Medicare in Arizona, made clear.
Get straight, jargon-free answers about Parts A, B, C and D, your 2026 costs, and exactly when to enroll — then compare plans and sign up online, or get free local help.
Where are you in your Medicare journey?
Pick what sounds like you. Each path points to the parts of this guide that matter most.
I'm turning 65 soon
Learn your 7-month sign-up window and how to avoid lifelong late penalties.
See enrollment timing →I'm new to Medicare
Understand Parts A, B, C and D and the choice between Original Medicare and Advantage.
Learn the basics →I want to change plans
Compare this year's Advantage, Part D and Medigap options side by side and switch online.
Compare plans →I'm helping a parent
Find free, trustworthy local counselors anywhere in Arizona, by city and county.
Find local help →The parts of Medicare, in plain English
Medicare comes in four "parts." Most people combine them one of two ways — Original Medicare (Parts A & B, usually plus a Part D drug plan and a Medigap supplement) or a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) that bundles everything together.
Part A
- Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing after a hospital stay, hospice, and some home health care.
- Free for most people — if you or a spouse paid Medicare taxes about 10 years (40 quarters).
- You still pay a deductible for each hospital "benefit period."
Part B
- Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, lab tests, preventive screenings, and durable medical equipment.
- Has a monthly premium and annual deductible; then you generally pay 20% of approved costs.
- Original Medicare has no cap on that 20% — a big reason people add Medigap or choose Advantage.
Part C
- A private plan that bundles Part A, Part B and usually Part D into one package.
- Often includes extras like dental, vision, hearing and fitness, sometimes with a $0 premium.
- Uses provider networks and sets a yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
Part D
- Covers prescription medications through private plans; each has its own drug list (formulary).
- In 2026 your out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100 a year.
- Skipping it when first eligible can mean a permanent late penalty.
Medigap (Medicare Supplement)
- A private policy that helps pay the deductibles, copays and coinsurance Original Medicare leaves to you.
- Plans are standardized by letter (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N — Plans C and F are closed to people newly eligible after Jan 1, 2020). A "Plan G" is the same coverage no matter who sells it; only price and service differ.
- Best time to buy is the 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B — during it you can't be turned down or charged more for health conditions.
- You cannot use Medigap with a Medicare Advantage plan — it only works alongside Original Medicare.
What Medicare costs in 2026
These are the standard amounts set by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2026. Your actual cost can be lower or higher depending on your income, work history, and the private plans you choose.
Part A — Hospital
Most people pay $0 in premiums. The costs below apply when you're admitted.
| What it is | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly premium (40+ work quarters) | $0 |
| Premium with 30–39 work quarters | $311/mo |
| Premium with fewer than 30 quarters | $565/mo |
| Hospital deductible (per benefit period) | $1,736 |
| Hospital days 1–60 | $0/day |
| Hospital days 61–90 | $434/day |
| Lifetime reserve days (91–150) | $868/day |
| Skilled nursing days 21–100 | $217/day |
A "benefit period" starts when you're admitted and ends after 60 days out of the hospital. You can have more than one in a year, so the deductible can apply more than once. The $565 premium is for people with fewer than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered work; those with 30–39 quarters pay $311 in 2026.
Part B — Medical
Most people pay the standard premium below. Higher earners pay more (see the IRMAA tab).
| What it is | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Standard monthly premium | $202.90 |
| Annual deductible | $283 |
| Your share after the deductible | 20% |
| Annual out-of-pocket cap (Original Medicare) | None |
| Late-enrollment penalty | +10% / yr* |
*The Part B late penalty adds 10% for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but didn't, and it usually lasts as long as you have Part B. Because there's no cap on the 20% coinsurance, many people add a Medigap plan or choose Medicare Advantage for protection.
