Our highest priority is keeping Arizonans healthy, safe, and economically secure.

Arizonans: the fastest way to get assistance or info. from our office is to email casework@sinema.senate.gov.

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CORONAVIRUS VACCINES: For more information about approved COVID-19 vaccines and how to get a vaccine in Arizona, please visit our vaccine webpage HERE. 

Access to Care:

The Arizona Department of Health Services recommends that you call your health care professional if you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.

Your healthcare provider will determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19. A hotline has been set-up to answer questions about COVID-19 from Arizona providers (for testing, patient guidance) and the general public (for testing, isolation, quarantine): 2-1-1

If you are seeking a COVID-19 test: The Arizona Department of Health Services maintains a list of COVID-19 testing sites in partnership with local health providers. Please note that most sites require people to register in advance and be approved. 

Check the Department’s website HERE for more information on where to find the COVID-19 testing sites, hours of operation, and information about pre-registration. Additional sites are being added, so please check back often. For information specific to your county - please check your county public health department website.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Arizonans who lose their jobs may also lose health insurance or Arizonans may be looking for new insurance options. 

For information on health insurance plans offered through the federal marketplace, go to https://www.healthcare.gov/ and click “See if I can Enroll.” UPDATE: From February 15, 2021 through August 15, 2021, a special open enrollment period will allow people to sign up for health insurance. Beginning April 1, 2021, individuals looking to enroll AND THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY ENROLLED can and see if they qualify for new, more generous premium tax credits to help you afford your monthly premiums. These new, more generous premium tax credits will not be applied automatically if you enrolled in a new ACA insurance plan prior to April 1st. You must log back in to qualify. More information is HERE.

Arizonans who want to enroll in coverage and see if they qualify for more affordable premiums can visit HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov to view 2021 plans and prices and, if eligible, enroll in a plan that best meets their needs. Additionally, you can call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596, which provides assistance in over 150 languages. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. Arizonans can also find a local assister or agent/broker in their area: https://localhelp.healthcare.gov. 

Additionally, beginning in early July on HealthCare.gov, consumers who have received or have been determined eligible to receive unemployment compensation for any week during 2021 may be able to get another increase in savings when enrolling in a new marketplace health plan or updating their existing Marketplace application and enrollment. These savings to be made available starting in early July for eligible consumers are in addition to the increased savings available to consumers on HealthCare.gov starting April 1.

  • For 2021 and 2022, the new American Rescue Plan law eliminates premiums for individuals at 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or less, and reduces premiums for all other households. It also would make households above 400% of the FPL eligible for premium tax credits, with a premium cap of 8.5% of income. 
  • For an estimate of how these new premium tax credits could help you and your family if you qualify - please check this tax credit calculator HERE. Please note this is not an official government website and is to be used for planning and estimate purposes only.
  • The new American Rescue Plan law would allow taxpayers who receive unemployment compensation in 2021 to be eligible for the credit without any premiums, by disregarding any income above 133% of the FPL. 
  • The new law also wouldn’t allow excess premium credits to be recaptured in 2020.

COBRA: The new law will also help workers who lose their jobs and their employer-sponsored health insurance by providing 100 percent COBRA subsidies to ensure individuals on COBRA will not have to pay an employee-share of premiums through September 30, 2021. More information on the U.S. Department of Labor website is available HERE, or reach out to your former employer’s HR department for more information. 

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The CARES Act invested $150 billion in hospitals, health care workers, and others who are a part of the COVID-19 reponse for: 

  • personal and protective equipment for health care workers
  • testing supplies
  • increased workforce and training
  • new construction to house patients
  • an increase of the Strategic National Stockpile
  • medical research into COVID-19
  • Medicare payment increases to all hospitals and providers to ensure that they receive the funding they need during this crisis

The subsequent passage of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act invested a further $75 billion in hospitals and health workers - and provided $25 billion to boost coronavirus-testing.

On December 21, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act to provide further health and economic relief. The bill includes $22.4 billion for COVID-19 testing and contract tracing, $8.75 billion for vaccine distribution, $19.695 billion for the development and procurement of medical supplies, diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, and $3.25 billion for the Strategic National Stockpile.

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law, providing essential public health and economic resources to Arizona and the country. 

  • Increased vaccine doses and vaccinators to ensure all eligible Arizonans can access the COVID-19 vaccine
  • Expanded testing, infection-tracking, and boosted production and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers and first responders
  • $8.5 billion for rural hospitals and health care providers, $7.6 billion for community health centers, and support for Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education to train providers
  • $14.5 billion for veterans’ health services to ensure veterans access to care and services during the pandemic
  • $6 billion for the Indian Health Service and tribal health services for vaccines, testing, PPE, andinfection-tracking to slow the spread of COVID-19
  • More generous ACA premium tax credits to individuals and families, and full coverage of COBRA premiums for Arizonans who lost their job and their employer-sponsored health insurance due to the pandemic
  • More than $1.4 billion in funding to support older Arizonans at greater risk from COVID, their caregivers, and senior nutrition programs - other provisions will work to increase infection prevention measures in long-term care and our nursing homes to keep Arizona seniors safe

Below are local Arizona updates and resources for keeping you, your loved ones, and your communities healthy. Arizonans and all Americans should listen to government scientists and specialists. They are experts and will help Arizonans stay safe, healthy, and calm.

