What is Health Insurance? Why Do I Need It?
Health insurance helps you pay for medical costs. It gives you financial security and peace of mind.
Health insurance is an agreement with an insurance company to pay some or all costs for your health care in exchange for a fee (premium) that you pay regularly (usually monthly, like a cell phone or electric bill). Health insurance allows you and your family to stay healthy and avoid large unexpected medical bills.
You can get health insurance:
- Through an employer
- Through the HealthCare.gov Marketplace
- From a private health insurance company directly
- From a government health insurance program such as AHCCCS (Arizona’s version of Medicaid), KidsCare (the Children’s Health Insurance Program in Arizona) or Medicare
- From your parents, if they are insured and you are under the age of 26
Insurance typically helps pay for:
- Visits to your doctor
- Hospital bills, including visits to the emergency room
- Medical tests
- Care before and after your baby is born
- Prescription medicine
- Behavioral health and substance abuse treatment
- Services and devices that help you recover if you are injured, have a disability, or serious, ongoing health problems
- Dental and vision care for kids
Health insurance makes receiving health care more affordable. When you have health insurance, you pay part of the bill and the insurance company pays the rest. Having health insurance also allows you to receive special pricing for health care, since insurance companies can secure lower payments to hospitals and health care providers that you can benefit from since you are part of a group.
Arizonans have many options. AHCCCS is available at no monthly charge and has no or very small copayments (what you see when you get a prescription or see a doctor). People who have low incomes and are US citizens or Legal Permanent Residents for 5 years may qualify. Emergency AHCCCS is available to some residents who do are not citizens.
KidsCare is a special AHCCCS program for children who are not yet 19 years old. Children must be citizens, even if their parents are not. Family income limits are higher for children than adults.
Many Arizonans may be able to get financial help when they purchase insurance through the HealthCare.gov Marketplace, making the monthly amount that they pay for insurance more affordable.
Interested? Use the Get Covered Connector to schedule free in-person help to sign up for AHCCCS or Marketplace coverage. You can also call 1-800-377-3536 to make a convenient appointment for FREE help.