Medicare by State
Free Medicare Help Arizona: SHIP Counseling and AHCCCS Savings Programs
Arizona SHIP at 1-800-432-4040 offers free, objective Medicare counseling through DES. AHCCCS Medicare Savings Programs can pay the $202.90 Part B premium for one person with income up to $1,796 a month after deductions, and Arizona’s official forms list no resource test.
- Arizona SHIP and the Senior Medicare Patrol share the DES line 1-800-432-4040; you may need to leave a message for a call back.
- The AHCCCS DE-103 (rev. 08/2026) lists monthly limits of $1,330 for QMB, $1,596 for SLMB and $1,796 for QI-1 for an individual, after a $20 deduction.
- AHCCCS’s application and policy manual list no resource limit for QMB, SLMB or QI-1; the manual applies resource rules to ALTCS.
- You can apply on healthearizonaplus.gov or send the DE-103 to the AHCCCS MA-SP office, and AHCCCS lists a 45-day processing period.
Table of Contents
Free Medicare help Arizona residents can use comes from two state agencies. The Department of Economic Security’s Division of Aging and Adult Services runs Arizona SHIP, the free Medicare counseling program, and AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, runs the Medicare Savings Programs that can pay your Part B premium. Arizona’s version is unusual: its official application and policy manual list no resource test for these programs. This guide covers how to reach a counselor, the 2026 income limits, how to apply, and how to report Medicare fraud, with a worked example.
Free Medicare help Arizona offers: the programs at a glance
| Program | Run by | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona SHIP | DES Division of Aging and Adult Services, with local offices | Free, objective Medicare counseling and help applying for cost help |
| Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI-1) | AHCCCS | Pay the Part B premium; QMB also pays deductibles and coinsurance |
| Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy) | Social Security and Medicare | Lowers drug plan costs |
| Arizona Senior Medicare Patrol | DES Division of Aging and Adult Services | Helps you prevent, detect and report Medicare fraud |
AHCCCS (pronounced “access”) stands for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. When you see “AHCCCS Medicare Savings Program” on a letter, it means one of the three programs below. Each has its own page on the AHCCCS website.
Arizona SHIP: free Medicare counseling
The Arizona SHIP website describes free, objective Medicare counseling for people with Medicare, their families and caregivers. The program is federally funded through the Administration for Community Living, and DES lists it alongside the Senior Medicare Patrol on its Medicare Assistance page.
According to azship.org, Arizona SHIP can help you:
- Compare Medicare plans, including during Open Enrollment, which ends December 7.
- Apply for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help.
- Get county booklets on Medicare Advantage plans and a Medigap booklet.
- Read one-page 2026 Medicare overviews in English or Spanish.
The site also offers intake forms in English and Spanish, which you can fill in before your appointment so the counselor starts with your details in hand. That is a small but useful Arizona touch.
How to reach a counselor. Call 1-800-432-4040. The national SHIP Technical Assistance Center lists that number and notes that you may need to leave a message for a call back. To find the SHIP and SMP office in your county, azship.org links to the DES Medicare Assistance page. Local offices work with Area Agencies on Aging, which azship.org describes as private nonprofits designated by the state to serve older people.
Good times to ask for free Medicare help Arizona counselors give: a few months before you turn 65, during Open Enrollment, when a plan won’t renew, and whenever you want to be screened for cost help.
2026 Medicare Savings Program Arizona income limits
AHCCCS prints its limits on the DE-103 application (revised August 2026), measured after allowed deductions:
| Level | % of poverty level | Individual, per month | Couple, per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) | Up to 100% | $0 to $1,330 | $0 to $1,804 |
| SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) | Above 100% to 120% | $1,330.01 to $1,596 | $1,804.01 to $2,164 |
| QI-1 (Qualified Individual) | Above 120% to 135% | $1,596.01 to $1,796 | $2,164.01 to $2,435 |
The DE-103 explains that the figures apply after a $20 standard deduction and other allowed deductions. For Social Security-only income, subtract $20 from your gross amount before comparing.
