California Medicare Options - How to quote Alignment Advantage
plans in CaliforniaHow to Quote Alignment Advantage Plans
We have a massive review on Alignment health plans and even a more detailed Alignment comparison page.
Use those to really get into the nitty gritty of how to compare the plans if you don't already have one picked out.
We've been helping seniors for almost 30 years now and we haven't been this excited about an up and coming carriers since the days when Anthem was the trailblazer (late 90's).
Our credentials:
Alignment just seems to be doing everything well and it's showing in the most competitive market in the country:
In certain markets, they're hitting all our requirements on the Triple Threat selection grid:
In Los Angeles, the Platinum+ plan has the lowest out-of-pocket max (we explain why this is so important in our How to compare Advantage plans) in the county...if not the State!
$198. Ridiculous. And the star Rating is still 4 star!
That's their most popular plan by the way.
Okay...so let's look at how to run your personalized quote and make sure to get the best value.
We'll cover these areas:
- How to quote Alignment Advantage Plans
- Choosing doctors with Alignment health quote
- Quoting Alignment based on your medications and pharmacy
- Filtering your Alignment health quote to find the best value
- Quoting Alignment plans if you qualify for additional help (medi-cal or LIS)
- Quoting Alignment plans if you have a chronic illness (D-SNPs)
- How to enroll right off the quote
Let's get started.
How to quote Alignment Advantage Plans
You can access the Alignment health plan rates for you here:
A few notes.
These are the best rates available and there's zerocost for our assistance.
We don't ask for your phone number because it's not our style to start bombarding you with calls (refreshing, right??)
If you have questions, reach out to us at help@calhealth.net or even schedule a time to chat here.
The Advantage plans are on the MAPD tab which should automatically open when click above.
You can "filter" for just Alignment on the left since the other big carriers will also pop up.
Interestingly, Alignment plans are usually in the top few spots anyway!
Now...tips on the getting the quote for your situation. Starting with the biggest strength of Alignment in our books.
Choosing doctors with Alignment health quote
On the left, you'll see a box called "Preferences".
Click on "Providers".
From here, you can search and add your doctors so that the plans in the quote will reflect this.
This is really one of Alignment's big advantages (pardon the pun). They've somehow managed to get Optum, Heritage, and Regal (for example in LA) or Sutter and PAMF in the Bay Area. Among others!
This is a real coup. One note...the SmartHMO (very popular with Part B rebate) has a smaller network which is why it's important to add your doctors!
The quote will then show how many of your doctors are included and you can even click on that to see which ones.
If someone isn't showing, call the provider and ask if they participate with "Alignment Advantage Plans". Sometimes, doctors will bill under a different medical group.
Also, hospitals always have a list of "Accepted Health Plans". You can google the hospital name and this or we can chase it all down for you (no cost) at help@calhealth.net
That's task #1. Next stop, RX!
Quoting Alignment based on your medications and pharmacy
Just behind doctors is "our list" or RX.
In that same preference box, click on "Prescriptions". Add your exact medication names (generic versus the brand really matters) and dosage/quantity.
It's important to be as accurate as possible.
The quote will then take your total expected cost into account when showing the plans!
One note...some people find that it's cheaper to get your non-covered medications at www.goodrx.com or a Canadian pharmacy. Just a cost-saving tip from the front!
You can then click on the "Pharmacy" button in preferences to add your favorite pharmacy.
One of Alignment's plans is tied in with RiteAid. It's not a terribly popular plan compared to some of the new offerings (Platinum+ Instacart and SmartHMO) but we want all the options if you have big RX expenses.
Next up...a little tip that makes all the difference.
Filtering your Alignment health quote to find the best value
Once you've entered in your preferences, swing up top to the sort field:
Switch it to "Total Annual Estimated Cost".
This then takes into account your medication premium and expected out-of-pocket (copays, etc).
This can really affect which plans are priced best for your situation. Really important.
Now, let's look at people that qualify for extra help either due to medi-cal/LIS (income) or disability (chronic illnesses).
Quoting Alignment plans if you qualify for additional help (medi-cal or LIS)
At the very top of where the quotes start, you'll see this box:
This speaks to either:
- D-SNPs - qualify usually based on income for medi-cal or LIS (additional help)
- C-SNPs - qualify based on chronic illnesses
If you click on this, you'll then see those plans get added to the list and this means additional benefits and savings if you qualify.
This can get complicated (check out the Alignment health plan comparison) but we're happy to help if you think you might qualify at help@calhealth.net or schedule a time: https://calendly.com/dennis-jnw
Alignment's plans that work for this situation have "CalPlus" in the title (get it...medi-"Cal").
The max out of pockets are higher but if you're eligible, you get help from medi-cal to offset this.
Quoting Alignment plans if you have a chronic illness (D-SNPs)
Currently, there are three Alignment plans tied to chronic illness eligibility plus the Veteran offering.
- ESRD
- Heart and Diabetes
- Heart and Diabetes CalPlus
So the first two are based on chronic illness disability for End Stage Renal Disease and the Heart and Diabetes related qualification.
The third is Heart and Diabetes PLUS extra help based on Medi-cal/LIS.
It has a much higher max but again, if you qualify, this is offset by State assistance.
These now rise to the top of the quote as should be if you're eligible.
Okay...again...reach out with any questions. Let's say you find the plan you want in the quote. Then what?
How to enroll right off the Alignment quote
Just "add to cart"!
That's it. Access quote here:
The online application is:
- Secure
- Free
- Tied directly in Alignment's enrollment system for fastest processing
We're very impressed by how easy Alignment's application process is compared to many of the big carriers.
They really built it from scratch for Medicare recipients to use because we never have people get stuck on it!
That being said, as licensed agents, we're happy to help and there's zero cost for our assistance.
Now quote away with abandon (and with no pesky phone calls)!