Assisted living facilities primarily help residents with non-medical needs. Although minor and infrequent medical services, such as first-aid for a wound, can sometimes be met on-site by nurses. These communities may sometimes also be called ALFs, residential care facilities, retirement homes, or long-term care facilities.
The financial options available to help pay for senior care is dependent on, among other things, the type of care that is required. If you are just beginning the research process on how to pay for long-term care, it is helpful to have an idea about the type of care you or your loved one currently requires, as well as to anticipate future needs. In addition, it is important to be familiar with the associated eldercare terminology.
Can using home care technology help your family save money caring for an aging loved one? The answer is most certainly “Yes”. Our goal is not to provide a comprehensive list, but rather to make sense of those that are available on the market today and can reduce the care hours required by elderly persons. As such, they can reduce a family’s out-of-pocket care costs or reduce the hours they spend providing care themselves.
Medicare Advantage (Part C), a privately offered alternative to Original Medicare (Parts A and B), has grown in popularity over the years. Despite the growing popularity of Medicare Advantage, some seniors face obstacles that prevent them from truly understanding how it works and who it benefits. Common mistakes about Medicare Advantage include misunderstanding its differences from Original Medicare, getting it confused with other forms of private Medicare insurance (like Medigap or Part D), or not understanding how to look up or evaluate plans.
Medicare Advantage is one of the enrollment options available to Medicare-eligible residents of Arizona. The main difference between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare is that Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies, while Original Medicare is managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Despite this difference, all Medicare Advantage plans must cover the same medically necessary services as Original Medicare, ensuring enrollees can access the care they need. The only exception is hospice care, which is covered under Medicare Part A.
Another difference between the two types of Medicare is that most Medicare Advantage plans cover prescription drugs. Original Medicare doesn’t include prescription coverage, so enrollees have to purchase a Medicare Part D supplement if they don’t want to be responsible for paying the full cost of their medications out of pocket. Many Medicare Advantage plans also cover extra benefits that aren’t included with Original Medicare. Depending on the plan guidelines, Medicare Advantage may cover hearing aids, dentures, dental exams and routine vision care, among other services.
Arizona has more than 1.4 million people enrolled in Medicare. About 45% of them chose Medicare Advantage, which accounts for about 2.54% of the 26.4 million Medicare Advantage members in the United States in 2021. The following guide explains how Medicare Advantage works, provides details about the eligibility requirements and offers guidance on choosing a Medicare Advantage plan.
The Top 10 Medicare Advantage Plans in Arizona
In Arizona, more than a dozen insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans, giving residents plenty of options when it’s time to enroll. There’s more information below about these plans and the type of coverage they offer.
The following table lists the 10 most popular Medicare Advantage providers in Arizona. Because most providers offer more than one plan, the cost information is displayed as a range. We also combined the enrollment numbers for the individual plans to determine the total number of members served by each provider. Price and enrollment data is current as of April 2022, but Medicare.gov has the most recent statistics for Arizona.
Name
Total Enrollment
Star Rating
Min Cost
Max Cost
Plan Types
UnitedHealthcare
306,531
4
$0
$54
HMO, PPO
Humana
119,794
3.5
$0
$119
HMO, PPO
Cigna
51,883
4.5
$0
$0
HMO
Wellcare by Allwell
45,319
3
$0
$35
HMO
Aetna Medicare
44,086
3
$0
$89
HMO, PPO
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Advantage
21,852
3.5
$0
$48
HMO
Mercy Care Advantage
15,476
0
$0
$0
HMO
Banner Medicare
15,049
0
$0
$0
HMO
Amerigroup
10,480
3.5
$0
$0
HMO
Health Choice Pathway
8,976
0
$0
$0
HMO
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work in Arizona
Medicare Advantage providers offer several types of plans, all of which have different rules regarding how members access care. Some plans require referrals, but others are a little more flexible. Certain plans also provide some coverage for out-of-network services. The graphic below provides details about the four most common types of Medicare Advantage Plans in Arizona.
What Medicare Advantage Plans Cover in Arizona
Medicare Advantage covers all medically necessary services covered by Original Medicare, including doctor visits, hospital care, X-rays, lab tests and preventive care. The only exception is hospice care, which is covered by Original Medicare instead of Medicare Advantage. Some providers even offer extra benefits to make their plans more attractive to Medicare-eligible residents of Arizona.
Coverage Available With Medicare Parts A & B?
Coverage Available With Medicare Advantage?
Preventive Screenings
Yes
Yes
Hospital Care
Yes
Yes
Durable Medical Equipment
Yes
Yes
Prescription Drugs
No
Yes**
Vision Care
No
Yes*
Dental Care
No
Yes*
Hearing Aids
No
Yes*
*Select plans offer this coverage
** Most plans offer this coverage
Eligibility for Medicare Advantage in Arizona
To enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, an Arizona resident must live in the plan’s service area, have Medicare Part A and Part B coverage and meet other basic eligibility requirements. Medicare is available to U.S. citizens and lawful immigrants who are at least 65 years old or qualify for Medicare at a younger age due to end-stage kidney failure, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or another type of disability. Like other types of insurance, Medicare Advantage doesn’t offer year-round enrollment. Therefore, it’s important to plan carefully when enrolling in Medicare Advantage for the first time or switching plans. The list below provides important details about enrollment timing for Medicare Advantage.
