Updated: October 25, 2024
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Best Health InsuranceArizonaBest Health Insurance in Arizona
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Arizona directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). MoneyGeek’s scoring methodology balances costs, claims approval and plan types to find the best providers in the state.
Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October 2023 for the 2024 enrollment period.
Ambetter has a MoneyGeek score of 67 out of 100 and offers the best health insurance in Arizona.
Ambetter provides plan options that are more affordable, it has the lowest out-of-pocket costs and it denies claims less often than the average. In Arizona, we looked at 45 Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and 2 Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans to find out which health insurance is the best.
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Limited plan options
Premium rates not the most competitive
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Arizona is Ambetter. The provider offers several Silver HMO plans. Ambetter provides HMO plans which often encourage using their network of doctors and hospitals.
They offer an average plan rate of $450 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $5,400. Ambetter has a denial rate of about 15%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans:
Oscar has the highest MoneyGeek score for health insurance with low out-of-pocket costs in Arizona, scoring 64 out of 100. Oscar offers one of the most affordable plan options, has low out-of-pocket costs and has a better rate of claims approval compared to most providers in Arizona.
We looked at 38 Gold plans in Arizona for this analysis, including both HMO and PPO types.
Affordable premium rates
Fewer claims denied
Offers a variety of plan types
Higher out-of-pocket costs.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Arizona for low out-of-pocket costs is Oscar. They offer two Gold HMO plans, which means lower monthly payments and a network of doctors to use. They offer an average plan rate of $482 and the average maximum out of pocket cost is $7,850. Oscar has a denial rate of 12%, which is a lower denial rate than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans:
Oscar has the best cheap health insurance in Arizona with a score of 75 out of 100. The provider offers the cheapest plan options, a better than average record of approving claims and a variety of plan types.
To find the best option, we looked at 47 Silver plans in Arizona, including HMO and PPO types. In scoring providers, lower monthly premiums were weighed more heavily, but it's key to understand that plans with lower monthly costs might have higher costs when you need medical care.
Denies very few claims
Offers competitive premium rates
Out-of-pocket costs may be high.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Arizona is Oscar. It offers five different Silver plans. These plans are available for people looking for good value health care options.
Oscar provides Silver HMO plans. HMO plans often mean you need to stay within your network of doctors to get the lowest costs. They offer an average plan rate of $396 and the average maximum out of pocket cost is $8,820.
Oscar has a denial rate of 12%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
Oscar offers the best health insurance in Arizona for those with low income, scoring 72 out of 100. Oscar provides plans with the most affordable rates, they have fewer claim denials than many other companies but higher out-of-pocket maximums.
In Arizona, we evaluated 45 Silver CSR HMO plans and two Silver CSR PPO plans. MoneyGeek placed more emphasis on plans with low monthly premiums and only considered those with cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) to find the top choice. These CSRs make it so you don't have to choose between paying less each month and big bills when you go to the doctor. A normal Silver plan pays for about 70% of your health care, yet CSR Silver plans pay a different amount based on how much you earn.
These levels change if there are more people in your household.
Low premium rates.
Few claims denial occurrences.
Low maximum out-of-pocket score, which may lead to higher expenses for members.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Arizona for those with low income is Oscar. The provider offers cost-effective plans for people earning below 250% of the FPL. Oscar has five Silver CSR plans available in Arizona at an average cost of $396 per month, with an average MOOP of $7210.
The provider does not offer any PPO or POS plans; however, EPO plans, like the ones Oscar offers, typically have lower monthly premiums. Oscar's denial rate is 12%; the company usually approves claims more often than its competitors.
Plan Recommendations
Oscar's top-rated plan offers lower out-of-pocket expenses for the same premium for people in different income brackets. Here are some of the lower overall out-of-pocket costs based on income levels:
Ambetter offers the best health insurance in Arizona for young adults with a MoneyGeek score of 62 out of 100. Ambetter provides plans with reasonable costs, lower out-of-pocket expenses and a better than average record of approving claims. Only young adults under 30 can purchase Catastrophic coverage. For this category, we evaluated two Bronze HMO plans, 42 Expanded Bronze HMO plans and one Catastrophic HMO plan in Arizona.
Higher chance of claim acceptance.
