Arizona health insurance questions, answered.
Answers from licensed agents about buying your own coverage in Arizona, organized by topic.
Getting started
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Open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15, 2026 if you want coverage to start January 1. After January 15, you need a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, to enroll.
No. Arizona uses the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. You can apply there directly or work with a licensed agent who can compare Marketplace plans for you.
Two things happened at once. Full-price premiums rose a weighted average of 46.3%, and the extra federal premium tax credits ended after 2025. The average amount Arizona enrollees paid after subsidies went from $113 a month in 2025 to $229 in 2026.
Leaving a job
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Often yes. Arizona's continuation law lets you keep a small employer's insured group plan for up to 18 months if you were covered for at least three months before leaving. You pay the full premium plus up to a 5% fee.
Your employer must send a notice within 30 days of the qualifying event. You then have 60 days from the notice to elect in writing and 45 days after electing to pay the first premium. If the notice was late or incomplete, you get 120 days.
No. Losing job-based coverage gives you a 60-day special enrollment period for Marketplace plans, which may cost less if your income dropped. If your household income is low enough, you may also qualify for AHCCCS.
Early retirement
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Yes, if your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. The extra help that removed the 400% cap ended after 2025, so income above that line means no premium tax credit in 2026.
Possibly. Adults with household income up to about 138% of the federal poverty level can qualify. Starting in 2027, many in this group will need to meet work or activity rules unless they are exempt.
It ends once you become eligible for Medicare. Plan your Medicare enrollment ahead of time so there is no gap.
Self-employed
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No. Arizona does not have its own coverage mandate or penalty. Going uninsured still leaves you exposed to large medical bills.
No. Arizona does not add a state subsidy, so the federal premium tax credit is the main help available. In 2026 it is available only to households between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
Not for 2026. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona sells only HMO plans on the Marketplace this year after dropping its PPO plans. Check networks carefully if you see doctors in more than one area.
Short-term plans
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Arizona allows first terms of less than 12 months and up to 36 months total with renewals. Each insurer decides whether to offer renewals, so check the policy terms.
A 2024 federal rule set that limit, but in August 2025 federal agencies said they would not prioritize enforcing it while they revisit the rule. Arizona told insurers in December 2025 that they may follow the longer state limits.
Often not. Short-term plans are not ACA coverage, so they can decline applicants or exclude existing conditions. If you have ongoing care needs, a Marketplace plan or AHCCCS is usually the safer choice.
Non-ACA options
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Yes. Arizona law says a qualifying ministry is not doing insurance business, so it is not regulated by the state insurance department. It must give you a written notice that it is not an insurance company and does not guarantee payment.
No. Because Arizona does not treat a sharing ministry as insurance, membership does not earn a premium tax credit and you remain personally responsible for your medical bills.
Insurers
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Seven insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Health Net of Arizona (Arizona Complete Health), Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, Imperial, Antidote and Cigna. Coverage areas vary, so not every insurer sells in every county.
Cigna is leaving the Arizona Marketplace at the end of 2026. You will need to choose a new plan during open enrollment, by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1.
Insurers asked for increases of about 25% to 34%, except Antidote at about 3%. Arizona regulators review these filings for reasonableness but do not approve or reject them, and final rates are published before open enrollment.
Sources
Reviewed October 2026. Rules and prices change every year; a licensed agent will confirm what applies to you.
- HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines
- healthinsurance.org: Arizona health insurance marketplace
- ASTHO: ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, Legislative Developments in 2025 and 2026
- AHCCCS / Health Management Associates: Eliminate the Enhanced FMAP for Expansion Populations (April 2025)
- KJZZ: AHCCCS launches website to help Arizonans navigate new Medicaid work requirements (Sept. 2026)
- Arizona Revised Statutes 20-2330: Continuation of coverage
- healthinsurance.org: Arizona short-term health insurance
- Groom Law Group: Non-enforcement relief for short-term limited duration insurance
- Arizona Revised Statutes 20-122: Health care sharing ministries
- AZPM: These Arizona health insurance companies are seeking rate increases of more than 25% (Aug. 2026)
See what you'd actually pay.
A licensed agent will compare plans from every insurer in your Arizona county, check your subsidy, and walk you through the options. No cost, no obligation.