If you can’t afford private coverage, low income health insurance in Arkansas comes primarily through three programs run by the Arkansas Department of Human Services: ARHOME for adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, ARKids for children and young adults, and traditional Medicaid for pregnant women, people over 65, and people with disabilities. For a single adult in 2026, the ARHOME income ceiling is about $22,025 per year; for a family of four, it’s about $45,540.
ARHOME: Coverage for Working-Age Adults
ARHOME is Arkansas’s version of Medicaid expansion, and it works differently than in most states. Instead of enrolling you in a government-run plan, the state uses Medicaid dollars to buy private health insurance on your behalf through one of two carriers, Blue Cross Blue Shield or Ambetter.1Arkansas Department of Human Services. ARHOME You pick a plan, get a member ID card, and use the same doctor networks and hospitals as people with employer coverage. ARHOME replaced the earlier Arkansas Works program on January 1, 2022.
Because these are private plans purchased with Medicaid funds, they cover the ten categories of essential health benefits required under federal law: doctor visits, emergency services, hospital stays, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use treatment, prescription drugs, rehabilitation, lab work, preventive care, and pediatric services.2Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Information on Essential Health Benefits (EHB) Benchmark Plans
Preventive care is free. Most other services carry small copays: recent plan documents show a typical office visit at $4.70, a non-preferred prescription at $9.40, and no copay for inpatient hospital stays.3Arkansas Department of Human Services. ARHOME Summary of Benefits and Coverage Genuine emergencies are free at the ER; non-emergency ER visits carry the $9.40 copay. Home health care is capped at 50 visits per year, and physical, speech, occupational therapy, and chiropractic care share a combined 30-visit annual limit.
Who Qualifies for ARHOME
ARHOME covers adults between 19 and 64 who live in Arkansas and earn between 17% and 138% of the federal poverty level.4Arkansas Department of Human Services. Programs for DHS Beneficiaries That income floor matters. If you earn less than about 17% of the poverty level, you may qualify for traditional Medicaid instead. You also cannot be enrolled in Medicare.
The 2026 income ceilings at 138% of the federal poverty level:5HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines: 48 Contiguous States
- Single individual: $22,025 per year
- Household of two: $29,863
- Household of three: $37,702
- Household of four: $45,540
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or hold qualifying immigration status. The state uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income, the same figure from your federal tax return. There’s no asset test for ARHOME. The state looks at your income only, not your savings or property.
ARKids: Children and Young Adults
Children have their own coverage pathways, separate from ARHOME. Arkansas runs two tiers:6Arkansas Department of Human Services. Medicaid Quick Reference Chart
- ARKids A covers children under 19 in families earning up to 142% of the federal poverty level. It’s full Medicaid coverage with no copays and no premiums.
- ARKids B extends coverage to young people under 29 in families earning up to 211% of the federal poverty level. It requires copays for some services but carries no monthly premium.
Both programs provide 12 months of continuous coverage regardless of income changes during that period, and both can provide retroactive coverage for up to three months before the application date if the child was eligible during that time. A parent or guardian applies on the child’s behalf.
Traditional Medicaid
Traditional Medicaid serves populations ARHOME does not cover: pregnant women, people over 65, and individuals who are blind or have disabilities. Income limits and rules differ sharply from ARHOME.
Pregnant women qualify at significantly higher income levels, up to 209% of the federal poverty level, with coverage including prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal services.6Arkansas Department of Human Services. Medicaid Quick Reference Chart For aged, blind, and disabled applicants, income limits are lower and tied to SSI payment standards rather than the poverty level. Recipients of long-term care and other traditional Medicaid categories must also meet asset limits, unlike ARHOME.4Arkansas Department of Human Services. Programs for DHS Beneficiaries
Specialized Programs
Three smaller programs fill gaps the major programs don’t reach.
AR HIPP
If you’re on Medicaid and have access to employer-sponsored insurance or COBRA, the Arkansas Health Insurance Premium Payment program reimburses all or part of your premium cost. You keep Medicaid benefits and gain access to your employer’s provider network on top. The employer plan must cover at least one Medicaid-eligible person in your household, and AR HIPP requires annual renewal based on your plan year.7Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (AR HIPP)
TEFRA
TEFRA provides Medicaid coverage to children with disabilities living at home, even if their parents earn too much for traditional Medicaid. The program ignores parental income and resources entirely, looking only at the child’s own income and whether the child meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disabled. The child’s countable resources cannot exceed $2,000, and the child must have a condition that would require institutional care if home-based services were unavailable.8Arkansas Department of Human Services. Are We Eligible for TEFRA Coverage?
PASSE
The Provider-led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity program coordinates care for Medicaid clients with complex behavioral health conditions, developmental disabilities, or intellectual disabilities. Participants include people on the Developmental Disabilities Waiver, those in private intermediate care facilities, and individuals with behavioral health diagnoses needing more than basic counseling and medication management.9Arkansas Department of Human Services. Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE)
How to Apply
One application covers ARHOME, traditional Medicaid, and ARKids. The form is the DCO-152, the Household Health Coverage Application.10Arkansas Department of Human Services. Household Health Coverage Application You can submit it three ways:
- Online through the Access Arkansas portal at access.arkansas.gov
- By mail to the Arkansas Department of Human Services
- In person at your local DHS county office
Before you start, gather Social Security numbers for every member of your household, including those not applying. You’ll need proof of income: recent pay stubs, W-2s, or tax returns. Have any current insurance policy number ready. Self-employed applicants report net income after business expenses, matching what they report to the IRS.
Your household size on the form includes you, your spouse, and any dependents you claim on your federal tax return. The system uses that information alongside your tax filing status to calculate your Modified Adjusted Gross Income and route you to the correct program.
After You Apply
The state has 45 days to process a standard application, or 90 days if you’re applying on the basis of a disability.11eCFR. 42 CFR 435.912 – Timely Determination of Eligibility Watch for a Notice of Action in the mail. That’s the official document telling you whether you’ve been approved or denied.12Arkansas Department of Human Services. Access Arkansas Client Toolkit
You have the right to appeal any decision. Federal regulations give you up to 90 days from the date the notice is mailed to request a fair hearing.13eCFR. 42 CFR 431.221 – Request for Hearing Once that window passes, you’d need to file a new application entirely. Appeal requests go in writing to the Appeals and Hearings Section of DHS.
Annual Renewal
Medicaid eligibility isn’t permanent. The state redetermines your eligibility every 12 months.14Medicaid.gov. Overview: Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility Renewals DHS will often try first to renew your coverage automatically using data it already has, like tax and wage records. If the system confirms you still qualify, you’ll get a notice and don’t need to do anything.
If the state can’t verify eligibility on its own, it mails a renewal form. For ARHOME and other income-based programs, the form comes pre-filled with the information DHS has on file. You get at least 30 days to review, correct, and return it, either through Access Arkansas, by mail, by phone, or in person. Missing the renewal deadline can cost you your coverage, so treat the envelope like a bill.
If You Earn Too Much for Medicaid
Earning more than 138% of the federal poverty level doesn’t leave you without options. Arkansas residents above that threshold can buy subsidized private insurance through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov. Most Arkansans buying marketplace coverage receive Advanced Premium Tax Credits that reduce their monthly premiums.15Arkansas Insurance Department. Compare 2026 Individual Rates
Residents with incomes between 138% and 250% of the federal poverty level can get additional help reducing deductibles and copays by choosing a Silver-level plan. Open enrollment typically runs from November 1 through January 15 each year. Enroll online at healthcare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596.