On AHCCCS and Medicare? Dual Plans in Maricopa County
If you have both Medicare and AHCCCS, you may qualify for a Dual Special Needs Plan. Maricopa County has 10 of them for 2027. Here is how dual eligibility works, what the Medicare Savings Programs pay, and how to choose.
Key takeaways
- If you qualify for both Medicare and AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid), you are "dual eligible." Medicare pays first, and AHCCCS helps with costs Medicare leaves behind.
- Maricopa County has 10 Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) for 2027 from 6 carriers. Pinal County also has 10.
- AHCCCS runs the Medicare Savings Programs, which can pay your Part B premium. For 2026 the QMB income limit is $1,350 a month for one person and $1,824 for a couple.
- Extra Help, which lowers Part D drug costs, is handled by Social Security. Many people who qualify for AHCCCS or a Medicare Savings Program get it automatically.
- Dual eligible people can change plans more often than others, but the rules have tightened. Check before you switch.
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If you have Medicare and also qualify for AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid program, you can usually get much more help than Medicare alone provides. Depending on your income and the program you qualify for, AHCCCS can pay your Part B premium, your deductibles and copays, and long-term care that Medicare does not cover. You may also be able to join a Dual Special Needs Plan built for people in exactly your situation.
For 2027, Maricopa County has 10 of those plans. The trouble is that the rules are written in acronyms: QMB, SLMB, QI, D-SNP, LIS. This post translates them into plain English, lists the D-SNPs filed for Maricopa County, and explains what to check before you pick one.
We speak insurance, so you don't have to. If any of this applies to a parent or someone you care for, it is worth reading together.
What does dual eligible mean in Arizona?
Dual eligible means you are enrolled in Medicare and you also qualify for some level of help from AHCCCS, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Medicare is your main coverage and pays first. AHCCCS pays some or all of what is left, depending on which program you qualify for.
There are two broad groups. Some people qualify for full AHCCCS benefits, which can cover Medicare cost sharing and services Medicare does not. Others qualify only for a Medicare Savings Program, which helps with Medicare premiums and, in one program, deductibles and copays. Both groups count as dual eligible for most plan purposes, but the help is very different.
How much can a Medicare Savings Program pay for me?
A Medicare Savings Program can pay your Part B premium, which is $202.90 a month in 2026, and the most generous one, QMB, also pays Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copays. Eligibility is based on monthly income.
| Program | What it pays | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) | Part A and B premiums, plus deductibles, coinsurance and copays | $1,350 | $1,824 |
| SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) | Part B premium | $1,616 | $2,184 |
| QI (Qualifying Individual) | Part B premium | $1,816 | $2,455 |
The NCOA chart lists Arizona as having no asset limit for these programs, which means savings in the bank may not count against you the way they do in some states. Rules change, so confirm with AHCCCS before you rely on it.
Source: NCOA 2026 Medicare Savings Program chart.
QI is funded year by year and you must reapply each year. If you qualify for full AHCCCS benefits, you generally cannot also receive QI.
What is a Dual Special Needs Plan?
A Dual Special Needs Plan, or D-SNP, is a Medicare Advantage plan that only people with both Medicare and Medicaid can join. It is built around the extra help AHCCCS provides, and it usually includes Part D drug coverage.
For 2027, Maricopa County has 10 D-SNPs from 6 carriers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice, UnitedHealthcare, Banner Medicare Advantage, Mercy Care Advantage, Wellcare, Molina Healthcare of Arizona. The premium shown is the plan's total monthly premium in the CMS file. Many dual eligible members pay less, or nothing, because AHCCCS or Extra Help covers some or all of it.
