Initial Enrollment Period
Seven months around your 65th birthday: the 3 months before, your birthday month, and the 3 months after.
Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona
Scottsdale, AZ Medicare: Medigap or Advantage
More than a quarter of Scottsdale residents are 65 or older. For many of them the real question is whether to stay with Original Medicare and a Medigap policy or move to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- 52 Medicare Advantage plans in Maricopa County, 2027
- 50 With a $0 Part C premium
- 13 Organizations offering plans
- 40 Special Needs Plans, counted separately
In clients' words
What working with Viola looks like
I’m very happy I went to Viola at Rise up Benefits Group for my Medicare enrollment. I was inundated with mail and way too much information. I have been with Champ VA for 9 years so it gets confusing what to sign up for without losing those benefits as they become secondary. Viola explained everything and picked out the best option for me. I highly recommend her as it made this transition very smooth.
Verbatim client reviews from the agency's public profiles (5.0 stars from 49 Google reviews). Read all reviews.
Scottsdale Medicare at a glance for 2027
- 52 Medicare Advantage plans for Scottsdale residents (Maricopa County), 50 with a $0 Part C premium
- In-network out-of-pocket maximums from $2,000 to $8,900 a year
- 13 insurance companies offer them
- 9 standalone Part D plans in Arizona
- You still pay the Part B premium, $202.90 a month in 2026 (the 2027 amount is announced by CMS around November)
- Annual Enrollment: October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027
Examples of $0 premium plans with drug coverage, by 2026 star rating and out-of-pocket limit
- SCAN Classic (HMO)SCAN Health Plan · 4.5★ (2026) · out-of-pocket max $2,000 · drug deductible $0
- SCAN MyChoice (HMO)SCAN Health Plan · 4.5★ (2026) · out-of-pocket max $2,500 · drug deductible $0
- AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC AZ-2 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · 4.5★ (2026) · out-of-pocket max $3,500 · drug deductible $685
CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, contract year 2027. A plan's fit depends on your doctors and prescriptions; Viola checks both before you choose. 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.
The community
Scottsdale at a glance
The Census Bureau counts about 244,000 Scottsdale residents, 26.4% of them 65 or older, with a median age of 49.0 and a median household income of about $110,900. Only 5.1% of residents have no health insurance.
Scottsdale is in Maricopa County, so residents choose from the Maricopa County Medicare Advantage list for 2027. If you lean toward Advantage, the plans with the lowest in-network out-of-pocket limits are listed below. If you would rather keep any doctor who takes Medicare, the Medigap section explains how that path works and why timing matters.
How Viola helps here. Rise Up Benefits Group is based in Chandler. Scottsdale clients meet with Viola by phone or video, or at the Chandler office, and she compares the Medigap and Advantage paths side by side before you decide.
| Measure | Scottsdale | Maricopa County | Arizona |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 243,821 | 4,559,748 | 7,378,838 |
| Residents aged 65 and over | 64,452 | 742,814 | 1,397,551 |
| Share aged 65 and over | 26.4% | 16.3% | 18.9% |
| Median age | 49.0 | 37.6 | Not shown |
| Median household income | $110,886 | $89,300 | Not shown |
| Share with no health insurance (all ages) | 5.1% | 10.6% | 10.5% |
Arizona totals are the sum of all 15 Arizona counties in the same Census release; a statewide median is not computed here.
The other path
Medigap in Scottsdale
Every Advantage plan on this page replaces Original Medicare with a plan network. The other path keeps Original Medicare and adds a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy plus a separate Part D plan.
Medigap has no network: any provider that accepts Medicare accepts it, anywhere in the country. Premiums are higher than most Advantage plans, and in exchange your costs are more predictable.
Timing matters. Your 6-month Medigap open enrollment window starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. Inside it, an insurer cannot turn you down or charge more for your health. Outside it, in most cases it can. See Medicare Advantage vs Medigap.
By the numbers
2027 Medicare Advantage in Maricopa County
Medicare Advantage plans are approved by county, so Scottsdale residents see the Maricopa County list. Figures from the CMS Landscape file for contract year 2027; Special Needs Plans are counted separately.