Figures are from the AHCCCS DE-103 application (rev. 08/2026) and are shown for illustration only. They are not quotes or offers, and they can change. Confirm current numbers with AHCCCS or a licensed agent.
Arizona’s resource rule, what each program pays, and Extra Help
Medicare.gov lists a federal 2026 resource limit of $9,950 for one person, but states may drop it, and Arizona’s official materials list none. The DE-103 lists residency, citizenship and applying for any available pension as the general requirements for the Medicare Savings Program Arizona offers, with no resource limit. The AHCCCS Eligibility Policy Manual section 409 lists the same conditions, and its resources chapter names a resource limit only for ALTCS, Arizona’s long-term care program.
In practice, savings, a paid-off home or a life insurance policy with cash value shouldn’t block you from the Medicare Savings Program Arizona runs. Confirm with AHCCCS if your situation is unusual, for example if you also plan to apply for ALTCS later, since ALTCS does count resources.
What each level pays, per the DE-103 and AHCCCS program pages:
- QMB pays the Part B premium, the Part A premium if you pay one, Medicare coinsurance and deductibles. If you’re in a Medicare HMO, your copays are paid too.
- SLMB pays the Part B premium.
- QI-1 pays the Part B premium. The manual says you can’t be approved for QI-1 and any other AHCCCS Medical Assistance program at the same time.
One more Arizona detail: the full AHCCCS Medical Assistance limit for older and disabled adults on the same form is $1,330 a month for one person, the same as QMB. If you qualify for QMB, ask whether you qualify for full coverage, too.
Extra Help with drug costs. Medicare.gov says you get Extra Help automatically with full Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program or SSI. So approval for any AHCCCS Medicare Savings Program brings drug help with it, which makes the MSP the biggest single piece of free Medicare help Arizona offers.
If your income is above the QI-1 limit, apply for Extra Help through Social Security. Medicare.gov lists 2026 limits of $23,940 in income and $18,090 in resources for one person, or $32,460 and $36,100 for a married couple. Unlike Arizona’s MSPs, Extra Help does count resources. For 2027, copays run up to $5.80 for generics and $14.40 for brand-name drugs.
Our Medicare Extra Help guide explains the subsidy, and our Medicare Part D guide covers drug plans.
Hypothetical example: what free Medicare help Arizona offers is worth
Hypothetical example. Two neighbors in Mesa each live alone with Original Medicare and live only on Social Security. One has $25,000 in savings, which would not matter under Arizona’s MSP rules. We use the 2026 Part B premium of $202.90 a month and the $283 deductible from the CMS fact sheet.
Gloria gets $1,340 a month. After the $20 deduction: $1,340 − $20 = $1,320, within the $1,330 QMB limit.
- Part B premium paid: $202.90 a month, or $202.90 × 12 = $2,434.80 a year.
- Part B deductible covered: $283.
- Total: $2,434.80 + $283 = $2,717.80 a year, plus Medicare coinsurance.
Ray gets $1,800 a month. After the deduction: $1,800 − $20 = $1,780, within the QI-1 band of $1,596.01 to $1,796. QI-1 pays his premium: $202.90 a month, or $2,434.80 a year.
Both would get Extra Help. This is an illustration, not an eligibility decision; only AHCCCS can decide.
How to apply for the AHCCCS Medicare Savings Program
The AHCCCS How to Apply page and the DE-103 give two routes:
- Online at Health-e-Arizona Plus, healthearizonaplus.gov, in English or Spanish. AHCCCS can connect you with a Community Partner assistor who helps people apply online.
- On paper with the DE-103, the form for people who want help with Medicare costs. Mail, fax or take pages 1 through 6 to AHCCCS Medical Assistance Specialty Programs (MA-SP), 150 N. 18th Ave, 2nd Floor, MD 15022, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Fax: (602) 258-4619.
