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Medicaid Eligibility in Arkansas

In Arkansas, you must fall into certain categories of age, health status, disability and financial status in order to be eligible to receive health care assistance benefits through Medicaid. The criteria are often complex, so it is important to contact the Department of Human Services in your county if you believe you qualify for assistance.

  1. Financial Qualifications

    • All Arkansas Medicaid programs take into account your family's income in order to determine eligibility, and the income limits are adjusted by the state every year. Other resources and assets are also considered by the state of Arkansas when determining eligibility for most adult programs, including cash, stocks, bonds, property other than the home, and some life insurance and burial funds. The primary residence, one car and some other insurance policies and burial funds are excluded from the calculation of resources.

    Programs for Medicare Beneficiaries

    • The Medicare Savings Beneficiaries program in Arkansas provides Medicaid benefits for individuals eligible for Medicare, those over age 65 and those who are blind or disabled, who fall under certain income limits. Those with the lowest income levels, as determined by the state on an annual basis, receive full Medicaid under the ARSeniors program. This program is only for those 65 or older. Other programs in Arkansas with lesser benefits include QMB, SMB and QI-1, which provide decreasing levels of assistance based on resources. Anyone receiving Supplemental Security Income, a program for elderly, blind and disabled people with little or no income, is automatically qualified for Medicaid.

    Spend Down

    • Spend Down is a program for those with very high medical costs relative to their income. It allows them to receive assistance after exhausting some portion of their income. There are specific spend down programs in Arkansas for pregnant women, children under age 18 and families with an unemployed, disabled or deceased parent.

    Long Term Care

    • Those living in a long term care facility or assisted living facility, out of medical necessity, and who fall under a certain income and resource limit qualify for Medicaid in Arkansas.

    Programs for Women, Children and Families

    • Under the Sixth Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (SOBRA) program, pregnant women with limited resources may be eligible for Medicaid in Arkansas. Children under the age of 19 are covered by the ARKIDS program, with benefits varying depending on family size and family income. Under Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA), Arkansas families with an absent, disabled or unemployed parent and with children under the age of 18 in the home qualify for varying levels of assistance based on family size.

    Disability programs

    • There are Medicaid programs in Arkansas for working disabled adults and for disabled adult children of adults receiving Medicaid. The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) provides assistance for children 18 or older who are disabled and who would qualify for Medicaid as an individual outside the home. The cost of care for the child in the home cannot exceed the cost of care if the child were institutionalized. Working disabled adults who are older than 16 and under 65 can receive benefits if their income and resources fall below the state-designated limit.

    Medical Qualification Programs

    • Women with breast and cervical cancer may qualify for Medicaid in Arkansas if they have no other insurance, are under 65 and do not qualify under any other Medicaid category. Income limits vary with family size for this program. Individuals with tuberculosis also may qualify for assistance if they meet the income requirement.

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