- $1.90 Average monthly Part C premium
- $7.68 Average Part C + D premium
- 45 Plans that include drug coverage
- $2,000 Lowest in-network out-of-pocket limit
- $4,896 Average in-network out-of-pocket limit
- $8,900 Highest in-network out-of-pocket limit
- $494.71 Average Part D deductible (plans with drugs)
- 15 Plans with a 2026 rating of 4★ or more
- 3.73★ Average 2026 star rating (rated plans)
The "$0" and average premium figures use the Part C premium, the CMS convention for comparing plans. The Part C + D figure adds the drug premium. A $0 premium plan still has costs: you keep paying the Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026) plus copays up to the plan’s limit. Star ratings shown are 2026 ratings, because 2027 ratings are not loaded yet.
| Plan type | Plans | $0 Part C premium | Average premium | Average out-of-pocket limit | Without drug coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMO | 29 | 28 | $0.69 | $4,305 | 1 |
| PPO | 14 | 14 | $0 | $6,046 | 3 |
| HMO-POS | 7 | 7 | $0 | $4,564 | 2 |
| Regional PPO | 2 | 1 | $39.45 | $6,575 | 1 |
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.
Spotlight for Scottsdale
Plans with the lowest in-network out-of-pocket limits
The out-of-pocket limit is the most you pay in a year for covered in-network Part A and Part B services. It matters most when care is frequent. From the Maricopa County list, CMS contract year 2027.
| Plan | Type | 2026 stars | Part C + D premium | Out-of-pocket limit | Part D deductible | Plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCAN Classic (HMO)SCAN Health Plan | HMO | 4.5★ | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | H1822_001 |
| Verda Noble Care (HMO)Verda Health Plan of Arizona | HMO | Not rated | $0 | $2,099 | $300 | H2630_001 |
| SCAN MyChoice (HMO)SCAN Health Plan | HMO | 4.5★ | $0 | $2,500 | $0 | H1822_007 |
| Wellcare Simple (HMO)Wellcare | HMO | 3.5★ | $0 | $2,500 | $700 | H0351_063 |
| SCAN Walmart Medicare Advantage (HMO)SCAN Health Plan | HMO | Not rated | $0 | $2,500 | $450 | H1822_009 |
| DEVOTED CORE 090 AZ (HMO)Devoted Health | HMO | Not rated | $0 | $2,900 | $650 | H7993_090 |
| DEVOTED CORE 021 AZ (HMO)Devoted Health | HMO | 3.5★ | $0 | $2,950 | $461 | H8173_021 |
| Banner Medicare Advantage Prime (HMO)Banner Medicare Advantage | HMO | 3.5★ | $0 | $2,995 | $540 | H5843_001 |
| Blue Best Life Plus (HMO)Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) | HMO | 4.5★ | $49 | $3,000 | $500 | H0302_001 |
| Wellpoint Medicare Advantage (HMO-POS)Wellpoint | HMO-POS | 3.0★ | $0 | $3,000 | $130 | H1423_009 |
See every Maricopa County plan with premiums and limits, or compare plans for your ZIP code with the plan finder.
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.
Quality
How the 2026 stars fall
CMS rates each contract from 1 to 5 stars. 2027 ratings are not published yet, so this shows the 2026 rating for each of the 52 Maricopa County plans. New plans and some small contracts are not rated.
- 4.5★ 12 plans (23%)
- 4.0★ 3 plans (6%)
- 3.5★ 18 plans (35%)
- 3.0★ 5 plans (10%)
- 2.5★ 2 plans (4%)
- Not rated 12 plans (23%)
No plan on the Maricopa County list has a 5-star 2026 rating.
Hospitals
Hospitals in Scottsdale
Medicare-certified hospitals in Scottsdale from the CMS Hospital General Information file, with the CMS overall star rating. A rating is not network status: check each hospital against a plan.
| Hospital | Address | Emergency services | CMS overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical CenterAcute Care | 7400 East Osborn Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 | Yes | 3 of 5 |
| HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical CenterAcute Care | 9003 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 | Yes | 3 of 5 |
| HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical CenterAcute Care | 7400 East Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 | Yes | 5 of 5 |
Health profile
What is common in Scottsdale
Plan choice follows the conditions you actually live with, because they decide which specialists and drugs you need covered.
| Measure | Scottsdale | Maricopa County | Arizona county average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnosed diabetes | 9.4% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| High blood pressure | 32.2% | 30.8% | 32.8% |
| Obesity | 26.2% | 30.4% | 31.3% |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.0% | 5.7% | 6.4% |
| COPD | 5.1% | 5.7% | 6.6% |
| Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance | 6.3% | 12.9% | 13.2% |
| Arthritis | 26.9% | 23.5% | 25.2% |
| High cholesterol | 39.7% | 36.5% | 37.3% |
| Stroke | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.4% |
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, Place Data, 2025 release (2023 survey estimates), retrieved 2026-10-13. Model-based small-area estimates of crude prevalence among adults 18 and over, not a count of local diagnoses. Crude rates follow the age mix of a place: an older community reads higher on most conditions. Arizona figure: average of the 15 Arizona counties, weighted by adult population.
