Accessing affordable care: How much is health insurance in Arizona?

Healthcare leaders across the U.S. are grappling with managing rising healthcare expenses while also making care more accessible and affordable for patients. One major factor in access to care is whether an individual has health insurance, which is influenced by the cost of insurance in their state.

In Arizona, the average monthly cost of health insurance for 2022 is $577, and the average yearly cost is $6,924. However, individual health insurance costs vary depending on location, income, and other factors. 

An investigation into how much health insurance in Arizona costs must begin with an examination of what’s happening nationwide and the factors that impede access to care for some U.S. residents, including rising healthcare costs. According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data interpreted by the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker:

• Since the 1970s, healthcare and health insurance costs have been rising across the U.S. Health spending went from just over $74 billion in 1970 to $1.4 trillion in 2000, and more than doubled by 2019 ($3.8 trillion).
• Healthcare costs per person are projected to rise from $11,582 in 2019 to an estimated $18,000 by 2028. 

Access to healthcare is important

Access to quality, affordable healthcare services is essential to improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities. Factors that limit access to care include lack of health insurance, lack of access to transportation, and limited healthcare resources in rural and low-income communities.

One of the major barriers to achieving equitable access to care in the U.S. is the high cost of care. Healthcare spending in the U.S. is nearly double the average for member countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to a report on healthcare spending published in JAMA. 

Why do healthcare costs keep rising in the U.S.? Reviewing U.S. healthcare from a global perspective, the Commonwealth Fund attributes cost increases to the higher prevalence of chronic disease and obesity; lower supply of physicians; and higher use of costly technologies, including MRIs and procedures such as hip replacements.
According to 2019 data from the CMS, hospital care, physician services, and prescription drugs were the largest categories of healthcare spending. The top 10 categories of national healthcare expenditures were:

• Hospital care (31% of all spending): This includes intensive care units (ICUs), where seriously ill patients at risk of dying are treated, and non-ICUs, where patients receive care (sometimes urgent care) such as treatment of minor cuts, burns, sprains, and throat infections.
• Physician services (20% of all spending): These services are provided by a licensed physician in various healthcare settings, but not offered while admitted in the hospital. Physician services are focused on health promotion, disease prevention and management, patient education, and diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness.
• Prescription drugs (10% of all spending): This category includes prescription medications, including opioids, depressants, and stimulants. Many prescription drugs can lead to misuse, overdose, and side effects; for this reason, a prescription is required from a licensed physician or a nurse practitioner.
• Other personal healthcare costs (5% of all spending): This category includes costs for ambulance services and care provided in nontraditional settings, including community centers, schools, and workplaces.
• Nursing care facility services (5% of all spending): This includes a wide range of health and personal care services delivered by nurses in residential facilities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
• Dental services (4% of all spending): This category describes a wide range of services that dentists in offices and various healthcare facilities provide.
• Home healthcare services (3% of all spending): From wound care to monitoring of serious illness, these services are provided in an individual’s home by licensed medical professionals.
• Other professional services (3% of all spending): These services are provided by professionals such as chiropractors, podiatrists, and occupational therapists.
• Other nondurable medical products (2% of all spending): These products include medical equipment, such as disposable gloves, rubber or plastic hose used for catheters, and syringes.
• Durable medical equipment (2% of all spending): This category includes durable medical equipment used to provide therapeutic benefits to a patient for certain medical conditions.

Ethics and economics of universal access to healthcare

In the U.S., the right to care and the government’s role in providing access to healthcare are contentious topics debated at the highest levels. Wherever an individual is on the political spectrum, it can be agreed that health is foundational for pursuing opportunities in life. A healthy individual can build a family and go to work. 

While some believe that it’s ethical to help all individuals gain access to care, regardless of their socioeconomic background, others are concerned about how much that approach would cost. On one side of the political spectrum are people who believe that the millions of uninsured are being denied their basic right to healthcare and that the government should ensure basic access to healthcare to every American. On the other side of the political spectrum are people who believe that making healthcare an essential government service would lead to increased taxes, a more powerful central government, and a loss of individual choice. 

However the issue is viewed, cost is a big component of access to healthcare. Some people have the financial means to pay for their own healthcare. Others receive healthcare benefits from their employers. Others can benefit from government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Access to healthcare for all remains elusive. Other values important in healthcare include equitable access, affordable access, quality, and choice.

Here are some statistics:

• According to U.S. Census data, 8.6% of people in the U.S. (28 million) didn’t have health insurance coverage during 2020, up from 8% (26 million people) in 2019. 
• At full strength throughout much of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has translated into people dying from lack of healthcare. According to Families USA, for every three COVID-19 deaths nationally, about one can be linked to health insurance gaps.