Part C & Part D — Advantage & Drugs
Premiums are set by private insurers and vary by plan, so shop and compare each year.
| What it is | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage premium | Often $0* |
| Medicare Advantage average (national) | ~$14/mo |
| Part D premium | Varies |
| Part D out-of-pocket drug cap | $2,100 |
| Medicare Prescription Payment Plan | Spread cost monthly |
| Part D late-enrollment penalty | ~1% / mo* |
*Many Medicare Advantage plans in Arizona are available with a $0 monthly premium ("low-to-no premium" plans) — though you still pay your Part B premium, and $0 doesn't mean no costs (you'll have copays up to the plan's yearly out-of-pocket max). The national average across all Advantage plans is about $14/month. The Part D penalty is roughly 1% of the national base premium for every month you went without creditable drug coverage, and it's permanent. Once your drug spending hits $2,100 in 2026, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
Higher-income surcharges (IRMAA)
Based on your 2024 tax return. Most people are in the first row and pay $0 extra.
| 2024 income — single | 2024 income — married/joint | Part B premium | + Part D |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | $0 |
| $109,001–$137,000 | $218,001–$274,000 | $284.10 | +$14.50 |
| $137,001–$171,000 | $274,001–$342,000 | $405.80 | +$37.50 |
| $171,001–$205,000 | $342,001–$410,000 | $527.50 | +$60.40 |
| $205,001–$499,999 | $410,001–$749,999 | $649.20 | +$83.30 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 | +$91.00 |
IRMAA is based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from two years earlier — your 2024 return sets your 2026 premiums. The Part D amount is added to your drug plan's premium. If your income dropped after a life-changing event such as retirement, divorce, or the death of a spouse, you can ask Social Security to use more recent income by filing Form SSA-44. Source: CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts B premiums & deductibles.
When to enroll — and how to avoid penalties
Missing your first sign-up window can mean penalties that stick with you for life. Here are the windows that matter, and a quick tool to find yours.
Find your Initial Enrollment Period
Tell us the month and year you turn 65. We'll show your 7-month sign-up window.
Estimate a late-enrollment penalty
See what waiting could cost. These penalties are usually permanent — which is exactly why timing matters.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
Your first chance to sign up: the 3 months before your 65th-birthday month, the birthday month itself, and the 3 months after. Enrolling in the first three months means coverage can start the month you turn 65.
Best time to enroll for most people– Dec 7
Fall Open Enrollment (AEP)
Every autumn, anyone with Medicare can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan. Changes take effect January 1. Review your plan's Annual Notice of Change each fall — costs and drug lists shift yearly.
– Mar 31
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more chance early in the year to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a drug plan).
– Mar 31
General Enrollment Period (GEP)
For people who missed their Initial Enrollment Period and don't qualify for a special exception. Coverage starts the month after you sign up — and late penalties may apply.
Penalties may applySpecial Enrollment Period (SEP)
Life events can open a no-penalty window — for example, losing employer coverage when you retire (you generally get 8 months to enroll in Part B), moving out of your plan's area, or qualifying for Extra Help. If you're still working at 65 with good employer coverage, an SEP often lets you delay safely.
Medigap Open Enrollment
A one-time, 6-month window that begins when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. During it, insurers can't deny you a Medigap policy or charge more for pre-existing conditions. After it closes, that protection generally goes away.
Guaranteed acceptanceMedicare help in your Arizona community
Plans, provider networks and local counselors differ by city and county. Choose your area for local guidance and contacts.
Free, unbiased help across Arizona
Arizona has a federally funded program offering one-on-one Medicare counseling at no cost — the counselors don't earn commissions. Here's how to reach them, alongside the official federal lines.
Statewide & federal
Get help & enroll
Work with your local licensed agent, compare and join plans, or sign up for Parts A & B.
More locations at des.az.gov/medicare-assistance.
Local, licensed help when you want it
Darin Weidauer
Comparing Medicare plans can feel overwhelming. Darin Weidauer, founder of ECOS Medicare Solutions, helps Arizonans understand their options and enroll with confidence — at no cost to you, since the same plan premiums apply whether you use an agent or not. Prefer to do it yourself? Use the secure self-service link to compare and enroll on your own schedule.
Meet with Darin Weidauer at either Arizona office — Mesa (East Valley) or Sun City (West Valley). Appointments are recommended.
Popular Arizona Medicare guides
Deeper, plain-English walkthroughs of the decisions Arizonans wrestle with most.
Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap
The big Arizona decision — networks and extras vs. nationwide freedom and predictable costs.
Compare the two →Turning 65 checklist
A month-by-month to-do list so you enroll on time and skip the penalties.
Get the checklist →All guides
Browse every Arizona Medicare guide in one place.