Why this matters for plan choice
Scottsdale runs above the Arizona average on high cholesterol. The chronic-condition Special Needs Plans on the Maricopa County list are built around: Cardiovascular Disorders; Chronic Heart Failure; Chronic Kidney Disease; Chronic Lung Disorders; Diabetes Mellitus; Post Renal Organ Transplantation. If you live with one of those, a C-SNP may be worth a look; you need a qualifying diagnosis to join.
What changes for 2027
Maricopa County plans: 2026 to 2027
Your plan mailed an Annual Notice of Change by September 30, 2026. It lists what changes on January 1, 2027: premium, deductible, out-of-pocket limit, copays, drug list and network. Compare it line by line, or bring it to Viola.
| Measure | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | 82 | 85 |
| $0 premium plans | 58 | 67 |
| Average in-network out-of-pocket limit | $5,073 | $5,378 |
| Average Part D deductible | $426.71 | $493.21 |
| Maximum Part D deductible allowed by CMS | $615 | $700 |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
This count differs from the headline above, which covers every non-SNP plan with or without drug coverage. No carrier leaves Maricopa County for 2027, and no carrier enters that was not already there; the changes are plan by plan.
9 plans on the 2026 Maricopa County list end with no successor plan in the county, including Wellcare Giveback (HMO), Wellcare Simple Value (HMO), eternalHealth Grand Give Back (HMO). The full list is on the Maricopa County guide.
If your plan is not renewing: you receive a non-renewal letter in October. You can pick a new plan during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7, 2026), and a Special Enrollment Period runs through the end of February 2027. Confirm your dates on Medicare.gov. The official Medicare & You handbook explains each option.
Prescription drugs
Standalone Part D plans in Arizona
Part D plans are priced by region, so these 9 plans for 2027 apply across Arizona. They pair with Original Medicare (often with Medigap) or with an Advantage plan that has no drug coverage.
| Plan | Monthly premium | Annual deductible | Plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellcare Value Script (PDP)Wellcare | $5.30 | $700 | S4802_134 |
| Humana Basic Rx Plan (PDP)Humana | $6.30 | $700 | S5884_146 |
| Wellcare Classic (PDP)Wellcare | $7.30 | $700 | S4802_092 |
| HealthSpring Assurance Rx (PDP)Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX | $9.30 | $700 | S5715_045 |
| Humana Value Rx Plan (PDP)Humana | $22.30 | $687 | S5884_207 |
| AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC (PDP)UnitedHealthcare | $79.80 | $700 | S5921_380 |
| Humana Premier Rx Plan (PDP)Humana | $137.60 | $350 | S5884_174 |
| SilverScript Choice (PDP)Aetna Medicare | $152.70 | $700 | S5601_056 |
| AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC (PDP)UnitedHealthcare | $191.50 | $300 | S5921_409 |
The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027 (CMS program parameters). What you pay also depends on Extra Help and any late enrollment penalty.
When you can change
How and when to enroll
You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan, and live in the plan's service area, here Maricopa County.
Annual Enrollment Period
October 15 to December 7, 2026. Choose or change plans for 2027; coverage starts January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
January 1 to March 31. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch plans or return to Original Medicare once.
Special Enrollment Periods
Moving, losing employer coverage, gaining Medicaid (AHCCCS) or a plan not renewing can open a window outside the normal calendar.
Ways to enroll: with a licensed agent such as Viola ((480) 300-5776), directly with a plan, or on Medicare.gov. More detail: Medicare enrollment periods.
Plain English
Medicare plan terms on this page
- Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- A Medicare approved plan from a private company that provides your Part A and Part B benefits in place of Original Medicare. Most include drug coverage and some extras. You keep paying your Part B premium.
- $0 Part C premium
- The plan charges no monthly premium of its own for medical coverage. You still pay your Part B premium, any drug premium the plan lists, and copays or coinsurance when you use care.
- In-network out-of-pocket maximum (MOOP)
- The most you pay in a calendar year for covered Part A and Part B services from in-network providers. Once you reach it, the plan pays for covered in-network care for the rest of the year. Premiums and Part D drug costs do not count toward it.
- HMO
- Health Maintenance Organization. You generally use doctors and hospitals in the plan network, except for emergencies and urgent care, and many HMOs ask for a referral before you see a specialist.
- PPO
- Preferred Provider Organization. You can use doctors in or out of the network, but out-of-network care usually costs more. Referrals are usually not required.
