Arizona 2027: More Plans and the HonorHealth Change

Arizona is one of the few states getting more Medicare Advantage choices for 2027, not fewer. Plans available statewide rise from 133 to 148, and the average premium drops from $4.47 to $2.81 a month.

More choices make comparing harder, not easier. And for Valley residents who use HonorHealth, the most important 2027 change has nothing to do with premiums: HonorHealth leaves the AZ Blue Best Life HMO network completely on January 1.

Annual Enrollment runs through December 7, 2026. Whatever you choose starts January 1, 2027.

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Arizona Is Gaining Plans While Most States Lose Them

Medicare Advantage choices are shrinking in 29 states for 2027. Arizona is moving the other way, with the third-largest gain in plans of any state, behind Tennessee and Missouri.

Arizona	2026	2027
Medicare Advantage plans available	133	148
Average monthly Medicare Advantage premium	$4.47	$2.81
Arizonans enrolled in Medicare	1,560,534

Every Arizonan with Medicare has access to at least one $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan in 2027.

HonorHealth and AZ Blue Best Life HMO: What Changes January 1

If you’re in an AZ Blue Best Life (HMO) Medicare Advantage plan and you see HonorHealth doctors or use HonorHealth hospitals, this is the change that matters most to you. It happened in two steps:

July 1, 2026: HonorHealth primary care doctors were removed from the AZ Blue Best Life HMO network.
January 1, 2027: All of HonorHealth leaves that network, including specialists, hospitals, outpatient facilities, and services.

HonorHealth stays in network with other Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona plans. This change is specific to the Best Life HMO. If HonorHealth is where you get care, you have until December 7 to move to a plan that includes it.

One more Arizona-specific note: AZ Blue Best Life plans earned 4.5 stars for 2026, the only non-special-needs plan in Arizona at that level. Star ratings dropped across the industry for 2027, so check the new rating rather than relying on last year’s.

More Plans Doesn’t Mean Better Plans

A lot of the growth in plan counts nationally comes from special needs plans, which only certain people qualify for. Meanwhile, standard plans are shifting costs to members in ways the premium doesn’t show.

Higher out-of-pocket limits. The most a plan can charge for in-network care rises from $9,250 to $9,850. The typical plan with drug coverage moves from $5,900 to $6,500.
Fewer PPOs. UnitedHealthcare is cutting 34 PPOs nationally and Aetna is cutting 20, with both adding HMOs and chronic condition plans.
Plan exits by star rating. Humana is ending plans covering about 600,000 members nationally, mostly plans rated 3.5 stars or lower.
New faces. Devoted Health is entering 342 new counties nationally. A carrier you didn’t see last year may be on your list now.

With 148 plans to sort through, filter in this order: your doctors and hospital first, your prescriptions second, the out-of-pocket maximum third, and the premium last. If a $6,500 year would be a problem, ask about hospital indemnity or cancer coverage while you’re healthy enough to qualify.

Part-Year Arizonans: HMO, PPO, and Where You Live

Arizona has a lot of Medicare beneficiaries who split the year between two states. That makes the 2027 shift from PPOs toward HMOs a bigger deal here than almost anywhere.

Your plan is based on your permanent address. The 148 Arizona plans are only available to people whose permanent residence is in the plan’s service area.
An HMO covers emergencies and urgent care away from home, but routine visits, like a scheduled cardiology appointment in your other state, can be out of network and leave you with the full bill.
A PPO or HMO-POS may cover out-of-network visits at a higher cost. If your PPO is one of the plans being cut, check what your carrier moved you into.
Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement works with any doctor nationwide who accepts Medicare, which is why many part-year residents choose it. Read the next section before you switch.

Thinking About a Medicare Supplement Instead? Know Arizona’s Rules

Arizona has no Medigap “birthday rule.” Outside of your first six months on Part B or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, a Medicare Supplement company in Arizona can ask health questions and decline you. Annual Enrollment lets you leave Medicare Advantage, but it doesn’t reopen Medigap.

You do get a no-health-questions right to certain Medigap plans in situations like these:

Your Medicare Advantage plan is leaving Medicare or your area. You can apply from 60 days before the plan ends to 63 days after.
You joined Medicare Advantage when you first became eligible at 65 and you leave it within the first 12 months. This is the federal “trial right.”

A doctor or hospital leaving your network, like the HonorHealth change, does not by itself create a guaranteed-issue right. If you’re healthy and want to move to a Medicare Supplement, apply and get approved before you drop your Advantage plan.

Your Drug Plan in 2027

The yearly Part D out-of-pocket cap rises from $2,100 to $2,400, and the standard deductible from $615 to $700. Arizona has 9 standalone drug plans for 2027, with premiums starting at $5.30 a month.

About 39% of Arizonans in a standalone drug plan can find one with a lower premium than they paid in 2026. Run your exact medications, doses, and pharmacy through Plan Finder before you renew.

Arizona Medicare Questions for 2027

Is HonorHealth in network with AZ Blue Medicare Advantage in 2027?

Not for the AZ Blue Best Life (HMO) plans. Starting January 1, 2027, all HonorHealth providers, hospitals, and facilities leave that network. HonorHealth remains in network with other Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona plans.

How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Arizona for 2027?

148, up from 133 in 2026. The plans available to you depend on your county and permanent address.

Does Arizona have a Medigap birthday rule?

No. Outside your initial Medigap open enrollment or a federal guaranteed-issue situation, Arizona Medicare Supplement applications can include health questions.

I spend winters in Arizona. Which plan type should I look at?

You can only enroll in plans where your permanent home is. If you need routine care in both states, compare PPO plans with out-of-network coverage and Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement. An HMO generally covers only emergency and urgent care outside its area.

When do I have to decide?

By December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one more change between January 1 and March 31.

148 Plans Is a Lot to Sort Through

I’ll narrow the 2027 Arizona plans in your county down to the ones that include your doctors, your hospital, and your prescriptions, and tell you plainly if your current plan is still the right fit. Call 512-844-3983. There’s no cost for the review.

Book a Medicare Review

Written and reviewed by Scott Bowling, independent Medicare broker licensed in Arizona, Trusted SR Solutions. NPN 20428021. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent [X] organizations which offer [X] products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or the Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Trusted SR Solutions is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.

Arizona Medicare Advantage 2027 Changes