Arizona AHCCCS Income Limits 2026: Chart by Size

You can apply for AHCCCS for free, and approval brings health coverage rather than a cash payment. For other states, start with our national Medicaid income limits guide.

AHCCCS Income Limits by Household Size (2026)

AHCCCS publishes 7 separate MAGI income limits, and a single family can fall under four of them at once. Per the Section 615 tables in the AHCCCS Eligibility Policy Manual, the limits below took effect February 1, 2026. They're monthly income for the household, and they are the base percentages before the 5% disregard.

Source: AHCCCS Eligibility Policy Manual, Section 615 Income Standards (opens in a new tab), columns "Effective 2/1/2026." AHCCCS prints sizes 1 through 7 and an "each additional" amount that it calls approximate.

\ The 8-person row is a Grantsights calculation: the 7-person figure plus AHCCCS's "each additional member" amount. Treat it as close, not exact; for a household of 8 or more, the eligibility worker's figure controls.*

Yearly equivalents and the 5% disregard

Grantsights multiplied the monthly Section 615 figures by 12. The disregard column adds the AHCCCS MAGI 5% FPL disregard amounts (opens in a new tab) effective February 1, 2026 ($67 for one person up to $209 for seven) to the 133% limit.

Seniors, disability and long-term care (ALTCS) limits

People 65 and older, blind or with a disability use non-MAGI rules. AHCCCS's February 2026 chart groups them like this:

Sources: AHCCCS Eligibility Requirements chart, February 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) and EPM Section 615 (opens in a new tab), which lists the federal benefit rate standards "Effective 1/1/2026 to 12/31/2026."

Freedom to Work can carry a premium of $0 to $35 a month, according to the chart, and ALTCS members may owe a share of cost toward their care.

How AHCCCS Counts Your Income

Arizona uses 2 different budgeting systems, and which one applies depends on why you're eligible, not on how much you earn.

MAGI budgeting covers children, parents and caretakers, pregnant women, the adult group and KidsCare, according to the AHCCCS income eligibility guide in Chapter 600 of the manual. Income follows federal tax rules: wages, self-employment profit, unemployment, Social Security benefits and taxable alimony count, while child support received and SSI don't. AHCCCS allows pre-tax deductions such as health premiums and 401(k) contributions, plus the "adjustments to gross income" from a tax return (student loan interest, educator expenses and similar items), according to the manual's MAGI deductions section. The household normally follows who files taxes together and who's claimed as a dependent. A pregnant woman counts each expected baby, and the AHCCCS chart notes that her limit "increases for each expected child." MAGI groups have no resource test.

The 5% disregard works differently in Arizona than many people expect. The AHCCCS manual says it applies only when you'd otherwise be over the limit for every MAGI program you could fit, and then only in the test for the program with the highest limit. The 2026 amounts are $67 for one person, $114 for three and $138 for four. So the published 133% figure isn't the true ceiling; about 138% is.

Non-MAGI budgeting covers SSI-MAO, ALTCS, Freedom to Work and the Medicare savings programs. These groups use SSI-style rules with their own deductions; Freedom to Work counts only earned income.

For example, a family of three in Arizona earning $3,300 a month gross (one parent, a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old) ends up with three different answers. After the $114 disregard, countable income is $3,186. The parent is specifically $158 over the $3,028 adult limit, so the parent doesn't qualify. The 4-year-old qualifies, because $3,186 is under the $3,211 limit for children 1 to 5. The 10-year-old is over the $3,028 line for ages 6 to 18 but well under KidsCare's $5,123, so that child goes to KidsCare with a monthly premium. The parent would look at subsidized Marketplace coverage instead.

Arizona Medicaid Asset Limits

$2,000 is the resource limit for one person applying for ALTCS, according to the AHCCCS February 2026 chart, and SSI cash recipients face $2,000 for one person or $3,000 for a couple under Social Security's rules. Most other AHCCCS groups list no resource limit at all.

• No asset test for children, KidsCare, parents and caretakers, pregnant women, the adult group, SSI-MAO, Freedom to Work, QMB, SLMB or QI-1, according to the chart's "Resource Limits" column.
• ALTCS spousal protection: when the applicant's spouse lives in the community, the chart says between $32,532 and $162,660 of the couple's resources may be disregarded.
• Estate recovery: the chart notes that ALTCS recovers the cost of services received after age 55 from the member's estate.
• Share of cost: ALTCS members may have to pay part of their income toward care each month.

Giving away money or property before an ALTCS application can delay coverage, so families planning for long-term care should talk with a legal aid office or an elder law attorney first.

Expansion vs Non-Expansion: Arizona's Position in 2026

Arizona expanded Medicaid in 2014, so 133% of poverty plus the 5% disregard covers adults 19 to 64 with or without children. The Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) (as of December 1, 2023) lists Arizona at 133% for expansion adults, 106% for parents and caretakers, 156% for pregnant women, 147% for infants and 200% for separate CHIP. Texas never expanded, and our Texas Medicaid income limits guide shows how adults without children are left out there. For neighboring expansion states, see our guides for New Mexico, Nevada, California and Colorado.

