, indicating that overall healthiness may improve over time.

The bad news:

• In the past year, the percentage of children classified as "in poverty" rose by 20 percent.
• The prevalence of obesity has increased by 151 percent since 1990.
• The state was ranked among the 10 worst states in 13 categories.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Geographic disparity – 1st
• Prevalence of binge drinking – 6th
• Prevalence of smoking – 40th
• Number of primary care physicians – 40th
• High school graduation – 41st (65.9 percent of ninth graders eventually graduate)
• Cancer deaths – 43rd
• Preventable hospitalizations – 44th
• Children (under 18) in poverty – 46th
• Air pollution – 47th
• Poor mental health days – 47th
• Infant mortality – 47th
• Cardiovascular deaths – 48th
• Poor physical health days – 48th
• Premature death – 48th
• Prevalence of obesity – 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

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 poolto 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. Find more on risk pools here.

Mini-meds a guaranteed-issue option for those who are medically uninsurable

An option for the medically uninsurable is a guaranteed-issue mini-med health insurance plan. There is no underwriting and no health questions are asked.

These plans provide basic coverage but are not designed to help with catastrophic expenses. They can often count as creditable coverage, eliminating the waiting period for pre-existing conditions if you later move to an employer-based plan. Read more 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.

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.