The state of Arizona has mirrored what’s happening nationally in regards to patient access to care. For example:

• There were 60,000 more uninsured Arizonans in 2019 compared to 2018. 
• In Arizona, there were 99,954 COVID-19 infections and 2,013 deaths linked to health insurance gaps from January 22, 2020, to August 31, 2020, according to data from Families USA. 

The following data reveals some of the factors limiting healthcare access in Arizona:

Arizona health coverage statistics

According to census data, the uninsured rate in Arizona decreased between 2010 and 2017: In 2010, 16.9% of Arizona residents were uninsured; in 2017, the rate fell to 10.1%. This success in improving coverage was short-lived. The rate rose again in 2018 and 2019 (to 10.6% and 11.3%, respectively). 

Why do challenges in health coverage in Arizona persist? Barriers to access in Arizona include the following, according to Vitalyst Health Foundation: 

Insurance affordability

Despite the gains made under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many in Arizona lack the financial stability to access quality healthcare. In 2018, about 734,000 nonelderly Arizonans (aged 0 to 64) were uninsured, according to state healthcare data from KFF. This uninsured rate was higher than the national average.

Older adults (aged 50 to 64) are among those most affected by coverage gaps. AARP highlights some key statistics about Arizona’s health coverage affordability gap. Here are some statistics about older adults in Arizona who aren’t enrolled in a group plan:

• Over 64% of older adults in Arizona pay high premiums and out-of-pocket costs, making coverage unaffordable.
• About 46% don’t receive financial help with healthcare coverage costs. 
• 14.2% delayed medical care due to high costs.

Adequate healthcare workforce

In Arizona, 40% of people live in healthcare shortage areas. Areas and population groups with a shortage of health professionals — primary medical, dental, and mental health — are designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). This means that the healthcare workforce is inadequate to meet community needs. According to data from KFF, Arizona ranked No. 9 in total HPSA designations (236) as of September 2021. The state requires 653 new practitioners to remove an HPSA designation. 

The workforce also faces government and insurance industry regulations that can increase costs and reduce efficiency, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). An insurance industry regulation known as prior authorization describes a process to determine whether insurance will cover a prescribed product or service. This can also include the use of medical equipment. The time to get prior authorization adds to the problem of an inadequate healthcare workforce by reducing the efficiency of a workforce already stretched to the limit. This can minimize the effect on patient care while increasing expenses. The AMA reports that addressing physician shortages is key to improving access to healthcare.

Health disparities

Barriers to access to healthcare in Arizona can lead to health disparities. Inadequate funding or investment to address the social determinants of health can create a chain reaction leading to health disparities. For example, lack of health insurance puts people at risk of not being able to afford care when an illness or accident comes unexpectedly. Additionally, preventive healthcare can help prevent illnesses, surgeries, and hospitalizations, but without a way to pay for it, many people delay care, adding cost burdens on the entire health system.

The Arizona Department of Health Services has launched campaigns to improve access to healthcare to underserved communities. For example, interpretive services, resources for language learning, and additional information are available to help populations with limited English proficiency (LEP) access the health services they need. Additional strategies for mitigating health disparities include stabilizing the individual healthcare insurance marketplace, ensuring adequate funding of children’s insurance programs, retaining Medicaid expansion, and implementing expansion across other U.S. states.

Requirements changes

With presidential administrations changing and focusing on different political priorities, healthcare policy ideas evolve. Consider Medicaid expansion, a provision of the ACA calling for extending Medicaid eligibility to cover more low-income Americans. 

The Trump administration wanted people to have to work to qualify for Medicaid, and it approved Arizona’s 2020 proposed work requirement, which would have led to some unemployed people missing out on access to healthcare benefits. However, amid legal uncertainty, the requirement was never implemented. The Biden administration then withdrew approval in 2021, eliminating the work requirement. 

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) reports that in 2019, 2.2 million uninsured adults lived in states that didn’t adopt the Medicaid expansion component of the ACA, meaning that even those below the poverty line were required to pay for healthcare coverage on their own. One of the aims of Medicaid expansion is to reduce racial disparities and improve access for individuals who don’t have a pathway to affordable coverage.

Answers to all your Arizona insurance questions

The answers to the following common health insurance questions can help Arizonans learn about and access healthcare benefits:

How much does health insurance cost in Arizona?

Health insurance rates in Arizona vary by region, but the average statewide monthly premium for 2022 is $577, with an average annual premium of $6,924. To learn about the rates for different regions, individuals can search HealthCare.gov using their postal code. 