See all guides →Medicare questions Arizonans ask most
Tap any question to read the answer. Use the filters to jump to a topic.
Most people become eligible at age 65. You can also qualify earlier if you've received Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months, or if you have ALS or end-stage renal disease. Your Initial Enrollment Period covers the 7 months around your 65th birthday.
Not necessarily. If you (or your spouse) are still working and have group coverage from an employer with 20 or more employees, you can often delay Part B without penalty and sign up later through a Special Enrollment Period. Many people still take premium-free Part A. Rules differ for smaller employers, COBRA, and retiree plans — a free SHIP counselor can confirm your situation.
If you're already getting Social Security before 65, you're usually enrolled in Parts A and B automatically and your card arrives by mail. If you're not drawing Social Security yet, you generally have to sign up yourself through the Social Security Administration — it won't happen on its own.
Sign up for Parts A and B through Social Security — online at ssa.gov/medicare, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local office. To add a Part D drug plan, Medicare Advantage, or Medigap, you enroll through the plan, with a licensed agent, or via the secure compare-and-enroll link on this site.
You may face permanent late-enrollment penalties and a wait for coverage to begin. Part B adds 10% to your premium for each full year you delayed; Part D adds roughly 1% per month without drug coverage. If you missed your window, the General Enrollment Period (Jan 1–Mar 31) is usually your next chance — but check first whether a Special Enrollment Period applies, since that can erase the penalty.
Losing job-based coverage opens a Special Enrollment Period. You generally have 8 months to enroll in Part B without penalty. Don't rely on COBRA to delay Part B — COBRA usually does not count as the kind of coverage that protects you from the penalty.
Yes. Each fall during Open Enrollment (Oct 15–Dec 7) you can switch Advantage or Part D plans for the next year. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get an extra switch window Jan 1–Mar 31. Changing a Medigap plan is different — outside your one-time Medigap window, insurers can review your health, so check before you switch.
There's no single right answer. Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D lets you see almost any provider nationwide with very predictable costs, but premiums are higher. Medicare Advantage often has lower (sometimes $0) premiums and extras like dental and vision, but uses a network and may require referrals or prior approvals. Think about your doctors, your medications, how much you travel, and whether you value predictable costs or lower premiums.
Medigap (Medicare Supplement) is private insurance that fills the gaps in Original Medicare — the deductibles and that uncapped 20% coinsurance. It's worth considering if you choose Original Medicare and want protection from large, unpredictable bills. Plans are standardized by letter, so a Plan G from one company covers the same as a Plan G from another; compare on price and service. You don't use Medigap with a Medicare Advantage plan.
Original Medicare generally does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing care. Many Medicare Advantage plans add these benefits, which is a common reason people choose them. Standalone dental and vision policies also exist.
Original Medicare works anywhere in the U.S. with any provider who accepts it — convenient if you split time between states. Medicare Advantage plans are usually built around a local network, so out-of-area care may be limited to emergencies. Arizona snowbirds should factor travel patterns into the choice.
For most people Part A is free and the standard Part B premium is $202.90/month in 2026, with a $283 annual deductible. On top of that you may pay for a Part D drug plan, and either a Medigap premium or a Medicare Advantage plan (often low or $0). Higher earners pay an income surcharge (IRMAA).
Yes, and many who qualify never apply. The Medicare Savings Program can pay your Part B premium, and Extra Help dramatically lowers drug costs. Arizonans with very limited income may also qualify for AHCCCS (Medicaid). A free SHIP counselor at 1-800-432-4040 can screen you for all of these in one call.
Starting in 2025 and continuing in 2026, there's an annual cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered prescriptions. In 2026 that cap is $2,100 — once your covered-drug spending reaches it, you pay $0 for those drugs the rest of the year. You can also use the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan to spread the cost into monthly installments at no extra charge.
Medicare will never call, text, or come to your door to sell you a plan or ask for your Medicare number or bank details out of the blue. Guard your Medicare number like a credit card, review your statements, and report anything suspicious to Arizona's Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-432-4040. When in doubt, hang up and call the official number yourself.
Ready to compare your Medicare options?
Whether you're turning 65, retiring, or rethinking your current plan, you can compare plans and enroll online — or get free, confidential counseling first.