Freelancers, contractors, gig workers and small-business owners — coverage that isn't tied to an employer, and may be tax-deductible.
Not a government marketplace. Health Enrollment Center is operated by Sprinter Insurance Agency LLC.
Arizona uses the federal marketplace at HealthCare.gov and expanded Medicaid (known locally as AHCCCS) in 2014. That means lower-income residents often qualify for no-cost coverage, while those above the line enroll in marketplace plans where about 90% receive a premium tax credit. Roughly 350,000 Arizonans are covered through the marketplace.
When you work for yourself, nobody hands you a benefits package. The good news: as a self-employed person your income is what determines your ACA premium tax credit, and self-employed people often have more control over their Modified Adjusted Gross Income than W-2 employees do. Structuring income and deductions well can meaningfully lower what you pay for a marketplace plan.
Self-employed health insurance premiums are frequently deductible above the line on your federal return (the self-employed health insurance deduction), which effectively discounts your coverage again at tax time. Pairing an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan with an HSA is a common strategy for 1099 earners who want to shelter income and build a medical nest egg.
We help Arizona freelancers and business owners compare marketplace plans (with subsidies) against private off-marketplace plans side by side, so you can weigh network breadth against price without guessing.
Arizona does not run its own exchange — marketplace plans here are sold through the federal marketplace, HealthCare.gov. In practice that means the enrollment windows, the eligibility rules and the appeals process are the federal ones, and the plan you buy through a licensed agent is the identical plan at the identical price you would find on HealthCare.gov yourself. Arizona uses the federal marketplace, HealthCare.gov.
If your 1099 income puts you above roughly 138% of the federal poverty level, Arizona's Medicaid expansion isn't your lane — the premium tax credit is, and self-employed people have more control over the Modified Adjusted Gross Income that sets it than almost anyone. The one thing to watch is the floor: estimate a year low enough and the marketplace will route you to Medicaid instead of a subsidized plan, so estimate honestly and update it when the year comes in stronger. Arizona expanded Medicaid (AHCCCS) in 2014, so lower-income adults may qualify for no-cost coverage. Above that threshold, marketplace premium tax credits take over — we'll help you find where you land.
The carriers writing individual business in Arizona include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, UnitedHealthcare, Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health, Oscar, Cigna and others. Networks and pricing are set county by county rather than statewide, so the same carrier can be the best value in one metro and the wrong choice an hour away. We quote Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa and Flagstaff — and every county in between.
Don't see yours? Call a licensed agent — most answers take under two minutes.
It depends on your income and who needs coverage, but for most self-employed residents of Arizona a subsidized ACA marketplace plan is the strongest option — it's guaranteed-issue, covers pre-existing conditions, and the premium tax credit is income-based. We compare it against private plans so you see the full picture.
For lower-income Arizonans it's often no-cost AHCCCS (Medicaid). Above that, a subsidized ACA marketplace plan is usually cheapest — many qualify for a Silver plan at little or no monthly cost after the premium tax credit, while others pay full price. We compare your options for your exact ZIP and income.
Through HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace — Arizona does not run its own exchange. You can enroll in those same plans through a licensed agent at no extra cost, which also lets you see private off-marketplace plans that HealthCare.gov does not list.
The carriers writing individual business in Arizona include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, UnitedHealthcare, Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health, Oscar, Cigna and others. Which of them is actually competitive depends on your county rather than the state — the lineup and the networks in Phoenix are not the lineup in Flagstaff. We are independent and compare across all of them rather than steering you to one company.
Start with your ZIP. Two quick questions, then a licensed agent brings you the plans you actually qualify for — no cost, no obligation.