| Plan | Carrier | Plan premium in CMS file | 2026 star rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Choice Pathway (HMO D-SNP) | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice | $0 | 3.5 |
| UHC Dual Complete AZ-S001 (HMO-POS D-SNP) | UnitedHealthcare | $0 | 3.5 |
| Banner Medicare Advantage Dual (HMO D-SNP) | Banner Medicare Advantage | $16.80 | 3.5 |
| Banner Medicare Advantage Dual (HMO D-SNP) | Banner Medicare Advantage | $16.80 | 3.5 |
| UHC Dual Complete AZ-YL (HMO-POS D-SNP) | UnitedHealthcare | $16.80 | 3.5 |
| Mercy Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP) | Mercy Care Advantage | $16.10 | 3 |
| Mercy Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP) | Mercy Care Advantage | $16.80 | 3 |
| Mercy Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP) | Mercy Care Advantage | $16.80 | 3 |
| Wellcare Arizona Complete Health Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP) | Wellcare | $0 | Not rated |
| Molina Medicare Complete Care (HMO D-SNP) | Molina Healthcare of Arizona | $16.80 | Not rated |
Some plan names appear more than once because carriers file separate versions for different levels of AHCCCS eligibility. Which version you can join depends on the program you qualify for, so the name alone does not tell you whether a plan fits.
How do I choose between D-SNPs?
Start with your doctors and your prescriptions, then look at the extra benefits. Because AHCCCS and Extra Help may cover most of your cost sharing, the deciding factors for dual eligible people are often the network and the extras rather than the premium.
- Confirm your eligibility level. Full AHCCCS, QMB only, or SLMB or QI. It decides which plan versions you can join.
- Check each doctor and hospital in the 2027 directory. D-SNPs in the Valley are HMO or HMO-POS plans, so the network matters.
- Check each prescription on the 2027 drug list.
- Compare extras you will use: dental, vision, hearing, transportation, and over-the-counter allowances.
- Ask how care is coordinated between Medicare and AHCCCS, especially if you use long-term care services.
If you also need help with daily activities at home or in a facility, ask about ALTCS, the AHCCCS long-term care program. It has its own medical and financial rules and its own application, separate from the Medicare Savings Programs.
Who handles Extra Help for prescriptions?
Social Security handles Extra Help, the federal program that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. Many people who qualify for AHCCCS or a Medicare Savings Program receive Extra Help automatically; others can apply through Social Security.
Part D already has a yearly cap on out-of-pocket drug costs: $2,100 in 2026, and the CMS 2027 plan files list $2,400 for 2027. Extra Help lowers what you pay well before you would reach that cap. Our guide to Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs in Arizona goes into more detail.
When can dual eligible people change plans?
Everyone, including dual eligible people, can change plans during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Dual eligible people and people with Extra Help also have additional chances during the year, but those special periods have narrowed in recent years and now come with conditions.
Because the rules depend on your exact eligibility and plan type, check before you switch mid-year. A change in your AHCCCS status, gaining or losing it, also opens a Special Enrollment Period. Viola covers the enrollment periods at her free Medicare workshops online and in Chandler; see the workshop schedule.
The bottom line
If you have Medicare and qualify for AHCCCS, you may be leaving real help on the table by staying in a plan built for everyone else. Confirm your eligibility with AHCCCS, then compare the 10 Maricopa County D-SNPs on doctors, drugs and the extras you will actually use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have AHCCCS and Medicare at the same time?
Yes. People who qualify for both are called dual eligible. Medicare pays first and AHCCCS helps with costs Medicare does not cover, depending on the program you qualify for.
How many Dual Special Needs Plans are in Maricopa County for 2027?
10, from 6 carriers, according to the CMS CY2027 landscape file. Pinal County also has 10.
What is the income limit for QMB in Arizona in 2026?
$1,350 a month for one person and $1,824 for a couple, according to the NCOA 2026 chart of federal limits. Confirm with AHCCCS before you apply.
Does Arizona have an asset limit for Medicare Savings Programs?
The NCOA 2026 chart lists Arizona with no asset limit for the Medicare Savings Programs. Rules can change, so confirm with AHCCCS.
Who do I contact for Extra Help?
Social Security handles Extra Help. Many people who qualify for AHCCCS or a Medicare Savings Program receive it automatically.
Sources
- CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, Contract Year 2027 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- 2026 Medicare Savings Program Coverage and Eligibility National Council on Aging
- Medicare Savings Programs Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Medicare & You 2027 handbook Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Please note: 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, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.Rise Up Benefits Group is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information. This article is general information, not medical, tax or legal advice.
