Arizona
Arizona is a textbook standard-federal state: no birthday rule, no expanded GI, deep retiree competition — which keeps Plan G rates among the most shoppable in the Sun Belt.
| Rule | Arizona |
|---|---|
| Birthday rule | No |
| Guaranteed issue | Federal windows only |
| Own Medigap system | No |
| Market structure | Highly competitive retiree market |
| Practical edge | Sharp metro pricing; pick low-increase carriers early |
Shopping AZ at 65
Maricopa and Pima county ZIPs field deep carrier competition; the entry-rate spread on Plan G across the carrier board regularly exceeds 30%. But with no switching right, long-run increase cadence beats entry rate — see the rate-history file.
Snowbird note
Medigap has no networks, so AZ plans work seamlessly for seasonal residents across states — unlike Medicare Advantage. The moving-states file covers permanent relocations.
FAQ
Does Arizona have a birthday rule?
No — plan changes after OEP require underwriting outside federal GI windows.
Is Medigap good for snowbirds?
Yes — no-network coverage works in every state, all year.
Related reading: All states · Rate history · Moving rules