For help with the form, the DE-103 lists (602) 417-5010, option 5, or toll-free 1-800-528-0142. The apply page says MSP applications have a 45-day processing period, so apply well before you need the help.
Have your Social Security award letter and pension statements ready. Filling in the form with a SHIP counselor is free Medicare help Arizona residents often skip, and it can prevent delays.
Reporting fraud, and Arizona SHIP vs a licensed agent
The Arizona Senior Medicare Patrol offers outreach, presentations, one-on-one counseling and referrals of suspected fraud. Call 1-800-432-4040, the same DES line listed by the national SMP locator, or use its online form without including personal ID numbers. Review your Medicare Summary Notice and call your provider about anything unclear. Medicare.gov takes reports at 1-800-MEDICARE, and azsmp.org also lists the OIG hotline, 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
| Question | Arizona SHIP | Licensed agent (such as Octans) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | Free | No fee to you |
| Who pays them | Federal SHIP funding through DES | Insurers pay commission |
| Help with AHCCCS and Extra Help | A core service | Can explain and refer |
| Plan quotes and enrollment | Objective comparisons | From carriers it represents |
Many people use SHIP to screen for cost help and get an objective overview, then an agent for specific quotes. If the two disagree, ask why. See how we get paid.
Checklist: using free Medicare help Arizona provides
- Call Arizona SHIP at 1-800-432-4040 and leave a message if needed.
- Subtract $20 from gross income and compare with $1,330, $1,596 and $1,796.
- Don’t rule yourself out because of savings; Arizona lists no MSP resource test.
- Apply on healthearizonaplus.gov or send the DE-103 to the MA-SP office.
- Allow up to 45 days for a decision.
- Check your windows with our Medicare enrollment calculator; if income is high, try the IRMAA calculator.
- Report suspicious bills to Arizona SMP.
Free Medicare help Arizona: frequently asked questions
What is the Arizona SHIP phone number?
1-800-432-4040. You may need to leave a message for a call back. County offices are listed on the DES Medicare Assistance page.
Is there an asset limit for the Medicare Savings Program in Arizona?
The AHCCCS DE-103 application and policy manual list no resource limit for QMB, SLMB or QI-1. The manual’s resource rules apply to ALTCS.
What is the QMB income limit in Arizona?
$1,330 a month for an individual and $1,804 for a couple, after a $20 standard deduction and other allowed deductions.
Can I get QI-1 and full AHCCCS at the same time?
No. The AHCCCS policy manual says you can’t be approved for QI-1 and any other Medical Assistance program.
How long does AHCCCS take to decide?
AHCCCS lists a 45-calendar-day processing period for Medicare Savings Program applications.
Where do I report Medicare fraud in Arizona?
Arizona Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-432-4040, or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Talk with a licensed agent after you get free help
Octans Insurance is an independent agency based in Massachusetts. Our licensed agents compare plans from 120+ carriers, at no fee to you, and we’re glad to work alongside your SHIP counselor. Call (617) 935-9220. For free, unbiased counseling, call Arizona SHIP at 1-800-432-4040 or 1-800-MEDICARE. Planning for family too? See our Arizona life insurance guide.
Keep Reading: Related Guides
- Life insurance in Arizona
- Medicare Extra Help
- Medicare IRMAA calculator
- Medicare enrollment calculator
- Arizona Medicaid burial rules
- Unclaimed life insurance in Arizona
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
This article is for general information and is not tax, legal, or medical advice.
About examples and tools: Hypothetical examples, sample rates, calculators and quizzes on this site are for general educational and illustrative purposes only. They are not quotes, offers of coverage, or guarantees of eligibility, approval, price or benefits, and they are not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. The insurance company decides eligibility and price; Medicare rules are set by CMS and the Social Security Administration. Octans Insurance is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Questions About Your Medicare Costs?
Start with a free, no-obligation quote review with a licensed Octans agent.
(617) 935-9220 | life@octansinsurance.com