Medicare guide
Tucson Medicare Brokers: What to Check Before 2027
Tucson Medicare brokers are busiest in the fall, when plans change for the coming year. For 2027, several large insurers are leaving some counties, Star Ratings have been updated, and Part D premiums are shifting. Here is a checklist to review with a broker before December 7.
Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency serving clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed; coverage depends on the insurer, the policy, and underwriting.
Request a Medicare plan review
Tell us about your Medicare situation, and a licensed agent will follow up to review plans we offer in your area. Submitting the form does not enroll you in a plan.
Prefer a longer form? You can also request a quote with our Medicare quote form.
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Arizona Medicare at a glance
| Item | Arizona |
|---|---|
| Free Medicare counseling (SHIP) | the Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), run by the Department of Economic Security’s Division of Aging and Adult Services, 1-800-432-4040 |
| Medicare Advantage share (2024) | 50.3% of beneficiaries (KFF) |
| Medigap birthday rule | No |
| Medigap for under-65 beneficiaries | Not required |
| Agent licensing | The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions |
Sources: CMS SHIP directory and state agencies, NAIC (May 2026), KFF (2024 data, latest by state).
Arizona Medigap rules
Arizona has no Medigap birthday rule.
Arizona doesn’t require insurers to sell Medigap to people under 65.
Your best time to buy is the six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older. During it, insurers can’t refuse to sell you any policy they offer or charge more for health problems. Outside it, insurers in most states can use medical underwriting unless you have a guaranteed issue right, such as when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, employer coverage that pays after Medicare ends, or you leave a Medicare Advantage plan within your first year. You generally must apply within 63 days after the other coverage ends.
Medicare Advantage in Arizona
KFF’s latest state data shows 50.3% of Arizona’s Medicare beneficiaries were in Medicare Advantage or other private plans in 2024; nationally, the share reached 55% in 2026.
KFF counts 35.2 million Medicare Advantage enrollees in 2026, about 55% of eligible beneficiaries. For 2027, KFF’s analysis of CMS data found the average beneficiary can choose from 28 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage, but several large insurers are leaving some counties: UnitedHealth is exiting 228 counties, Humana 62, and Centene, Wellcare’s parent, 359 while entering 15. If your plan is leaving, you have a Special Enrollment Period and may have Medigap guaranteed issue rights.
Medicare Advantage plans must cap in-network out-of-pocket costs for Part A and B services. For 2026, KFF reports the federal limit is $9,250 in network and $13,900 combined for in- and out-of-network services in PPOs, and that the average plan’s in-network limit is about $5,421. Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket cap, which is one reason people pair it with Medigap.
Enrollment periods
| Period | When | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period | 7 months around your 65th birthday month | Sign up for Parts A and B, and join a plan |
| Annual Open Enrollment | October 15 – December 7 | Join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage or drug plans; coverage starts January 1 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 – March 31 | One change: switch MA plans or return to Original Medicare (and add a drug plan) |
| General Enrollment Period | January 1 – March 31 | Sign up for Parts A and B if you missed your IEP; penalties may apply |
| Special Enrollment Periods | After qualifying events | For example, moving or losing employer coverage |
| Medigap Open Enrollment | 6 months from the first month you have Part B and are 65+ | Buy any Medigap policy sold in your state without health questions |
Source: Medicare.gov, October 2026.
2026 Medicare costs
| Item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Part A coinsurance, days 61–90 | $434 per day |
| Skilled nursing facility, days 21–100 | $217 per day |
| Part B standard premium | $202.90 per month |
| Part B deductible | $283 per year |
| Part D deductible (maximum) | $615 |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 |
| Insulin | No more than $35 for a month’s supply |
Sources: CMS (Nov. 2025, Apr. 2025) and Medicare.gov. 2027 Part A and B amounts had not been announced as of Oct. 22, 2026; CMS usually publishes them in mid-November. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more for Parts B and D.
