Yes, and you have three ways to get Medicare
Having AHCCCS doesn't stop you from joining Medicare Advantage. Medicare is your primary coverage, and AHCCCS pays after it. AHCCCS describes three ways dual eligible members can get their Medicare benefits:
- A dual special needs plan (D-SNP). A Medicare Advantage plan that contracts with AHCCCS and is available only to people who have both Medicare and AHCCCS.
- A regular Medicare Advantage plan open to anyone with Medicare in your county.
- Original Medicare with a standalone Part D drug plan.
For 2027, CMS data show 57 special needs plans in Arizona, counting every type, not only D-SNPs. Which ones you can join depends on your county and your AHCCCS program.
How Arizona aligns D-SNPs with AHCCCS plans
Arizona builds alignment into its AHCCCS contracts:
- AHCCCS Complete Care (ACC). Each ACC health plan must offer a partner D-SNP, so you can get Medicare and AHCCCS from the same company. Joining it is your choice; AHCCCS doesn't move ACC members automatically.
- ALTCS-EPD. Since January 1, 2025, Arizona uses exclusively aligned enrollment for ALTCS members who are elderly or physically disabled. If you choose a D-SNP that has a companion ALTCS-EPD plan, AHCCCS changes your ALTCS-EPD plan to match. The Medicare plan you choose drives the change.
- Tribal ALTCS and ALTCS-DDD members follow different rules. Ask your case manager before changing your Medicare plan.
Tip: To find out whether your Medicare and AHCCCS plans are aligned, call the Member Services number on your AHCCCS health plan ID card.
If you have a Medicare Savings Program only
Some people get AHCCCS help only with Medicare costs through a Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB or QI-1), sometimes called partial duals. You can join any Medicare Advantage plan open to everyone in your county. D-SNP eligibility rules vary by plan: some accept only people with full AHCCCS coverage. If you're a QMB, providers can't bill you for Medicare cost sharing in a Medicare Advantage plan either. See Medicare Savings Programs in Arizona.
Before you switch
- Check that your doctors, specialists and pharmacies are in the new plan's network.
- If you're in ALTCS-EPD, ask whether the D-SNP you're considering would change your ALTCS-EPD plan and case manager.
- Keep your AHCCCS renewal current. If you lose AHCCCS, you can lose eligibility for a D-SNP; the plan must give you notice and time to choose new coverage.
The full rules, including ALTCS and the special enrollment periods for dual eligible members, are on AHCCCS and Medicare.
Get help
For AHCCCS eligibility, call Health-e-Arizona Plus at 1-855-HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587). For Medicare plan questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048).
A licensed insurance agent with Benefits Life can check which D-SNPs and other Medicare Advantage plans from the companies they work with are available in your county, at no cost to you, at (602) SENIORS (602-736-4677), TTY 711. You can also see plans in your ZIP code.
Related questions
Does AHCCCS pay Medicare premiums?
QMB, SLMB and QI-1 in Arizona.
When can I change my Medicare plan?
Yearly windows and Special Enrollment Periods.
Medicare phone numbers in Arizona
AHCCCS, ALTCS, Social Security and Medicare.
Sources
- AHCCCS — Dual Eligible Members and D-SNPs
- AHCCCS Office of Individual and Family Affairs — Dual Eligible Members (December 2024)
- AHCCCS — ALTCS-EPD and Medicare D-SNP Exclusively Aligned Enrollment FAQ (rev. November 29, 2024)
- CMS — CY2027 Landscape file, November 2026 (Arizona special needs plan count)
- eCFR — 42 CFR 423.38, enrollment periods (dual and Extra Help SEPs)
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs
Frequently asked questions
What is an aligned D-SNP in Arizona?
It's a Medicare Advantage dual special needs plan run by the same parent company as your AHCCCS health plan. AHCCCS calls this alignment: one company coordinates your Medicare and AHCCCS care, and ALTCS members get one ID card and one customer service number for both.
If I'm in ALTCS-EPD and pick a D-SNP, does my ALTCS plan change?
It can. Since January 1, 2025, if you're in ALTCS-EPD and choose a D-SNP that has a companion ALTCS-EPD plan from a different company than yours, AHCCCS moves your ALTCS-EPD plan to match. If you choose any other Medicare plan, your ALTCS-EPD plan stays the same.
I only get help with my Part B premium. Can I join a Medicare Advantage plan?
Yes. People in a Medicare Savings Program can join any Medicare Advantage plan open to everyone in their county. Whether a particular D-SNP accepts you depends on that plan's eligibility rules, so ask the plan before you apply.
How often can I change plans if I have AHCCCS?
Besides the fall Annual Enrollment Period, you can switch to Original Medicare with a standalone drug plan once a month. With full AHCCCS benefits, you can also join an integrated D-SNP once a month where one is offered. Changes start the first day of the next month.
Medicare in your Arizona county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Apache · Cochise · Coconino · Gila · Graham · Greenlee · La Paz · Maricopa · Mohave · Navajo · Pima · Pinal · Santa Cruz · Yavapai · Yuma