Lower out-of-pocket costs.
Average plan variety may be limited.
Ambetter is MoneyGeek's top pick for young adults looking for health insurance in Arizona. The insurer provides nine Expanded Bronze plans and no Catastrophic plans. They offer an average plan rate of $291 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $8,830.
Ambetter does not offer PPO or POS plans, but EPO plans normally give the benefit of lower premiums while still providing a moderate range of choice for doctors and hospitals. The company’s denial rate is 15%, which has a lower denial rate than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:
Health insurance companies offer different kinds of plans. The best providers for all plan categories are:
MoneyGeek's recommendations are based on Silver plans. These plans are a choice that balances cost and coverage. Silver plans work well for people who go to the doctor or need health services often. Arizona has many Silver plans available. There are 45 Silver HMO plans and 2 Silver PPO plans offered.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Arizona for Silver PPO plans is Blue Cross Blue Shield, which offers two of these plans. They have an average plan rate of $687 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $9,100. With a denial rate of about 17%, Blue Cross Blue Shield denies fewer claims than average.
PPO plans can be a good choice because you don't need a referral to see specialists and they have a large network of doctors. They are quite popular in Arizona, but they might cost more than other types of plans, so it's important to think about your budget.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver PPO plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Arizona for Silver HMO plans is Ambetter. They offer an average plan rate of $463 and the average maximum out of pocket cost for these plans is $7,949. The provider's denial rate is 0.15%, which means they deny fewer claims than average.
Silver HMO plans can be a good choice if you want a lower monthly payment and don't mind seeing only doctors in your network. But one downside is you need a referral to see a specialist, which can take some extra time.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver HMO plans from Ambetter:
Based on our ratings, National General Accident & Health is the best short-term health insurance provider in Arizona, receiving a score of 95 out of 100.
Unlike Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant plans, short-term health insurance doesn't cover all essential health benefits. Consequently, they’re not ideal for long-term protection but can be a good option for folks who need temporary coverage and don't require comprehensive benefits.
National General Accident & Health is our pick as the top short-term health insurance provider in Arizona, receiving a score of 95 out of 100. Its coverage lasts from 30 days to one year and you can access benefits such as telemedicine and discounts using its LIFE Association membership. The company offers flexibility to its customers by providing a range of short-term health insurance plans with various lengths, cost-sharing options and prescription medication coverage.
Your budget and medical needs — including how much you're willing to spend each month versus when you receive care — will determine which health insurance provider in Arizona is right for you. The following pointers can be useful when planning to get health insurance.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
Depending on your plan, there are either in-network or out-of-network providers you may see. If you see a doctor that your plan agrees with, that's in-network. If you choose a doctor not on the list of in-network providers for your insurance company, that's out-of-network.
Some plans keep costs down but limit which doctors you can consult. Others cost more but give you access to more providers. In Arizona, there are two PPO plans. There are also 45 HMO plans available.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
To choose the right health insurance, you need to think about monthly costs and how much you might pay in a year for medical care. Some plans you pay less each month, but costs increase if you become seriously ill. If you consult a doctor often, you might want a plan where you pay more each month.
One Silver plan has a lower MOOP at $5,400 but costs $450 a month. The average monthly cost for Silver plans by this company is a bit less, but they have higher MOOPs. If a plan has both low monthly payments and a low MOOP, it is a good deal.
Medicare is a government-funded health insurance program that offers reduced-cost medical services to eligible seniors over 65 years of age and individuals with qualifying illnesses or disabilities. It’s divided into three parts:
We have resources available to assist you in finding the best Medicare Advantage plan in Arizona and the best Medicare Supplement plan in Arizona.
Furthermore, Medicaid is a federal program that offers health coverage to individuals with income below a specific level determined by the state.
To qualify for Arizona Medicaid, you must be
In addition, you must either be:
Finding an ideal health insurance plan can be complicated due to concerns about price and availability. MoneyGeek answers some frequently asked questions to help you research options.
The best health insurance in Arizona for 2024 is provided by Ambetter. However, the best choice for you will depend on your unique circumstances and needs.
A plan with reasonable prices and sufficient coverage is what you should be looking for. Despite offering reduced prices, some plans and companies might only offer a few services that may not suit all your medical needs.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
