What is changing between HonorHealth and AZ Blue Best Life?
HonorHealth describes a two step change for one Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona product, AZ Blue Best Life (HMO) Medicare Advantage, in an update dated July 15, 2026.
| Date | What HonorHealth says |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | AZ Blue Best Life (HMO) removed HonorHealth primary care providers from its network |
| January 1, 2027 | HonorHealth, including all employed physicians, specialists and facilities, will no longer be in network with AZ Blue Best Life (HMO) |
| Other Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona plans | HonorHealth says it continues to be in network with all of them |
HonorHealth says the decision was made by AZ Blue and was outside of HonorHealth's control. Those are HonorHealth's words about the situation. The change applies only to AZ Blue Best Life (HMO) plans, so if you have another Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Medicare plan, check which plan name is on your card.
Which Medicare Advantage plans include HonorHealth primary care doctors?
Many plans on HonorHealth's list include its hospitals but not its primary care doctors, and a few leave out more. HonorHealth calls its list partial, says it is not all inclusive and says not all locations are included in all plans.
| Plan | Hospitals and facilities | HonorHealth specialists | HonorHealth primary care |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZ Blue Best Life (HMO) | Out of network from January 1, 2027 | Out of network from January 1, 2027 | Removed July 1, 2026 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Advantage | Participate | Participate | Do not participate |
| Cigna Preferred HMO and Achieve HMO C-SNP | Participate | Participate | Participate |
| Cigna Alliance HMO | Participate | Participate | Do not participate |
| eternal Health (Valor Give Back, Grand Give Back and Horizon) | Participate | Participate | Do not participate |
| Gold Kidney | Participate | Participate | Do not participate |
| SCAN Desert Health Plan | Participate | Participate | Do not participate |
| AARP by UnitedHealthcare, Phoenix Direct Network, HMO Plans 1, 3, 4 and Group Retiree | Participate | Participate | Participate |
| AARP by UnitedHealthcare, Phoenix Direct Network, HMO Plan 2 | Participate | Do not participate | Do not participate |
| AARP by UnitedHealthcare, OptumCare Network, HMO Plans 1 to 4 and Group Retiree | Participate | Participate | Do not participate |
| AARP by UnitedHealthcare, Banner Health Network, HMO Plans 1 to 4 and Group Retirees | Do not participate | Do not participate | Do not participate |
| WellCare by Arizona Priority Care (AZPC Network) | Participate | Do not participate | Do not participate |
| Aetna Medicare Prime Network | Facilities only | Not listed | Not listed |
HonorHealth also lists Aetna Medicare Advantage (apart from the Prime Network), Banner Medicare Advantage, Devoted, HealthSpring, Humana, WellCare by Allwell and traditional Medicare, with no limits noted. A plan missing from the list is not listed, so ask HonorHealth and the plan before you enroll.
If you have an HMO, you choose a primary care doctor who coordinates your care. When a plan includes the hospital but not your HonorHealth primary care doctor, you would need a different primary care doctor in that plan's network, and the new doctor then refers you to specialists.
Which marketplace plans does HonorHealth list?
| Marketplace plan | What HonorHealth says |
|---|---|
| Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health | Participates |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Focus, Premier Health and Everyday Health PPO | Participate |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Blue Signature Prosano PPO | Participates, through the Alliance PPO Network including Prosano Clinics |
| Health Choice by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona | Participates |
| Oscar Health | Participates |
| Cigna Connect | Hospitals, facilities and specialists participate, primary care doctors do not. These plans end after 2026 |
HonorHealth says all physician, urgent care and facility locations participate in the marketplace plans, except where it notes otherwise. The page was last updated July 15, 2026, so check the plan's 2027 directory before you enroll.
Cigna says it will no longer offer individual and family medical plans for 2027. Healthinsurance.org reports that six insurers offer plans in Arizona's marketplace for 2027, down from seven. Open enrollment runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1.
What can I do if my Medicare plan changes?
Compare plans during Medicare's annual enrollment period, October 15 to December 7, 2026. A change you make by December 7 starts January 1.
- Look up your primary care doctor, your specialists and your hospital in the 2027 directory of the exact plan.
- Ask the doctor's office which plans it accepts for 2027, including the network name, such as Phoenix Direct or OptumCare.
- Check your drugs and the plan's yearly maximum you could pay out of pocket.
- If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can make one change from January 1 to March 31, 2027.
Original Medicare with a Medigap plan and a Part D drug plan is another route, and HonorHealth lists Original Medicare. After your first six months on Medicare Part B, a Medigap insurer can usually ask health questions and may charge more or turn you down, unless you have a guaranteed right to buy.
How many people in Maricopa County use the marketplace?
| Measure | Maricopa County | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| People who picked a plan | 235,665 | 357,144 |
| Received a premium tax credit | 81.3% | 82.7% |
| Average monthly premium before credits | $610 | $688 |
| Average monthly premium after credits | $226 | $229 |
| Paid $10 a month or less after credits | 17.0% | 17.5% |
| Picked a bronze plan | 54.9% | 55.9% |
| Received cost sharing reductions | 33.4% | 33.3% |
Maricopa County accounts for about 66% of the people in Arizona who picked a marketplace plan. Its average premium before credits was lower than the state's. These are 2026 numbers, so your 2027 price depends on your income, your household and the plans sold where you live.
Census estimates put Phoenix at 1,665,481 residents, with 12.2% age 65 or older and 35.9% of residents age 5 and older speaking a language other than English at home. Among people under 65, 16.1% in Phoenix and 12.6% in Maricopa County have no health insurance.
How can a Phoenix agent help with HonorHealth questions?
An agent can look up HonorHealth hospitals, your primary care doctor and your specialists in each 2027 plan you are considering, and point out the network name that makes the difference. Have your insurance card, your doctors' names and your prescriptions ready.
Health Insurance Solutions agents are licensed in 22 states and help by phone and online. Marketplace plans cost the same with or without an agent, so the comparison does not add to your premium.
Insurers and hospitals mentioned
Explore the organizations or brands discussed in this article. A mention does not mean every plan or location is covered.
- Hospital · ArizonaBanner Health
- Insurer · ArizonaAmbetter from Arizona Complete Health
- Insurer · ArizonaBlue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
- Insurer · ArizonaUnitedHealthcare
- Insurer · ArizonaUnitedHealthcare
- Medicare Advantage · ArizonaAetna Medicare
- Medicare Advantage · ArizonaBanner Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Advantage · ArizonaHealthSpring
- Medicare Advantage · ArizonaHumana
- Medicare Advantage · ArizonaUnitedHealthcare
- Medicare Advantage · ArizonaWellcare
- Small-group insurer · ArizonaUnitedHealthcare Insurance Company
- Small-group insurer · ArizonaUnitedHealthcare of Arizona, Inc.
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