How healthy is living Alabama climbed three spots to 45th in the United Health Foundation's 2012 comparison of health status across the 50 states.
The good news:
The bad news:
Alabama's best and worst category rankings:
See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Alabama.State snapshot too large? Get county-by-county health rankings for Alabama, from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Population Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin.
Alabama Health Insurance Plan
Toll-free 1-800-513-1384 or (334) 353-8924
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Alabama started offering health care insurance 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.
The Foundation for Health Coverage Education's mission is to provide simplified public and private health insurance
eligibility information in order to help more people access coverage.
Here is its guide on how to find health insurance in Alabama.
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.
Alabama Department of Senior Services — Medicare resources (state health insurance assistance program) and more for Alabama’s older population.
All Kids — All Kids is Alabama’s SCHIP program – providing low-cost, comprehensive health insurance for children 18 years and younger.
Alabama Department of Insurance, consumer page — Alabama Department of Insurance provides regulation of the insuance industry to provide consumer protection and help maintain market stability.
2011 Alabama Healthcare Reform Summit — The 2011 Alabama Healthcare Reform Summit brought together some of the brightest minds in the nation to talk about the healthcare reform bill and its potential impact on Alabama businesses and employment.
State-specfic information on the Physicans National Health Program in Alabama.
The Affordable Care Act: Immediate Benefits for Alabama -- How the Affordable Health Care act will improve the lives of people living in Alabama.
Why health care reform is important to Alabama -- This 2009 document by the AARP provides a compelling case f for health reform in Alabama.
The Benefits of Health Reform In Alabama -- The Democratic Policy Committee of the United States Senate looks at benefits of health reform for the citizens of Alabama.
Alabama mental health resource guide, offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Government.
The National Coalition on Health Care's information for Alabama -- America's oldest, most diverse, and broadest based group working to achieve comprehensive health system reform.

1/19/2011--Passed House amended. Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act - Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, effective as of its enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Act. Repeals the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of the Act's enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by the Act's health care provisions. [more]
Alabama's exchange
Find out what your state's health insurance exchange will look like.
$4 million to 13,556 families
Insurance companies were forced to return an average of $518 per family in 2012.
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11/13/2012 6:11 PM
wsfa.com — Gov. Robert Bentley announced Nov. 13 that Alabama will neither operate a state-run health insurance exchange nor expand its Medicaid program — calling both actions too costly. A bill for a state-run exchange passed the Alabama House earlier this year, but failed in the Senate.
10/01/2012 4:10 PM
Montgomery Advertiser — Saying Health and Human Services hasn’t provided enough direction, Gov. Robert Bentley announced Alabama will not select a benchmark plan for essential health benefits. That means Alabama will default to the largest small-group plan in the state.
07/12/2012 6:07 PM
AL.com – Many people will find it refreshing that Gov. Robert Bentley, a physician and Alabama’s top Republican official, has not rejected out of hand expanding Medicaid coverage to many of the state’s working poor.
Read more Alabama health insurance news
Health insurance companies in Alabama.
Get health insurance quotes for these companies.
Find licensed physicians near you. Each state is home to organizations that can help you find and research physicians, offering online information about a physician's license, schooling, practice information and more.
Alabama Licensee SearchResources for those individuals seeking health care insurance in Alabama. If you are looking for Alabama Medicare, visit our site for health insurance over 65.
How Alabama would fare
Alabama could lose if important protections are undone.
healthreformvotes.org
Your members of the Alabama Congressional delegation voted on health care reform.