Understanding Medicare Special Needs Plans in Calhoun County, Alabama

Choosing the right Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP) in Calhoun County depends on enrolling at the right time. Understanding the different enrollment periods will help ensure that you get the coverage that best meets your needs.

Key Medicare Enrollment Periods

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): This seven-month window starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. It’s the first time you can sign up for Medicare and, if you choose, a Medicare Advantage plan. Learn more
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): Running from January 1 to March 31 each year, this period allows one change to your current Medicare Advantage coverage or a move back to Original Medicare. Learn more
• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): From October 15 through December 7 each year, you can make changes to your Medicare coverage for the following year. Learn more
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Certain qualifying events, such as a change in residence or loss of existing coverage, may allow you to enroll in or change Medicare Advantage plans outside of the usual enrollment windows. Learn more

Ways to Enroll in Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans

1. Talk with a Licensed Agent: Licensed agents at HealthCompare can explain your Medicare Advantage choices. Reach them at 1-833-748-3201 (TTY 711), Monday–Friday 5am–6pm and Saturday 6am–5pm PST.
2. Contact the Plan Provider Directly: Enrollment can also be completed by calling the plan provider’s customer service line or visiting their official website.
3. Use Medicare.gov: The official Medicare website, Medicare.gov, lets you review available plans and complete enrollment online.

• CMS.gov, Landscape Source Files — Last accessed September 13, 2025
• CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance — Last accessed September 13, 2025
• CMS.gov, Plan Benefits Package — Last accessed September 13, 2025
• CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage/Part D Contract and Enrollment Data — Last accessed September 16, 2025

Some facts and percentages shown on this page (such as average premiums, distribution of plan types, and percentage of $0 premium plans) are calculated by Medicare.org using data from the CMS Plan Benefits Package (PBP) files and Part C & D Performance files. All underlying values originate from CMS, and calculations are refreshed whenever CMS issues updated data.

Medicare.org separates Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs) into different pages for clarity. As a result, plan counts, percentages, and other calculations shown here may differ from the aggregate totals published in the CMS Landscape files. All plan availability and benefit details originate from CMS.

Learn more about how we use CMS data.

• CMS.gov, "Medicare Advantage Plan Fact Sheet" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
• Medicare.gov, "Explore your Medicare coverage options" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
• NCOA.org, "5 Steps to Choosing the Right Medicare Plan for You" — Last accessed 22 May, 2025

Medicare.org is owned and operated by Health Network Group, LLC, an Allstate company. Medicare.org provides information only and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.

Data provenance documentation is maintained in alignment with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard.

Page content managed by David Bynon, Medicare Analyst.