Best Cheap Health Insurance in Arizona (2026)

Best and cheapest health insurance in Arizona

Cheapest health insurance companies in Arizona

Affordable health insurance in Arizona

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Best health insurance companies in Arizona

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has a perfect 5-star rating in Arizona for member experience. This means most customers have good experiences with their health coverage from BCBS of AZ. Overall, Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ has a good rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars from HealthCare.gov because of its high-quality plans. The company also stands out for its affordable quotes.

Best-rated health insurance companies in Arizona

Cigna and Ambetter also have highly rated plans in Arizona. However, Blue Cross Blue Shield is still a better option for most people because its plans are usually cheaper. Additionally, most doctors take Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage, which means you'll have more options for where to get medical care.

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How much does a health insurance plan cost in Arizona?

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Health insurance discount changes in Arizona for 2026

That's more than $100 per month higher than in 2025, when the average rate after discounts was about $89 per month. Discounts likely won't be as good in 2026 because the extra savings that have been in place since 2021 are expiring at the end of 2025. Unless Congress renews these "enhanced subsidies," you'll pay quite a bit more even if you get discounts.

Health insurance rates in Arizona after subsidies (2025 vs. 2026)

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Cheap Arizona health insurance plans by city

In fact, Imperial has the cheapest rates for nearly everyone in Arizona, including Phoenix's large suburbs like Mesa and Scottsdale and other large cities like Tucson.

Cheapest health insurance by AZ county

Rates are cheaper in counties where there are more people. Maricopa and Pima counties have some of the cheapest average rates for health insurance. This is likely because there are more medical offices and hospitals in these areas, which makes it easier and faster to get medical care.

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Best health insurance plan by level of coverage

For most people, a Silver medical insurance plan is the best level of coverage because it balances how much you pay each month with the cost of medical care.

However, the best coverage tier for you depends on both your medical needs and whether your income qualifies you for special programs.

Gold plans: Best if you need surgery or expensive treatment

A Gold plan can be worth it if you need expensive or complex medical care or if you go to the doctor often. That's because Gold plans let you pay less for your health care bills. Your deductible, coinsurance, copays and out-of-pocket maximum will usually be lower than with other plan levels.

Silver plans: Best for average health care needs

Silver plans are the best health insurance tier for most people. They offer a balance between low rates and good coverage.

Silver plans don't pay for as big a share of your medical bills as Gold plans, so you'll have to pay more for medical care and prescriptions. But the cheaper monthly rates can save you money each month. This makes them worth it if you expect to go to the doctor for routine care but don't plan to need expensive medical care such as surgery or childbirth.

Bronze plans: Best if you're young and generally healthy

Bronze plans are a good choice if you don't go to the doctor very often. You'll have to pay more when you do go to the doctor, but you'll still save overall if you only go to the doctor a few times a year.

It's a good idea to make sure you have enough savings to cover the deductible, coinsurance and copays and out-of-pocket maximum in case something severe happens, like a serious illness or injury.

Catastrophic plans: Best to prevent financial disaster

Catastrophic plans can be good if you only want coverage for a sudden and serious health problem, like a car accident or major illness.

Catastrophic plans are cheap, but they usually don't start paying for medical care until after you have paid $10,600 of doctor bills yourself. So be sure that you have enough emergency savings if you choose a Catastrophic plan.

Also, keep in mind that Catastrophic plans are not eligible for subsidies. So if you have a low or moderate income, a discounted Bronze plan after subsidies could be cheaper than paying full price for a Catastrophic plan.

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Cheap or free health insurance in Arizona if you have a low income

Medicaid: Free health insurance in AZ if you have a low income

Medicaid is the best health insurance if you have a low income. You're usually eligible for Medicaid in Arizona if you make less than about $22,000 as an individual or $44,000 as a family of four.

You can make more and still qualify if you're under 19 or if you're pregnant. If you have breast or cervical cancer, are 64 or younger and don't qualify for another Medicaid program, you can get Arizona Medicaid benefits without an income requirement.

Silver plans with cost-sharing reductions: Best if you have a low income but don't qualify for Medicaid

If you have a low income but don't qualify for Medicaid, a Silver plan is the best choice for affordable coverage because you can save on medical care through cost-sharing reductions.

You're eligible if you make between $15,650 and $39,125 per year as an individual or between $32,150 and $80,375 per year as a family of four. And Silver plans are the only level where you can use the program to lower your deductible, copays, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximum.

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Are health insurance rates going up in AZ in 2026?

Bronze plans saw the largest increase, costing 33% more in 2026 compared to 2025. Silver plans went up by 29%, while Gold plans had a 20% increase. Catastrophic plans had the smallest increase but are still 19% more expensive in 2026.

Silver plans, the most popular plan level in Arizona, are up 19% in price since 2022.

Why is health insurance expensive in AZ in 2026?

Lower federal funding, expiring tax credits, general inflation and greater use of more expensive prescription drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic are also contributing to higher prices.

How to save on Arizona health insurance in 2026

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Cost of Arizona health insurance by family size

Health insurance costs depend on the size of your family. Adding a child under the age of 15 to a Silver plan adds about $410 per month to your rate. That means the average cost of medical insurance for a family of four on a Silver plan is $2,189 per month.

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Short-term health insurance plans in Arizona

Short-term health insurance can help you fill a short coverage gap. However, you can almost always get better coverage from a marketplace plan.

Pros of short-term health insurance plans in AZ

Cons of short-term health insurance plans in AZ

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Health insurance enrollment by income level in Arizona

People with low incomes are more affected by rate increases and changes to discounts than people with higher incomes. This population has a much tighter budget, which means any changes in rates can be devastating.

Enrollment by income

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Frequently asked questions

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Methodology

Arizona health insurance rate data for 2026 is from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website. ValuePenguin used the CMS public use files (PUFs) to find average rates for different plan tiers, geographic locations and family sizes.

Rates

Rates are based on a 40-year-old with a Silver plan, unless otherwise noted. Rates for Bronze plans include regular and Expanded Bronze plans for 2024, 2025 and 2026, when the plans are available. Your costs and plan options will vary; plans aren't always available in all parts of a state or county.

Subsidies

Rates after subsidies are estimates for a 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan and are based on how subsidies were structured before 2021. Prices are calculated using KFF's rates for full-price Benchmark plans, federal poverty levels (FPLs), IRS rules about premium tax credits and Congressional reports about expanded tax credits. The total cost in the state uses calculated rates by income, which are weighted using CMS data on the incomes of those who purchased plans during 2024-2025 open enrollment. The median was used for each income range. Unknown incomes were excluded from the calculations. Incomes of 100% of the federal poverty line and 500% of the federal poverty line were assumed for enrollees who earn less than 100% FPL and more than 500% FPL, respectively. Information about state subsidies, when available, was sourced from state marketplaces.

Ratings

ValuePenguin's experts rank companies based on cost, coverage options, customer satisfaction and unique value. Ratings are out of 100 possible points. ACA ratings show how the company performs in Arizona for medical care, member experience and plan administration. The 2026 plan quality data from CMS is based on data from the previous year. Ratings are not available for new plans or plans with low enrollment.

More sources

Enrollment trends, including plan selections by tier and enrollment by income, are from CMS data for the 2024-2025 open enrollment period.

Data about the causes for rate increases in 2026 is from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Other sources include the Arizona Department of Insurance, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and S&P Global Capital IQ.