- HMO-POS
- An HMO with a point of service option. You mostly use the network, but the plan lets you get some services out of network, usually at a higher cost.
- Special Needs Plan (SNP)
- A Medicare Advantage plan open only to people with particular needs: both Medicare and Medicaid (AHCCCS in Arizona), certain chronic conditions, or living in an institution such as a nursing home.
- Star rating
- A yearly CMS quality score from 1 to 5 stars, based on measures such as preventive care, member experience and customer service. It describes the plan overall; it does not tell you whether your doctors or drugs are covered.
FAQ
Scottsdale Medicare questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Scottsdale for 2027?
Scottsdale uses the Maricopa County plan list. It has 52 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 (Special Needs Plans not included) from 13 organizations, and 50 of them have a $0 Part C premium. You still pay the Part B premium, which is $202.90 a month in 2026; the 2027 amount is announced around November 2026. Source: CMS 2027 Landscape file.
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.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap later in Scottsdale?
You can leave Medicare Advantage during the Annual Enrollment Period, but outside your Medigap open enrollment window or a guaranteed issue situation, a Medigap insurer can usually ask health questions and may decline you or charge more. That is why the first choice deserves care.
Which Scottsdale hospitals are in the CMS hospital file?
HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center (5 out of 5 CMS overall rating), HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center (3) and HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center (3). With Medigap, any hospital that accepts Medicare works; with Advantage, check the plan network.
What changes for Medicare plans in Scottsdale in 2027?
In Maricopa County, plans with drug coverage (Special Needs Plans included) go from 82 in 2026 to 85 in 2027. The CMS crosswalk shows 9 plans ending or leaving the county with no successor there, 4 plans folding into another plan, and 14 new plans. No carrier leaves the county entirely. Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change lists what changes for you on January 1.
What does local data say about health coverage in Scottsdale?
Census figures (ACS 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates) show 5.1% of Scottsdale residents with no health insurance, against 10.5% for Arizona. People under 65 can shop for coverage on HealthCare.gov, the Marketplace Arizona uses; open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1, 2026.
Provenance
Sources and methodology
- Plan data: CMS Medicare Advantage / Part D Landscape, contract year 2027 (https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/cy2027-landscape-202609.zip), filtered to Maricopa County (FIPS 04013), retrieved 2026-10-13 through THE BRAIN (healthcare-db, cms_ma_pd_landscape). Star ratings: CMS 2026 Star Ratings joined by plan ID.
- 2027 changes: CMS Landscape 2026 (https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/cy2026-landscape-202609.zip) and 2027, with the CMS CY2026 to CY2027 plan crosswalk, retrieved 2026-10-13 through THE BRAIN (healthcare_aep_county_report).
- Health data: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, Place Data, 2025 release (2023 survey estimates), retrieved 2026-10-13. Model-based small-area estimates of crude prevalence among adults 18 and over, not a count of local diagnoses. Endpoint: https://data.cdc.gov/resource/eav7-hnsx.json.
- Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates, Scottsdale city, Arizona, retrieved 2026-10-13 through THE BRAIN (census_query). Queries: detailed tables and subject table S2701. Residents 65 and over are the sum of the 12 age groups 65 and older in table B01001.
- Hospitals: CMS Hospital General Information (Provider Data Catalog) (https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/dataset/xubh-q36u), retrieved 2026-10-13.
- Federal figures: 2026 Part B premium and deductible and Part D base premium ($38.99) from CMS. 2027 values are announced around November 2026.
How the figures are derived
- Headline plan counts and averages exclude Special Needs Plans, which have their own eligibility rules and are reported separately.
- "$0 premium" and "average premium" use the Part C premium; the Part C + D premium is reported separately. Out-of-pocket limits are in-network amounts. The average Part D deductible covers plans with drug coverage only.
- The 2026 to 2027 comparison counts Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage, Special Needs Plans included, so it differs from the headline count.
- We do not publish per-plan enrollment: the source does not carry it, and we never estimate plan figures.
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.
Areas we serve
More East Valley guides
- Maricopa CountyCounty guide
- Pinal CountyCounty guide
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- GilbertMaricopa County
- MesaMaricopa County
- TempeMaricopa County
- Sun LakesMaricopa County
- Queen CreekMaricopa County
- AhwatukeeMaricopa County
- PhoenixMaricopa County
- San Tan ValleyPinal County
- Apache JunctionPinal County
- Maricopa (city)Pinal County
- Casa GrandePinal County
Let's talk about your coverage in Scottsdale
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2160 North Alma School Road, Suite 102, Chandler, AZ 85224 · (480) 300-5776