For 2027, CMS set the Part D national base beneficiary premium at $41.33, up from $38.99 in 2026, and said it will end the Part D premium stabilization demonstration for standalone drug plans after 2026. The 2027 final rule keeps the Inflation Reduction Act’s redesign in place: there is no coverage gap, and there is no cost sharing once you reach the annual out-of-pocket threshold.
Plan types
| Type | How it works |
|---|---|
| HMO | Generally in-network care only, except emergencies, urgent care, and out-of-area dialysis; referrals usually required |
| HMO-POS | Like an HMO, but some out-of-network services allowed at higher cost |
| PPO | Out-of-network care allowed at higher cost; no referrals needed |
| PFFS | See any Medicare-approved provider that accepts the plan’s terms |
| SNP | Limited to people with Medicaid, certain chronic conditions, or institutional care; includes drug coverage |
| MSA | High-deductible plan with a medical savings account; no network; separate drug plan needed |
Source: Medicare.gov. Medicare Advantage plans often require prior authorization for some services.
Star Ratings
CMS released 2027 Star Ratings on October 8, 2026. About 71% of Medicare Advantage drug-plan enrollees are in contracts rated four stars or higher, 15 contracts earned five stars, and the enrollment-weighted average rating is 3.99. Star Ratings are one input; check the plan’s network, drug list, and costs too.
Free counseling in Arizona
Arizona’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program is the Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), run by the Department of Economic Security’s Division of Aging and Adult Services. You can call 1-800-432-4040 for free, unbiased Medicare counseling.
An independent agent appointed with several insurers can compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options available in your area, check your doctors and prescriptions against plan networks and drug lists, and help again each fall during Open Enrollment. Agents are paid by the insurers, so you don’t pay a fee for their help. Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, and your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) also give free, unbiased help; the national SHIP line is 877-839-2675.
How agents work with you
Federal rules shape how agents work. Third-party marketing organizations that represent more than one Medicare Advantage organization must give a disclaimer explaining that they don’t offer every plan in your area. Agents must agree with you on a Scope of Appointment, the products you want to discuss, before a sales appointment; a CMS rule effective June 1, 2026 removed the old 48-hour waiting period. And under a 2024 CMS rule, your personal information can be shared with another marketing organization only with your prior express written consent for each recipient.
Before you meet with any agent, confirm their license with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.
Wellcare plans
Wellcare is Centene’s Medicare brand. In its October 1, 2026 announcement of 2027 plans, Wellcare said it serves nearly 10 million standalone drug plan members in all 50 states through its Wellcare Classic and Value Script plans, that dual-eligible members are about 40% of its Medicare Advantage membership, and that D-SNPs make up nearly half of its 2027 Medicare Advantage offerings. KFF reports Centene is exiting 359 counties and entering 15 for 2027, so check whether a Wellcare plan is offered in your ZIP code.
Your 2027 review checklist
- Read your plan’s Annual Notice of Change.
- Confirm your plan is still offered in Pima County for 2027.
- Check your doctors and hospitals in the 2027 network.
- Check each prescription on the 2027 drug list.
- Compare the 2027 Star Rating and out-of-pocket maximum.
- Decide by December 7 for January 1 coverage.
Medicare in Tucson
Tucson is in Pima County. Medicare plans are approved county by county, so the plans available in Tucson can differ from those in Phoenix or rural Arizona. Arizona has no Medigap birthday rule, so the best time to buy a Medigap policy in Tucson is your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period.
Checking a plan and insurer
- Networks. Confirm your doctors and hospitals are in the plan’s network.
- Drugs. Check each prescription on the plan’s formulary and its tier.
- Costs. Compare premiums, deductibles, copays, and the out-of-pocket maximum.
- Agent license. Confirm the agent is licensed in your state through your state insurance department.
- Star Ratings. Review the plan’s rating on Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder.
What an independent agency does
An independent insurance agency is licensed to sell policies from several insurance companies. Instead of quoting one company's products, an independent agent can compare options from the insurers the agency represents, explain the differences in coverage, and help you re-shop at renewal. The insurance company, not the agent, makes underwriting and claim decisions.
Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency. We work with clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed, and we will tell you which insurers we can quote for your situation.
