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Short-Term Health Insurance in Arizona

Arizona statute allows an initial term under 12 months, renewable to a 36-month total. Plans may exclude pre-existing conditions and must carry a notice that they aren't ACA coverage.

At a glance

Short-term plans are allowed in Arizona by statute (A.R.S. 20-1384), with an initial term of less than 12 months (up to 364 days).
They can run up to a 36-month total, taking into account renewals or extensions — one of the strongest statutory footings for longer short-term coverage.
Plans aren't subject to state health-coverage mandates; pre-existing conditions may be excluded (with disclosure), and a 14-point ACA-disclosure notice is required.
Arizona uses HealthCare.gov for ACA plans and has expanded Medicaid.

What Arizona allows

Arizona permits short-term health insurance directly by statute — A.R.S. 20-1384. The initial term is less than 12 months (up to 364 days), and the total duration can run up to 36 months, taking into account renewals or extensions. Because the statute expressly contemplates renewals and extensions toward a 36-month total, Arizona is one of the clearer states for a genuine longer-duration short-term product.

Short-term plans in Arizona are not subject to state health-coverage mandates, and no minimum benefits are required; pre-existing conditions may be excluded, with a required disclosure. Arizona also builds in consumer protections: a 14-point ACA-disclosure notice, a renewal/expiration notice, and — for non-renewable plans — a 10-day full-refund right to return. The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) publishes a list of active short-term carriers.

For context, the 2024 federal rule that would cap short-term plans at a 3-month initial term and a 4-month total is currently not being enforced (per the August 7, 2025 federal statement), and Arizona's durations rest on its own statute. One note to watch: a 2025 bill (SB 1668) that would have imposed ACA mandates on short-term plans did not become law, so the current framework stands.

Your options in Arizona

If you're an Arizona resident weighing your choices, here's what's realistically on the table (described as coverage types, not specific products):

Short-term health insurance — temporary, medically underwritten coverage that can bridge a gap of a few months up to a 36-month total under the Arizona statute above. Best understood as a stopgap, not comprehensive coverage.
ACA marketplace plans — comprehensive major-medical coverage sold through HealthCare.gov. These cover essential health benefits, can't turn you down for pre-existing conditions, and may come with income-based subsidies.
Fixed indemnity and other excepted benefits — supplemental coverage that pays limited, defined benefits, regulated under Arizona's Title 20. Not a substitute for major medical.
Medicaid — Arizona has expanded Medicaid, so more low-income adults qualify. It's worth checking your eligibility before buying a short-term plan.

As an independent, carrier-neutral brokerage, we don't steer you to any single insurer — the right fit depends on your health, budget, and how long you need coverage.

How enrollment works here

Arizona uses the federally facilitated marketplace at HealthCare.gov for ACA plans. Enrollment there works on a schedule:

Open Enrollment happens once a year, typically each fall through early winter, for coverage that starts the following January.
Special Enrollment Periods are available year-round if you have a qualifying life event — for example, losing job-based coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby.

Short-term health insurance is different: because it isn't an ACA plan, you can generally apply for it any time of year, subject to Arizona's duration limits and the carrier's underwriting. Arizona's Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions publishes a list of active short-term carriers, and non-renewable plans come with a 10-day right to return for a full refund — useful if you change your mind shortly after buying.

What it costs

We don't quote premiums on this page — prices change and depend on your specific situation — but here are the factors that drive the cost of coverage in Arizona:

Your age — older applicants generally pay more.
Where you live in Arizona — pricing varies by county and rating area.
Tobacco use — often affects the rate.
Who's covered — an individual, a couple, or a whole family.
The deductible and coverage level you choose — lower out-of-pocket exposure usually means a higher premium.
The length of the term — short-term pricing reflects how long the coverage runs, and Arizona allows renewals toward a 36-month total.
Medical underwriting — because short-term plans in Arizona are underwritten, your health history can affect both eligibility and price.

For ACA marketplace plans, cost works differently: your premium depends on income (which determines subsidy eligibility), age, county, tobacco use, and the metal level you pick. Because Arizona expanded Medicaid, some lower-income residents may qualify for Medicaid at little or no cost instead.

MG Matthew T. Giberti Licensed Expert · NPN 20698856 · Updated July 2026

Short-term health insurance is not major medical coverage and is not minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. These plans are medically underwritten, may exclude pre-existing conditions, and are not required to cover essential health benefits such as maternity care, prescription drugs, mental health services, or preventive care. They may impose annual or lifetime dollar limits. Short-term coverage does not satisfy any applicable coverage requirements and does not qualify you for ACA premium subsidies.

GetHealthPlans.com is operated by MTG Insurance Agency, an independent, carrier-neutral brokerage. We do not issue insurance and are not a government agency or the health insurance marketplace. Regulatory details on this page reflect Arizona law and Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions guidance as of the last-reviewed date and can change; confirm current terms and the specific plan's approved form before you enroll.