March 6th 2024
By Ari Parker
Understand your Medicare Advantage plan options in Arizona and how you can find the best one for you.
By Ari Parker
Some people opt for Medicare Advantage plans over Original Medicare. These plans include the same coverage as Original Medicare and generally also come with additional benefits such as prescription, vision, dental, and hearing coverage.
49% of beneficiaries in Arizona have a Medicare Advantage plan, which is more than 1.4 million people in the state.
While it’s a good idea to compare all your Medicare insurance options, we’ll show you what you can expect from a Medicare Advantage plan in Arizona and how to find the best one for your needs.
There are 155 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from in Arizona, making it challenging to find the best one for your needs.
While Humana and UnitedHealthcare both carry highly-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Arizona, the best one for you depends on your unique health and financial needs.
The average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans in Arizona is $12.14 in 2024
Arizona beneficiaries have access to 155 Medicare Advantage plans in 2024
Beneficiaries in Arizona have access to $0-premium Medicare Advantage plans (keep in mind that these plans still require you to pay your Part B premium)
Medicare beneficiaries can stick with Original Medicare or switch to Medicare Advantage.
With Original Medicare, you have Part A (your hospital insurance) and Part B (insurance for outpatient services). Once you’ve met your deductible, Original Medicare covers 80% of the cost of services, leaving you responsible for the remaining 20%. Many beneficiaries also purchase a Medicare Supplement plan to help cover the 20% of out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare Advantage, on the other hand, bundles Part A and Part B and also generally includes additional benefits like routine dental, vision, and hearing coverage. While Medicare Advantage plans may seem better at first glance, they can be more restrictive with the providers you can see and covered services. Out-of-pocket costs can also vary between different Medicare Advantage plans. Read our full overview of the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans here.
All Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover the same services that Part A and Part B do. They also often provide additional benefits, which may include:
Routine vision, dental, and hearing services
Fitness and wellness benefits (SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit, and Renew Active are three common fitness programs)
Transportation benefits (usually to doctor appointments)
Monthly cash-like flex credits for over-the-counter (OTC) products
Prescription drug (Part D) coverage
People with qualifying circumstances can also enroll in a Special Needs Plan, a type of Medicare Advantage plan that meets the needs of a specific population. There are three types of Special Needs Plans:
Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP): for people eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. These plans include extra benefits to help pay for food, over-the-counter items, and rent.
Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP): for people with chronic or disabling conditions. These plans have additional support and services available to people with diabetes, heart failure, and other chronic conditions.
Institutional Condition Special Needs Plan: (I-SNP): for people who need a level of care provided by skilled nursing or other facilities. These plans provide assistance to help pay for services within these residences.
Sometimes, the extra benefits that Medicare Advantage plans provide can be difficult to understand and use. Chapter can help you understand and use your benefits in two easy ways:
You can talk to a Member Advocate who can walk you through the details of your plan.
You can use Chapter’s free OTC app to check your balance and claim unused OTC benefits from your Medicare Advantage plan.
Before we list a few top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Arizona, we want to emphasize that Medicare is not one size fits all. The “best” Medicare Advantage plan in Arizona for you will depend on your health and financial needs. The services, providers, and medications you need from your insurance will be different from anyone else’s.
CMS (The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services) has a star-rating system that judges the quality of Medicare Advantage plans. A plan with one star is the lowest-quality plan and a plan with five stars is the highest-quality plan. The following insurance providers carry plans with the highest star ratings in 2024:
Carriers with 4.5 star plans:
Humana
UnitedHealthcare
Carriers with 4 star plans:
Aetna Medicare
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Cigna
Humana
UnitedHealthcare
While these carriers provide popular options for Medicare Advantage plans, you shouldn’t choose a plan solely because of the carrier or star rating.These star ratings don’t factor in prescriptions, pricing, and provider networks that could be important to you, especially if you need regular care.
It’s important to carefully consider your health, budget, and lifestyle when picking out the best Arizona Medicare Advantage plan for you.
Think about the following factors:
Cost: Make sure to understand what your plan covers and how much you might have to pay out of pocket. Watch out for Medicare Advantage plans that advertise no-cost premiums or premium give-back benefits. These might not save you money if you end up paying more for the healthcare services and medications you need.
Coverage: It can be helpful to list the services you need each year, especially if you need extra care. Factor in additional needs like prescription drugs, specialists, fitness programs, and dental services. Medicare Advantage plans also often require prior authorization for many services. If denied prior authorization, you'll have to cover the full cost of the service.
Prescription drugs: If you need certain medications covered, make sure your Medicare Advantage plan includes drug coverage for your specific prescriptions. If your chosen plan doesn’t include prescription coverage, you can also purchase a standalone Part D plan.
Providers: One aspect of Medicare Advantage plans is that they can limit you to the network’s providers and service area for non-emergency care if you choose an HMO. You may also need a referral to see a specialist, which can be restrictive if you need extra care regularly.
There’s a lot that goes into your decision about a Medicare Advantage plan. You have 155 plans to choose from in Arizona, which can make the process even more overwhelming. Talking to a Medicare Advisor can help you find the best one for your health and financial needs. We closely evaluate and compare every policy to find one that works best for you. Call 855-900-2427 or schedule an appointment to get in touch with one of our licensed Advisors today.
