Living with Diabetes

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The following information details health insurance and assistance programs available to uninsured people in Alabama.

Alabama Insurance Department - (334) 269-3550
In Alabama, state law allows health insurance companies to turn people down for individual health insurance coverage based on the status of their health. In most cases, diabetes is considered an “uninsurable” condition. Even though you can be turned down for an individual policy in Alabama, you can never be turned down for health insurance that is offered through an employer.

If you are having a problem with your state-regulated health plan and you are unable to resolve it with the plan directly, file a complaint with the Insurance Department. They may be able to provide you with assistance in reaching a conclusion.

Alabama Medicaid - (800) 362-1504
This program is available to anyone who meets income and eligibility criteria. Even if your income meets the criteria, you must fall into one of the eligibility categories in order to qualify. Eligibilty for AHIP (accroding to their website) specifies that you must be a permanent Alabama resident with at least 18 months’ of continuous healthcare coverage. You are eligible for the AHIP as long as: 

• Your most recent continuous coverage was under a group health plan, government plan, or church plan; 
• You chose extended coverage under COBRA that was available to you and exhausted those benefits; 
• Your previous insurance coverage was not terminated because of fraud or failure to pay your premiums; and 
• Your application is received or postmarked in our office within 63 days of the last day your group or COBRA coverage was in effect.

Alabama Health Insurance Plan (AHIP) - (877) 619-2447
AHIP is the Alabama state high-risk pool. This program allows individual health insurance policies to be sold to individuals who might otherwise be considered “uninsurable” because of a chronic illness. In most states, the high risk pool is open to all residents. In Alabama, however, the high risk pool is only open to individuals who are HIPAA-eligible. To be HIPAA-eligible in Alabama, you must:

• Have had 18 months of continuous creditable health coverage, where at least the last day of coverage was under a group health plan (such as job-based health insurance)
• Have used up any COBRA or state continuation coverage that was available to you
• Not be eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or any other group plan (such as job-based health insurance).
• Not have health insurance (unless your group coverage is about to end)
• You must apply for AHIP within 63 days of losing your previous coverage.

All Kids (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) - (888) 373-5437
All Kids is the children’s health insurance program designed to provide health insurance to children and teens up to age 19 whose families may have too great an income to qualify for Medicaid, but who may not be able to afford health insurance. Visit the Web site to find out if you or your child meets the income guidelines.

If you or your loved one is unable to see a physician due to the cost of care, there may be a local community health clinic in your area. These clinics generally are free to patients or require a very small fee. Find a clinic in your area.