Initial Coverage Election Period: This is the initial 7-month period, coinciding with one’s 65th birthday, during which everyone is eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Annual Election Period (AEP): Also referred to as the Open Enrollment Period, this the time of year when anyone over 65 can enroll in Medicare Advantage for the first time or change to a new plan.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: During this period, those who are already enrolled in Medicare Advantage can switch to a different plan or switch back to Original Medicare.
Start Date
End Date
Initial Coverage Election Period
3 Months Before One’s 65th Birth Month
3 Months After One’s 65th Birth Month
Annual Election Period (AEP)
October 15th
December 7th
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
January 1st
March 31st
Additionally, Medicare Advantage plan participants can change their plan outside of these enrollment periods under certain qualifying circumstances, such as moving to a new state.
How to Find & Choose a Medicare Advantage Plan in Arizona
Navigating the many intricacies of Medicare Advantage plan types, insurers, and the specific plan options available by region can be a difficult and time-consuming task. Below are several resources we’ve created to help you through the process.
First is a downloadable PDF that you can use as a guide to help you compare plans as you research. Finally, we have listed a number of organizations that you can contact with experts that will help you determine whether Medicare Advantage is right for you and what plans you should consider.
Arizona’s DES Division of Aging and Adult Services administers the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, a free Medicare counseling program. Also known as SHIP, this program aims to educate and empower Medicare-eligible adults and their families by providing unbiased information about Medicare Advantage plans, benefits and costs. SHIP is delivered through a network of trained and vetted volunteer counselors who provide one-on-one counseling sessions, both in-person and over the phone. SHIP counselors are located throughout the state, and most are based in local senior centers and nonprofit organizations.
To find a local SHIP counselor, seniors can call the statewide toll-free SHIP hotline at 1-800-432-4040 or visit their nearest seniors’ center.
Arizona Legal Assistance Program
Established in accordance with the federal Older Americans Act, Arizona’s Legal Assistance Program provides seniors aged 60 and older with legal information, advice and advocacy related to civil matters, such as health care, guardianship and estate planning. The program aims to help seniors maintain their independence and financial security by ensuring older adults have access to free and low-cost legal assistance.
Contact Info
To learn more about Arizona’s Legal Assistance Program, seniors can contact their local Area Agency on Aging. A complete list of all Area Agencies on Aging can be found on the Arizona Department of Economic Security website.
Arizona’s Senior Medicare Patrol program works to protect Medicare beneficiaries against fraud, abuse and billing errors. Professionally-trained SMP staff and screened volunteers provide seniors with information about Medicare scams, such as illegal marketing, double-billing, identity theft and claims for unnecessary services. SMP workers host free community seminars, answer calls and emails from Medicare members and meet with seniors on a one-to-one basis to review complaints and concerns related to Medicare. If illegal activity is suspected, SMP will escalate complaints to the appropriate authorities.
To contact the Arizona Senior Medicare Patrol, seniors can call the SMP Helpline at 1-800-432-4040.
Arizona Area Agencies for Aging
The Arizona Association of Area Agencies on Aging is a network of seven regional agencies that work to create and maintain resources for older adults. These agencies are located throughout the state and are actively involved in elder advocacy at the local, state and federal level. The focus of these AAAs is to improve access to services designed to help seniors maintain their dignity, independence and community involvement.
Seniors can connect with their local AAA by calling 1-928-298-2574 or by completing the online contact form on the Arizona Association of Area Agencies on Aging website.
Arizona seniors who live with physical, psychiatric, cognitive, sensory or mental disabilities who require legal support with disability-related issues can contact the Arizona Center for Disability Law. The ACDL is a nonprofit, public interest law firm that provides a range of legal services including education, advocacy and representation. ACDL has a series of free self-advocacy guides that include plain language advice on managing dual insurance coverage, such as Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs Plans.
The Pima Council on Aging is a nonprofit organization that provides free and low-cost programs for seniors in Pima County. The Council maintains an online database of current resources for older adults, and certified information and referral specialists are available to help seniors connect with community supports. Seniors and their family members can enroll in a free two-hour Understanding Medicare presentation that provides an overview of Medicare benefits and plans, including Medicare Advantage plans. The presentation is followed by a one-hour Q&A session, and one-on-one Medicare counselors are available to meet with seniors who need more information about Medicare Advantage.
To view the Understanding Medicare presentation online, visit the Pima Council on Aging’s website. To schedule an appointment with a Medicare counselor, call PCOA’s Medicare line at 1-520-790-7262.
The City of Phoenix operates 15 senior centers that provide low-cost and free programming and services designed to help older adults remain active in their communities. In addition to offering a variety of social and recreational opportunities, these centers host nutrition programs and health screening clinics for seniors. Centers also provide one-on-one case management services to seniors that may include help with Medicare Advantage plans, rental assistance and referrals to area resources.
Seniors in Phoenix can find contact information for their nearest Senior center on the City of Phoenix, Human Services website, or by calling 1-602-262-7379.