AHCCCS Income Limits (Arizona Medicaid, 2026)

AHCCCS (pronounced "access") covers about 2 million Arizonans, roughly one in four state residents. Arizona was one of the first non-Medicaid states to embrace the federal Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, restoring expansion coverage on January 1, 2014, after a brief enrollment freeze during the recession. The result is one of the most generous adult Medicaid programs in the Mountain West: any adult under 138% of the Federal Poverty Level qualifies, with no asset test for the MAGI categories. The 2026 Federal Poverty Level, $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states, sets every income threshold below.

AHCCCS eligibility splits into five main groups: childless adults and parents (138% FPL via expansion), pregnant women (156% FPL with 12 months of postpartum coverage), children up to 138% FPL on AHCCCS plus KidsCare up to 200% FPL, aged/blind/disabled adults under SSI rules — those who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare may access D-SNP plans, and the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) for nursing-home and home-and-community-based-services beneficiaries. If you have a job, check whether earned income affects eligibility — AHCCCS counts it differently for expansion vs non-expansion groups. Each group has its own application path, but the vast majority go through the same intake portal at healthearizonaplus.gov, the state's combined Medicaid + SNAP + cash-assistance application run by the Department of Economic Security.

The household-size table below shows the 2026 AHCCCS income limits across all three covered MAGI populations. If your household income is over the relevant AHCCCS threshold but under 400% FPL, you almost certainly qualify for ACA marketplace subsidies through Healthcare.gov. If you have a child whose family income is over the children's AHCCCS limit, check KidsCare (Arizona's CHIP) up to 200% FPL. If you are 65 or older with limited income and assets, check the Medicare Savings Programs section below or the ALTCS program for nursing-facility-level care.

AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) income limits by household size (2026)

The 2026 AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid) income guidelines below are based on the 2026 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 contiguous states. Adult column = expansion-group AHCCCS (138% FPL, covers adults with or without dependent children). Children column = standard children's AHCCCS Medicaid (138% FPL); KidsCare (Arizona CHIP) extends children's coverage up to 200% FPL. Pregnancy column = 156% FPL AHCCCS for Pregnant Women, with 12 months of postpartum coverage. Add roughly $5,680 of annual income per additional household member.

AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) eligibility requirements (non-income)

Beyond income, AHCCCS applicants must meet the following non-income requirements. Each population group (adults, children, pregnant women, aged/blind/disabled, ALTCS) has its own version of these rules; the items below apply across the board for the MAGI categories that handle the vast majority of applications.

• Arizona residency: applicant must currently live in Arizona with the intent to remain. There is no minimum length-of-residence requirement.
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (after the federal 5-year bar in most cases), refugees, and asylees qualify. Pregnant women and children are exempt from the 5-year bar under federal CHIPRA. Undocumented adults do not qualify for full AHCCCS but may receive Federal Emergency Services (FES) for life-threatening conditions and labor and delivery.
• Social Security Number: required for the applicant unless requesting only Federal Emergency Services or applying for KidsCare for a non-citizen child.
• Household composition: must be claimed under MAGI rules (parent + dependent children + spouse) for the adult/parent/child/pregnancy categories. Aged/blind/disabled and ALTCS categories use SSI household and resource rules.
• Asset test: NOT applied for MAGI AHCCCS populations (adults, parents, children, pregnant women). Asset test IS applied for aged/blind/disabled adults and ALTCS, generally $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple, with the home (up to $730,000 in equity for ALTCS in 2026), one vehicle, and certain burial accounts excluded.
• Other coverage: AHCCCS applicants are not required to be uninsured, but AHCCCS coordinates as the payer of last resort. Members with employer or Medicare coverage may still qualify for AHCCCS as wraparound coverage.

What income counts for AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System)

AHCCCS uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules for adults, parents, children, and pregnant women, anchored to the household's projected annual income on the federal tax return. Aged/blind/disabled and ALTCS populations use SSI countable-income rules instead. The lists below cover the MAGI categories that handle the vast majority of AHCCCS applications.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, tips, and overtime pay (gross, before payroll taxes)
• Net self-employment / 1099 / gig-work earnings (after allowable business expenses)
• Social Security retirement and disability (SSDI), but Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is excluded
• Unemployment compensation
• Pensions, annuities, and most retirement-account withdrawals
• Alimony received under divorce decrees finalized before 2019
• Rental and investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains)

Income sources excluded

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments
• Child support received
• Federal tax refunds and refundable tax credits (EITC, Child Tax Credit)
• Veterans Affairs disability benefits and most VA pensions
• SNAP (Nutrition Assistance) benefits and TANF cash assistance
• Loans, gifts, and one-time inheritances under MAGI rules (note: counted as resources for SSI-related AHCCCS and ALTCS)
• Federal Pell Grants and most need-based student aid used for tuition or required fees
• Workers' compensation payments

How to apply for AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) in Arizona

AHCCCS applications go through Health-e-Arizona Plus, the statewide intake portal jointly run by AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). The same application captures AHCCCS Medicaid, KidsCare CHIP, Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), and Cash Assistance (TANF). You can apply online, by phone (1-855-HEA-PLUS), by mail, or in person at any DES Family Assistance Office.