For example, a search for 85364 (Yuma County) reveals that the average premium for a bronze plan is $529. The bronze plan, one of four categories in the Health Insurance Marketplace, offers individuals with the lowest monthly premiums but higher costs to receive care. In 85530 (Graham County), the average premium for a bronze plan is $425.

What are the Arizona medical assistance programs?

Arizona medical assistance programs include offerings and resources from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) — the state’s Medicaid agency — and other organizations.

• Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System: Information from the AHCCCS about low-cost healthcare options for qualified individuals and families.
• Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions: Information on consumer tools, insurance, and insurance companies that serve Arizonans.
• Arizona Health Matters: Data on the Arizona population and community health information for individuals, planners, and policymakers.
• Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers: Information about health center programs that serve communities and disadvantaged populations.
• Cover Arizona: Information about the types of healthcare coverage available, plans, and prices, as well as where to find in-person help.
• Medicare Rights Center: Information about access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities.
• Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program: Information for older adults about Medicare assistance, including where to find local offices.
• Healthinsurance.org, Arizona: Comprehensive guides to individual and family health coverage.
• HealthCare.gov: The federal government’s health insurance exchange site.

How do I apply for medical assistance in Arizona?

Arizona has expanded Medicaid coverage to include adults with incomes that are characterized as low or very low. A one-person household with a maximum annual income of $17,131 is considered low income and qualifies for the Arizona Medicaid medical assistance program, according to Benefits.gov. For a four-person household, the maximum annual income can’t exceed $35,245.

Medicaid Assistance

In addition to the income qualification for Medicaid assistance, an individual must be a resident of Arizona and a U.S. national citizen, permanent resident, or “legal alien.” Assistance is also available for pregnant individuals.

Qualified residents of Arizona can apply for medical assistance on AHCCCS’ Health-e-Arizona Plus online application portal (along with nutritional and financial assistance). When applying for medical assistance, individuals need to present key pieces of information, including the following:

• Identification that proves citizenship, or green cards, if a non-U.S. citizen.
• Social Security number or proof of having applied for one.
• Birth certificate for every applicant.
• Contact information of a landlord or neighbor, including address and phone number.
• Statement from a nonrelative who does not live with the applicant that verifies the applicant’s address. 
• Proof of all household income including money sources from the current month and previous month.
• Documentation that proves that employment has ended (with last date paid) for individuals who lost their jobs. 
• Verification of medical insurance other than from the AHCCCS.

Hospitalized applicants can expect a decision within seven days of the application date. Those who are pregnant are typically notified within 20 days. Other applicants should learn about a decision no more than 45 days from the application date. Applicants who are denied assistance can request an appeal. Information about the appeals process can be found on the Arizona Department of Economic Security website.

Successful applicants can expect an approval letter. If eligibility can’t be determined due to missing information, applicants will receive a Request for Information letter. The information requested can be shared via Health-e-Arizona Plus.

Other Assistance Programs

Individuals who don’t qualify for Medicaid assistance may qualify for reduced-cost insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace through premium tax credits. Enrollees can explore cost savings options via the HealthCare.gov site. 

Individuals can also gain access to affordable medical services and insurance advice by contacting their local community health center.

Improving access to care in Arizona

What’s the future of Arizona healthcare? Budget considerations in the aftermath of COVID-19 seem to be on the top of the agenda, according to the State of Reform, a political advocacy organization focused on bridging gaps between healthcare and health policy. Additional important topics in Arizona’s healthcare landscape include managing an increase in Medicaid applications and providing culturally sensitive medical care to communities. 

Local organizations and healthcare providers can help address these issues and improve access to sufficient care in their communities by providing quality medical assistance information and resources. Leaders of healthcare organizations have important roles to play in strengthening patient access to care and reducing healthcare disparities as they shape the policies of their organizations.

For individuals, finding information on how to access insurance and assistance programs can be daunting. In Arizona, one of the first steps is to determine if you qualify for assistance. Your income, place of residence, and other factors all matter in determining whether you qualify for healthcare and insurance assistance. Reaching out to local healthcare organizations for support can be an essential step. Improved access to care, insurance, and assistance programs are key to enhancing the wellbeing of individual communities in Arizona.

Infographic Sources:

• HealthCare.gov, Physician Services
• HealthCare.gov, Prescription Drugs
• HealthInsurance.org, “Arizona and the ACA’s Medicaid Expansion”
• Medicare.gov, Inpatient Hospital Care
• ValuePenguin, “Average Cost of Health Insurance (2022)”