Arizona Has More Choices, Lower Cost Under Health Law Compared To Other States
Starting Oct.1, Americans can buy health plans set up by President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Arizona residents without insurance will have 106 new plans to choose from when enrollment begins next week, and those who live in metro Phoenix will have even more options. Arizonans will have twice the number of plans to choose from compared to the national average, and those plans will also be cheaper than average, according to government estimates.
“So what that really says is consumers in Arizona are going to have options, and they will have a good opportunity to find a plan that really, really suits their need,” said James Stover, CEO of University of Arizona Health Plans, one of about half a dozen companies in this state that will offer the new insurance.
On average, a 27-year-old in Arizona who buys insurance that covers 60 percent of his healthcare expenses will pay $141 a month, according to estimates released by the federal government. That is about $20 cheaper than average across a pool of 36 other states.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of state-by-state premiums and an explanation of plan structure and benefits.
The federal government has set up a Navigator program to help guide consumers through the options. The upcoming enrollment period lasts six months.
