Also known as the Grand Canyon state, Arizona is a beautiful destination for retirees. Retirement in Arizona means enjoying a diverse climate and geography, famous chefs and restaurants, national parks and monuments, and so much more. Arizona has many interesting geographic features as well, such as hot and dry deserts in the south, and cool forests and mountain ranges in the north.
Arizona has a somewhat diverse topography in different parts of the state resulting in scattered climates. Around half of Arizona is semiarid, a third is arid, and the rest is humid. Temperatures in winter can average from around 66-42° F(19-6°C), and during the summer temperatures can reach up to 104° F. (40° C) The majority of the state experiences hot summers and still genuinely warm winters because of a continental tropical air mass.
Aside from the climate and geography, Arizona has a wide variety of other activities that retirees can participate in. Arizona is known for the Grand Canyon which is one of the largest tourist attractions in the country as well as many other national parks including Petrified Forest national park, Saguaro National park, and Walnut Canyon park. Arizona is also home to many sports teams with games that can be attended by retirees such as the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals, and Arizona Diamondbacks, and many more.
Taxes for Seniors Retiring in Arizona
Arizona has a 5.6 percent state sales tax. Local sales and use taxes levied by cities, counties, transit and special purpose districts can add another 2.8 percent to the sales tax, making the combined total on purchases 8.40 percent. (The max local tax rate is 5.6 percent.)
Arizona’s top marginal income tax rate is on the lower end nationally, at 4.5%, with property tax rates .66% per $1 dollar of property value.
CCRC Retirement Communities In Arizona
Today’s seniors have many retirement housing options. Deciding where to live is one of the most important and complex decisions one will make. Making these decisions while still healthy can help you avoid difficult and costly situations in the future.
Sometimes referred to as “life plan communities,” Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) and Lifecare Communities in Arizona offer seniors age 55+ (or 62+) a residence that allows them to be independent and active today, but are also equipped to provide for their future healthcare needs, often including assisted living, memory care, and nursing care.
Arizona CCRCs generally offer various accommodations including apartments, townhomes, and cottages. These communities usually include common activity areas such as a restaurant-like dining room, a library, activity and craft rooms, an assisted living facility, and a nursing home. Other amenities often include swimming pools, a fitness center, golf courses, convenience stores, walking trails, gardens, beauty/barber shops, banking services and guest accommodations.
Regulation of Arizona CCRCs
Approximately thirty-eight states regulate CCRCs through various state divisions such as insurance, financial services, aging or elder services, or social services. For those states that regulate CCRCs the mandatory requirements and degree of oversight vary drastically from one state to another. Because of the varying requirements vetting each community individually is the safest way to insure a community is in good standing.
Arizona CCRCs are regulated by the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. However, only one type of Arizona CCRC- those offering “life care” residency contracts, are regulated. Learn more about types of CCRC residency contract here. For these communities, it is required to provide reports to the state of Arizona each year with number of residences, financial ratios, actuarial studies, and more.
Selecting A CCRC In Arizona
Most CCRCs in Arizona have entrance requirements, which may vary by location and include some or all of the following:
- Entry fee to cover the housing unit’s cost and other services and amenities, including contractually provided access to health care. The entry fee may also help keep monthly services fees lower than they might be at a comparable rental community.
- Assets and savings equal to a multiple of the entry fee. A typical range is between 2-4 times the entry fee, but this can vary.
- Minimum age requirements as permitted by the Housing for Older Persons Act.
- Monthly income equal to a multiple of the monthly service fee. The range is usually similar to that required for assets and savings.
- CCRCs will often request medical records, talk with a prospective resident’s primary care physician, or request a health exam. The specific type of contract offered by the community will determine the degree of emphasis placed on this requirement.
- Will, durable power of attorney, and healthcare power of attorney
- Medicare and Medicare supplement policy, or a similar private-pay plan
Entry Fee Requirements For Arizona CCRCs
Most CCRCs or Life Plan Communities in Arizona require an entry fee. The entry fee is required for several reasons. First and foremost, it secures a resident’s contractual and priority access to the care they may need while living in the community. The money received from entry fees is also used to help pay down, or limit, the amount of debt required for development, expansion, or long-term capital projects, which keep the community attractive and competitive in the marketplace and also benefits current residents. A portion of the entry fee may go towards an endowment fund set up by the community. An endowment fund is used by many CCRCs- particularly non-profit providers- offer a financial assistance to help ensure that if a resident runs out of money due to a longer than average stay in the healthcare facility, or some other unforeseen circumstance, they will not be forced to leave the community.
Is an Arizona Life Plan Retirement Community Right For You?
A CCRC or Life Plan Community in Arizona might be a good fit for you or a loved one. You can get detailed information on top CCRC communities in Arizona by searching myLifeSite’s continuing care retirement community directory and proprietary database for helpful profile reports. For all the information you need and questions to ask as you begin contacting retirement communities directly myLifeSite is a one stop resource. Our independent reports provide everything you need to make an informed decision including retirement community pricing, important contract details, healthcare aspects, and more.
Updated May 2021