Medicare in Arizona

Resources for Arizona Medicare Beneficiaries 

Comparing and selecting a Medicare plan is crucial in the United State, due to the high cost of medical treatment and the lack of universal coverage. It’s time to start reading up on Medicare, and don’t worry. Healthpilot has created these resources with you in mind. 

Medicare Basics         Choosing the Right Medicare Plan         Enrolling in Medicare

The choices you make about your health care plan affect how much you pay for coverage, what services you get, which doctors you can use, and the overall quality of the care you will receive. Because of how important this is, Medicare recipients can get information and advice from several places about choosing a Medicare plan. As a resident of the Grand Canyon State, you can seek help through the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), commonly known as the Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (ASHIAP).  They provide counselors that work closely with local organizations, public health agencies, and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) specific to your county to provide individuals in Arizona with Medicare information. 

Medicare Plan Options in Arizona  

If you live in Arizona, you have the choice between a number of Medicare plans. You can apply for Original Medicare if you are at least 65 years old or have a disability and are eligible for Medicare. With a variety of plans available in the Grand Canyon state, a Medicare Advantage plan can be a better choice if you prefer more comprehensive coverage. Prescription drug plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance are additional examples of Medicare program possibilities. 

Original Medicare (Parts A & B)  

Let’s start with Original Medicare. Medicare Part A covers hospitalization insurance, whereas Medicare Part B covers medical insurance such as outpatient care, laboratory testing, and preventive services like cancer screenings, flu vaccines, and annual wellness checkups. Medicare Part A and Part B have two different deductible types. For instance, the deductible for Part A (inpatient hospital care) is based on a per-benefit period each time you are admitted.  The deductible for Part B is based on a set amount to be met annually, respectively, before Original Medicare begins to pay for services.  

Some things to think about if you’re considering sticking to Original Medicare: 

• If you want the flexibility to see any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare, Original Medicare in Arizona is a terrific choice. 
• There are no networks, copayments, waiting periods, or restrictions on pre-existing conditions. 

Medicare Advantage (Part C)  

Medicare Part C, which is another name for Medicare Advantage plans, is an option for Medicare coverage offered by private insurance companies. These plans cover at least what Medicare Parts A and B do, but the most important difference is that they often come with additional benefits. Services are typically performed by a network of providers, similar to how a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan works. This may require you to have a primary care physician, a referral to see a specialist, and prior authorization for certain services, treatments, and drugs. There are also other types of insurance, like a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), HMO-POS (a combination of an HMO and a PPO), or a Private Fee for Service (PFFS) plan. 

Arizona’s choice of Medicare Advantage plans is likely to cover more of your healthcare needs. For further information about Medicare Advantage, please visit our Medicare Part C Resource Page. 

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)  

Prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D is automatically included in many Medicare Advantage plans. You can also add a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) plan to Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy if you have chosen that route. This independent Part D coverage is provided by private insurance companies that have been given Medicare approval. Depending on the plan selected, there can be a deductible, copay, or coinsurance for each covered prescription.  

Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)  

Some Medicare recipients in Arizona buy Medigap, which is also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance. These plans are meant to help pay for gaps in coverage that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Some of these gaps include coverage for medical care outside the U.S., deductibles, and coinsurance for Medicare Parts A and B. 

Since Original Medicare may not cover all medical expenses, the Arizona Department of Insurance (ADI) also provides information regarding Medicare Supplement Insurance coverage that may assist in minimizing out-of-pocket spending. 

You ought to know that Medigap doesn’t cover anything that has to do with Medicare Advantage. You can’t have a Medigap policy and a Medicare Advantage Plan at the same time. If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan and want to buy a Medigap policy, your Medigap policy should start the day after your Medicare Advantage plan ends.  

Medicaid 

The Medicaid program began in 1965. It was implemented to assist low-income children, parents, pregnant women, seniors, and disabled persons to get affordable access to health care. State and federal governments fund this program. Each state’s Medicaid program follows federal regulations, which are often broad, so states can administer their own programs. As a result, Medicaid eligibility and benefits vary widely by state. 

How and when to sign up for Medicare in Arizona

Most people in the U.S. can sign up for Medicare when they turn 65. The following scenarios also would make a person eligible for Medicare: 

• You are under 65 and have received disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for at least 24 months.  
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). 
• You have Lou Gehrig’s disease, which is also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). 

Medicare Advantage Enrollment Periods in Arizona and nationwide  

Here is a quick overview of the Medicare enrollment periods in which you can elect or change your Medicare Advantage plan.

Don’t worry, Arizonians. We’re almost done. Healthpilot knows that figuring out Medicare can be complex and those meeting enrollment deadlines can make things even trickier. 

What is the best thing you could hear today? We will happily take care of all the boring stuff for you. After you answer a few questions about your healthcare needs, we’ll provide you a tailored recommendation for which plan is right for you. You can skip being a prisoner on hold or long wait times on the phone with agents and sign up online with us quickly and safely. We take care of providing you updated recommendations every year as long as you are a Healthpilot customer. When Healthpilot is on your side, you don’t even have to remember enrollment periods and deadlines.   

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Key Stats

Some interesting facts about Medicare coverage in Arizona:   

• 1,370,074 people in Arizona use Medicare. This means that 18% of people have Medicare, which is just under the countrywide average of 19%. 
• In Arizona, about 47% of Medicare recipients are part of a private Medicare Advantage program. Above the average of 45% for the country. 
• In Arizona, there are 157 Medicare Advantage plans being offered in 2023. In 2022, there were only 155 plans. This means 1.3% more options to choose from. 
• In Arizona, Medicare beneficiaries can choose from 28 plans for stand-alone prescription drug Part D coverage in 2023. 
• We said we’d give you a fun fact about Arizona: One of the most haunted places in America is the Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff, Arizona. It’s been reported to encounter ghosts who try to suffocate guests while they sleep, ghostly baby cries coming from the basement to the mysterious long-term resident who hangs raw meat from the chandelier in Room 210. This place has had its fair share of the paranormal. Even John Wayne had a reputed brush with the supernatural while staying there. 

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