How we work
Blake Insurance Group serves clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed. The insurers and plans we can offer depend on our appointments and your location; a company named on this page may not be available through us.
How to verify an insurer or agency
Before buying through any website or app, confirm who is selling you the policy and who will issue it:
- Find the licensed agency or insurer named in the site's footer, terms, or license page.
- Look up the agency or producer on your state insurance department's license search, or through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
- Look up the insurer on your state insurance department's company search to confirm it is authorized in your state.
- Save the insurer's name and policy number once issued, since that is who handles claims.
A legitimate service will make this information easy to find. Be cautious if you cannot identify the licensed entity.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against the sources below in October 2026. Plans, prices, and rules change, so confirm current terms before you buy.
- 42 CFR 422.2267: Required materials and content (TPMO disclaimer)
- 42 CFR 423.2264: Beneficiary contact and Scope of Appointment
- 42 CFR 423.2274: Agent and broker requirements (data-sharing consent)
- CMS: Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule (Apr. 2026)
- ACL: State Health Insurance Assistance Program (Mar. 2026)
- KFF: Medicare Advantage plan availability for 2027 (Oct. 2026)
- KFF: Medicare Advantage enrollment update (2026)
- KFF: Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket limits
- CMS: 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings (Oct. 2026)
- Medicare.gov: Compare Medicare Advantage plan types
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles (Nov. 2025)
- CMS: Final CY 2026 Part D redesign program instructions
- Medicare.gov: Insulin
- Medicare.gov: When does Medicare coverage start?
- Medicare.gov: Joining a health or drug plan
- Medicare.gov: Ready to buy a Medigap policy
- Medicare.gov: Medigap guaranteed issue rights
- PR Newswire via Finviz: Wellcare unveils 2027 Medicare offerings (Oct. 1, 2026)
- CMS: Part D 2027 national average monthly bid information (July 2026)
- NAIC: State Medigap birthday rules and coverage for people under 65 (May 11, 2026)
- KFF: Total Medicare beneficiaries by state (2024)
- CMS: Arizona SHIP contact
- SHIP National Technical Assistance Center: Arizona
What to have ready for a Medicare review
These details help an agent quote accurately.
- Medicare card. Your Medicare number and Part A and B start dates.
- Doctors. Names of doctors and hospitals you want to keep.
- Prescriptions. Drug names, doses, and pharmacies.
- Current coverage. Any plan, employer, or Medicaid coverage you have.
- ZIP code. Plans differ by county.
Tucson Medicare brokers FAQs
How do I find a Medicare Advantage agent in Arizona?
Look for a licensed independent agent appointed with several insurers, and confirm the license with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.
Does Arizona have a Medigap birthday rule?
Arizona has no Medigap birthday rule.
Where can I get free Medicare help in Arizona?
Call the Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-800-432-4040, or 1-800-MEDICARE.
When can I change Medicare Advantage plans?
October 15 to December 7, and January 1 to March 31 if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Related guides
Partner quote options
Sponsored
Blake Insurance Group works with the partners below. Each link opens the partner's own website, where its terms, eligibility rules, and privacy policy apply. Blake Insurance Group may be compensated if you buy through these links.
- Wellcare Medicare plans (online enrollment): View Wellcare Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans available in your ZIP code and enroll online with Blake Insurance Group as your agent.
Important information
Compensation. Links in the partner section of this page are sponsored, and Blake Insurance Group may be paid if you make a purchase. Sponsored placement does not affect the other information on this page.
Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16117464. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state. Mentioning a company on this page does not mean we represent it.
Medicare disclaimer. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users 1-877-486-2048), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Medicare figures. Costs, limits, and rules on this page were checked against CMS, Medicare.gov, and the other listed sources in October 2026. 2027 Part A and B amounts had not been announced. Confirm current figures at Medicare.gov.
Coverage terms. Descriptions are general. The policy contract controls what is covered.
Availability. Coverage, prices, and eligibility vary by company, state, and applicant, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls.
Your next step
Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare options available to us for your situation.
