DECADES

ARIZONA
INDICATORS

WHAT THE TRENDS TELL US

Trends in Health

DECADES
VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 6
JANUARY 2010
arizonaindicators.org

By Andrea Whitsett
Project Manager, Arizona Indicators
Morrison Institute for Public Policy
Arizona State University

Q: What were the most interesting and important trends in Arizona health that occurred in the
previous decade? What is the significance of these trends and what insights can we apply to the
new decade?

A: During the previous decade Arizona experienced a dramatic increase in the number of

people receiving health insurance coverage through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment
System (AHCCCS). Consider this. In 1990, 9% of Arizona’s population was enrolled in AHCCCS
and by 2000 that figure had increased only slightly to 10%. However, by 2008 that figure had
already spiked to 17%. Although the recession accounts for significant growth in the past two
years, a 26.6% increase from December 2007 to December 2009, AHCCCS enrollment was high
even during a period of explosive growth and relative economic prosperity. If criteria for AHCCCS
eligibility don’t change, it is unlikely that this trend will be reversed in the coming decade.
Perhaps national health care reform will address the demand for affordable or subsidized health
insurance, but until that debate is resolved Arizona must be prepared to meet the growing need for
AHCCCS services.
On a more positive note, two indicators of preventative health behavior have shown significant
improvement during the past decade. According to America’s Health Rankings, during the
previous ten years complete immunization coverage in Arizona increased from 51% to 79% of
children ages 19 to 35 months. And, the prevalence of smoking has decreased notably from 20.1%
of the population in 2000 to 15.9% in 2009. I am optimistic that these trends will continue in the
new decade.
AHCCCS Enrollment

Arizona Indicators is
an online information
resource and analysis
tool that centralizes data
about the state and its
communities. Arizona
Indicators presents
interactive visualizations,
clear data descriptions,
and public opinion data
in a broad range of
content areas.

This project is made
possible by generous
support from the Arizona
Community Foundation
and Arizona State
University.

For more information,
contact Andrea Whitsett
at (602) 496-0217 or
andrea.whitsett@asu.edu.

Arizona Indicators is
a project of Morrison
Institute for Public Policy.

20%

1,125,000

15%

750,000

10%

375,000

5%

0

0%

19
1985
8
19 6
1987
1988
8
19 9
1990
9
19 1
1992
9
19 3
1994
9
19 5
1996
1997
9
19 8
2099
0
20 0
2001
0
20 2
2003
0
20 4
2005
2006
0
20 7
2008
09

1,500,000

Total Enrollment

Percent of Population Enrolled

Total Enrollment

Last Updated: 8/21/2009

Percent of Population Enrolled
Source: The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Figure 1: Enrollment in AHCCCS has increased dramatically over the last decade.

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