Viva Medicare Advantage 2024 Review

Viva Medicare Advantage plans are available in Alabama and get high star ratings from CMS.
Kate Ashford, CSA®
By Kate Ashford, CSA® 
Updated
Edited by Holly Carey

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Nerdy takeaways
  • Viva Medicare Advantage plans have high star ratings from CMS.

  • Member experience ratings for Viva Medicare Advantage plans are above average.

  • Viva offers Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama only.

  • Viva offers only HMO Medicare Advantage plans.

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Viva Medicare Advantage plans are available in Alabama only, and the provider’s star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are well above average. Member experience ratings are also above the average for major providers.

Here’s what you should know about Viva Medicare Advantage.

Viva Medicare Advantage pros and cons

Viva’s offerings have advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

  • High star ratings: Every Viva Medicare Advantage plan gets 5 stars from CMS.

  • Members give high marks: Member experience ratings on metrics like customer service and getting needed care are above the average for major providers. 

Cons

  • Limited availability: Viva offers Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama only. 

  • HMOs only: Viva offers only HMO plans, which provide the least amount of flexibility for members. 

Viva Medicare star ratings

Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 5

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services maintains star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans on a 5-point scale, ranking plans from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.

Based on the most recent year of data and weighted by enrollment, Viva’s 2024 Medicare Advantage plans get an average rating of 5 stars

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2024 Star Ratings Data Tables (Oct 13 2023) (ZIP). Accessed Dec 15, 2023.
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For comparison, the average star rating for plans from all providers is 4.04

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 10.13.23 Fact Sheet - 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Ratings (PDF). Accessed Dec 15, 2023.
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You can find a plan’s rating with the Medicare plan finding tool.

Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medicare Advantage plans

What does Viva Medicare Advantage cost?

Costs for Medicare Advantage plans depend on your plan, your geographic location and your health needs.

Premiums

One of the costs to consider is the plan’s premium. In 2024, about half (52%) of Viva Medicare Advantage plans that aren’t special needs plans (SNPs) have a $0 premium

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2024_Landscape_Files_Final_20231005 (ZIP). Accessed Dec 15, 2023.
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Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $174.70 per month in 2024

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Costs. Accessed Dec 15, 2023.
, although some plans cover part or all of this cost. (Most people pay this standard amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you'll pay more.)

Copays, coinsurance and deductibles

Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:

  • Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.

  • The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.

  • Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.

  • The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.

  • Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.

  • Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.

To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan-finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Viva plans or compare across carriers. You can also shop directly from Viva’s website by entering your ZIP code.

Available Medicare Advantage plans

There are a few kinds of Viva Medicare Advantage plans, and they vary in terms of structure, costs and benefits. Viva offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MAPDs) as well as Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage.

Plan offerings include the following types:

A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.

Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. Viva offers one type of SNP:

  • Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.

Viva Medicare Advantage service area

Viva offers Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama only and covers about 54,000 members

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Monthly Enrollment by Contract. Accessed Dec 15, 2023.
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Compare Medicare Advantage providers

Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.

Find the right Medicare Advantage plan

It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself. Here are some questions to consider asking:

  • What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?

  • Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.

  • Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?

  • Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?

  • Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?

If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).

Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medicare Advantage plans

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