1. 1. Gather your documents: photo ID, Social Security cards (or numbers) for everyone in the household, proof of Arizona residency, proof of citizenship or immigration status, and the most recent month of pay stubs or self-employment records.
2. 2. Create an account at healthearizonaplus.gov or call 1-855-HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587) Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to start an application by phone.
3. 3. Complete the application: list every household member, report all income sources, and upload (or mail) the supporting documents from step 1. The portal pre-screens for AHCCCS, KidsCare, SNAP, and Cash Assistance in one pass.
4. 4. Sign the application electronically (or by hand if mailed). DES sends a confirmation with your case number; save it for follow-up calls and document uploads.
5. 5. Respond to any DES requests for additional information within the 10-day window listed on the notice. Failing to respond is the most common reason AHCCCS applications get denied.
6. 6. Wait for the eligibility determination notice. Most cases are decided in 30-45 days; pregnancy applications are typically decided in 15 days under federal expedited-processing rules; ALTCS applications can take 60-90 days because they require a medical and financial pre-admission screening.

Official portal: healthearizonaplus.gov

Documents needed

• Photo ID for the head of household (Arizona driver's license, state ID, tribal ID, or passport)
• Social Security Numbers for every household member applying for coverage
• Proof of Arizona residency (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, tribal-housing letter)
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status (birth certificate, passport, permanent-resident card, asylee letter, certificate of Indian blood)
• Last 30 days of pay stubs (or 12 months for self-employment / 1099)
• Most recent federal tax return (or signed statement that none was filed)
• Proof of pregnancy from a clinic or hospital, if applying for AHCCCS for Pregnant Women
• For aged/blind/disabled adults and ALTCS: bank statements, vehicle titles, life-insurance policies, and proof of any disability determination (SSI, SSDI, or state PASRR screening)

Processing timeline: Standard AHCCCS applications are decided in 30-45 days. Pregnancy applications are decided in 15 days under federal rules and are eligible for presumptive eligibility, which can start prenatal coverage immediately. ALTCS applications can take 60-90 days because they require a pre-admission screening and a medical determination from the Disability Determination Services unit.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Income above the population-specific threshold (the most common single reason, adult expansion applicants are denied if MAGI is over 138% FPL after the 5% disregard).
• Failure to respond to a 10-day request for additional information (missing pay stubs, missing immigration documents, missing pregnancy verification).
• Federal 5-year bar for newly-arrived lawful permanent residents (some categories, including pregnant women and children under 21, are exempt under federal CHIPRA Title XXI rules).
• Asset test failure for aged/blind/disabled or ALTCS applicants (countable resources above $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple).
• Failure to verify Arizona residency (no utility bill, lease, or other address documentation in the applicant's name).
• ALTCS pre-admission screening determines applicant does not require nursing-facility level of care (the medical eligibility test for ALTCS, separate from the income and asset tests).

If your child's family income is over the AHCCCS limit, KidsCare (Arizona CHIP)

KidsCare is Arizona's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), administered by AHCCCS. KidsCare covers children under age 19 in households earning up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, about $54,640 per year for a family of three or $66,000 per year for a family of four in 2026. KidsCare provides comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage; monthly premiums have been suspended in 2026, so coverage is effectively free for eligible families. Children of state employees were also added back to KidsCare eligibility under HB 2334. Apply through the same healthearizonaplus.gov portal, the system routes the application to KidsCare automatically when family income falls between 138% and 200% FPL.

Compare CHIP and Medicaid income limits across all 50 states

If you are 65 or older with limited income, Medicare Savings Programs and ALTCS

AHCCCS runs three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) for low-income Medicare beneficiaries: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) up to 100% FPL ($1,330/mo for an individual in 2026), which pays Medicare Parts A + B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance; Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) up to 120% FPL ($1,596/mo), which pays Part B premiums only; and Qualifying Individual (QI) up to 135% FPL ($1,795/mo), which also pays Part B premiums but is funded through a fixed annual block-grant. All three have an asset test (about $9,660 for an individual / $14,470 for a couple in 2026). MSP enrollment automatically qualifies you for the federal Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy for Medicare Part D drug costs. Members who need nursing-facility-level care should also explore the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), which covers nursing homes, assisted living, and home and community-based services for Arizonans with income up to 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate ($2,901/month for an individual in 2026).

Read the Medicare eligibility guide

Frequently Asked Questions