Medical Resources:

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has a website dedicated to COVID-19 that is updated daily. You can find the most up-to-date information about the disease in Arizona at: Arizona Department of Health Services

For information about Arizona’s Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), please check out their FAQs here: AHCCCS

Below is a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which will be regularly updated. This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Arizona Department of Economic Security and the Arizona Department of Health Services, Crisis Response Network and 2-1-1 Arizona has launched a new, statewide COVID-19 Hotline. If you have questions about testing, symptoms, or other concerns please call 2-1-1 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week to talk to a health care professional.

Click HERE for CDC guidelines on how to create a protective face covering. 

Click HERE for CDC re-opening guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting. 

Crisis Response Networks: 

In Maricopa County / Central Arizona 

In Northern Arizona

In Southern Arizona 

  • Community-wide Crisis Line: (520) 622-6000.
  • Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yuma Counties or on the San Carlos Apache Reservation: (866) 495-6735.

Tohono O'Odham Nation: (844) 423-8759.

If you are a victim of domestic violence call 1-800-799-7233 or text "LOVEIS" to 22522 for help.

In need of health care and not sure where to go? 

During this time, Arizonans may be seeking information about or treatment for substance abuse disorders. For more information, please speak to your primary care doctor or one of these resources:

Have health insurance? Call or visit your insurer’s website to figure which hospitals and providers take your insurance. 

Don’t have insurance? Try visiting your local community health care center, where you can receive primary care services, behavioral health, dental, OBGYN, pediatric, and pharmacy services depending on the location. Visit the Arizona Association of Community Health Centers and search by location.

Try visiting your county’s health department website to find more local providers by location and by service: 

Avoid Coronavirus Scams: Here are some tips from the FTC to help Arizonans avoid scammers. 

​​​​​​​Arizona Health Care Cost Containment Center (AHCCCS)

For more information on whether you would qualify for Arizona’s Medicaid program, known as the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment Center (AHCCCS), please go to their website. Eligibility may depend on your age, income, household size, and if you are expecting. 

Here is what you will need before you apply whether you are applying for the first time, or renewing your benefits:

  • Proof of citizenship and identity for everyone who is applying for benefits.
  • Alien Registration Cards, if there are non-U.S. citizens applying for benefits in your household.
  • Social Security numbers for everyone, or proof that a Social Security number has been applied for.
  • Birth certificates for everyone who is applying for benefits.
  • Name, address & daytime phone number of landlord or neighbor.
  • A statement verifying your address and the names of everyone living with you. The statement must be made by a non-relative who doesn’t live with you.  It must be signed, dated and include that person's address and telephone number.
  • Proof of ALL money your household received from any source last month and this month.
  • Proof that your employment ended and last date paid.
  • Verification of any medical insurance other than AHCCCS.

Looking to apply for AHCCCS medical assistance, but also want to see if you qualify for food assistance or cash assistance at the same time? You can apply for yourself, your family, or someone close to you by submitting an online application at Health-e-Arizona Plus.

KidsCare

Arizonans looking to get their kids enrolled in KidsCare, Arizona’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, can find more information HERE. Children under the age of 19 may qualify for KidsCare, even if they are not eligible for other AHCCCS health insurance. For those who qualify, monthly premiums may apply. 

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS (FSAs)

The IRS released new guidance in 2020 to help employers and plan sponsors give employees new flexibilities related to their employer-sponsored health coverage and FSAs. While the IRS offered these new options, employers and plan sponsors were not mandated to provide them.

Update: On December 21, 2020, Congress passed the most recent bipartisan coronavirus relief package to provide further health and economic relief. This bill provides new relief for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSAs). More information as it becomes available from the IRS will be on their website or check with your employer or HR department. The bill:

  • Provides relief for health and dependent care FSAs by allowing individuals to carry over unused amounts in their accounts at the end of 2020 into 2021, and unused amounts at the end of 2021 into 2022.
  • Allows plans to extend the grace period through the end of year for 2020 and 2021.
  • Allows plans to temporarily increase the maximum age of qualified dependents for DCFSAs from 12 years of age to 13.
  • Allows plans to permit a change in election amounts for both FSAs and DCFSAs for 2021.

Influenza (The Flu)

Getting an influenza (flu) vaccine is more important this year than ever. Both coronavirus and the flu are contagious respiratory illnesses that share many of the same symptoms. All of us need to get our flu shots to reduce the burden on our health care systems and save medical resources for coronavirus patients. Reduce yours and your loved ones’ risk this influenza season by getting your flu shot today!

Please visit the Arizona Department of Health Services website for more information on flu shots and where you can find a flu vaccine provider near you.

  • Seniors should also talk to their doctor about whether a high-dose flu shot for seniors age 65 and older is right for you. 
  • Those with egg allergies should talk to their doctors about alternative options and whether a flu shot is right for them. 
  • Flu vaccines are not recommended for children less than six months old. 
  • People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait until their symptoms get better before getting a flu shot.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

  • Fever (usually high)
  • Dry cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Headache
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Muscle aches
  • Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults

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Federal coronavirus-response legislation: click HERE.

Specific actions Kyrsten is taking on behalf of Arizona: click HERE.

Visit our main resources page: sinema.senate.gov/corona.