Arizona Health Insurance

Arizona Health Insurance Plans

The Grand Canyon State offers various options for health insurance to fit your budget and health needs. You can qualify for financial help with Marketplace plans or coverage through low-income programs. Here’s what you need to know about health insurance in Arizona.

State Marketplace Plans: Essential health benefits/coverage differs by metal levels
- Catastrophic Plans: Lower-cost emergency coverage available for those under the age of 30
Medicaid: State/Federal healthcare program for those with lower income or certain disabilities
Medicare: Federal healthcare program for those age 65 and older and those with certain disabilities

Explore these different types of major medical health insurance plans in Arizona based on your health needs, budget, as well income, and age eligibility.

Arizona Marketplace

Arizona offers affordable health insurance for individuals and families through Cover Arizona, the state Marketplace.

NOTE: If you’re self-employed with no employees, you qualify as an individual.

Plans are available in four metal levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.
- Each metal plan covers a percentage of your healthcare costs, from 60% (bronze) to 90% (platinum), with bronze being the least expensive and platinum the most expensive.
- Catastrophic plans are also available for individuals under the age of 30.
All plans provide comprehensive coverage, including essential health benefits such as hospitalization, maternity care, prescription drugs, and preventive services.

Open enrollment is from [November 1 to January 15] each year for independent individual and family health insurance plans regulated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Subsidies For ACA Plans

Obamacare (ACA) subsidies are financial aid to help pay for your monthly premiums based on your income and household size, not your employment status. So you can still qualify for savings on an Obamacare plan even if you’re unemployed or in between jobs. You can report your expected income from unemployment benefits when applying for coverage.

Subsidies are available if the benchmark plan costs more than 8.5% of your income, with no cap on income level.
Our ACA subsidy calculator helps you determine your eligibility for healthcare subsidies based on your income, household size, and location. The tool also accounts for special cases like unemployment benefits.”

You can enroll through the public exchange at Healthcare.gov or get ACA-qualified coverage in the private Marketplace by buying directly from a private insurer or through a licensed insurance agent.

Catastrophic Health Insurance for Financial Hardship

Catastrophic health insurance is typically for those under 30, but if you’re over 30 and facing financial hardship (e.g., eviction, high medical debt, or bankruptcy), you can qualify for a hardship exemption to purchase a catastrophic plan.

While not as comprehensive as standard Obamacare plans, catastrophic plans include all ACA essential health benefits.

Plans for Students in Arizona

College Health Insurance: Enrolling in your school’s health plan is one of the best ways to get low-cost health insurance. Most plans qualify as coverage under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), meaning they offer the essential health benefits required.
Parent’s Health Plan: Under the ACA, you can usually stay on your parent’s health plan until age 26. You can enroll even if you don’t live with your parents, they don’t claim you as a dependent, or you leave school. Coverage typically ends on your 26th birthday.
Arizona Obamacare Insurance for Students: You can purchase your own Obamacare plan through Cover Arizona. Keep in mind that you must enroll during the Open Enrollment Period unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

If You Qualify for Low-Income Coverage

The state’s Medicaid program is called the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). Depending on your income, you may qualify for free or low-cost coverage through AHCCCS.

Below is a list of who qualifies for Arizona health insurance through AHCCCS:

Childless adults
Children
Caretaker relatives of children
Pregnant women
Women seeking screening for breast and cervical cancer
Adults over 65
People with developmental or physical disabilities
Individuals who need nursing home care
Certain individuals enrolled in Medicare

Arizona KidsCare Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

If you have uninsured children (18 and younger) in your household who don’t qualify for Medicaid, they could receive low-cost health insurance through Arizona’s KidsCare program.

Income and household size determine eligibility.

Medicare

There are several Medicare options available. The default is Original Medicare, which includes Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) insurance, managed by the federal government.

Many enrollees add plans sold by private insurance companies, such as Part D (prescription coverage), Medicare Supplement, and Medicare Advantage plans. These plans fill in gaps of coverage that Part A and B don’t cover.

Short-Term Medical Plans

Short-term health insurance is meant to be temporary until you’re able to get coverage under a traditional plan. It’s available for up to 3 months with a 1-month extension. Unlike plans purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace, short-term health insurance is not required to include the 10 essential health benefits outlined in the ACA, and it generally doesn’t cover preexisting conditions.

Next Steps

Whether you’re applying for health insurance in Arizona for yourself or a family of four, make sure to review all your options. Examine what makes sense for your needs and budget.