Arizona's expansion trigger law. Under A.R.S. 36-2901.07 (opens in a new tab), AHCCCS "shall discontinue eligibility" for adults between 100% and 133% of poverty if the federal match for that group falls below 80%. An AHCCCS federal-funding analysis (opens in a new tab) from April 2025 says the trigger reaches about 67,000 adults covered through the 2014 expansion, but doesn't apply to the roughly 433,000 adults under 100% of poverty covered by voter-approved Proposition 204. That analysis describes the expansion match as 90%, AHCCCS's H.R. 1 timeline lists no cut to it, and the adult group is still enrolling in November 2026.

What's changing under H.R. 1. According to the AHCCCS H.R. 1 page and its member site, KeepMyAHCCCS.com:

• Work requirements start January 1, 2027 for some adults 19 to 64 in the adult group. Members meet them with $580 a month in income, 80 hours a month of work, school, job training or volunteering, or a mix. Two people in the same household who both need to meet it can add their incomes together.
• Six-month renewals also start January 1, 2027 for most of the adult group. A member who renews in 2026 stays on a 12-month renewal until the next renewal in 2027.
• Retroactive coverage changes on January 1, 2027, according to the AHCCCS implementation timeline.
• Already in effect: federal changes for some noncitizens took effect October 1, 2026. Refugees, people seeking asylum and trafficking victims who don't hold another qualifying status lost full AHCCCS; they may still get Federal Emergency Services, which AHCCCS says enrolls them automatically.
• Not affected by the work rule: people under 19, 65 or older, on Medicare, pregnant or pregnant in the last 12 months, American Indian or Alaska Native, or enrolled in ALTCS. Caregivers of a child 13 or younger and veterans with a 100% disability rating are among the exemptions.

AHCCCS estimates the new requirements could affect nearly 417,000 members statewide. None of these changes alters the dollar limits above.

What AHCCCS Doesn't Tell You About the Income Limits

Grantsights found 5 gaps between how AHCCCS publishes its limits and how they play out for real families:

1. KidsCare reaches higher than most older charts show. According to the Medicaid.gov (opens in a new tab) eligibility levels data, the federal table still lists Arizona's separate CHIP at 200% of poverty (as of December 2023), but AHCCCS's 2026 chart uses 225%. The federal table simply predates the state's 2026 chart. Grantsights analysis of the 2026 HHS guidelines and the AHCCCS chart shows that for a family of four, 225% is $6,188 a month while 200% would be $5,500, a $688 a month difference. A family that checked a third-party site may wrongly assume their kids are over the line.
2. The parent limit is a trap only on paper. Parents and caretakers have a 106% limit ($2,414 for three), but parents can also qualify through the adult group at 133%. Grantsights analysis of Section 615 found the adult group allows $614 more a month for a household of three, so a parent shouldn't stop at the lower column.
3. Seniors face no asset test in SSI-MAO. Many states cap savings at $2,000 for their aged and disabled groups. Arizona's February 2026 chart lists "N/A" for SSI-MAO resources, so an older adult with modest savings and income under $1,330 a month can still qualify.
4. The disregard only helps if you're over every line. Because AHCCCS applies the 5% disregard only when you'd fail every MAGI group, it can't stack on top of a group you already pass. That's why the effective adult ceiling is $1,836 for one person, not something higher.
5. The 8-person figures are estimates. AHCCCS lists exact limits only up to 7 people and calls its add-on amounts approximate, so larger families should ask the eligibility worker for their exact number.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

These errors cause most wrong answers on Arizona eligibility:

• Using take-home pay. AHCCCS compares gross income, minus pre-tax deductions, to the limit. Taxes withheld don't come off.
• Leaving out an expected baby. A common mistake is counting a pregnant woman as one person; each expected child raises the household size and the limit.
• Assuming last year's denial still applies. Grantsights analysis of the year-over-year Section 615 columns found the one-person adult limit rose from $1,735 in February 2025 to $1,769 in February 2026, and the four-person limit from $3,564 to $3,658.
• Stopping after the parent is turned down. Every person is checked separately, and KidsCare runs up to 225% of poverty.
• Ignoring AHCCCS mail. Starting in 2027, many adult-group members renew every six months, and an unanswered request for information is one of the fastest ways to lose coverage. AHCCCS gives at least 15 days to send requested proof.
• Paying someone to apply. Applying through Health-e-Arizona Plus or a DES office costs nothing. A red flag is any caller, website or "enrollment service" asking for a fee, gift cards or your bank login to file for you. AHCCCS and DES never charge, and AHCCCS warns members about unauthorized Marketplace plan enrollment too.

How to Apply for AHCCCS and How Long It Takes

AHCCCS gives itself 45 calendar days to decide most applications, according to the manual's application processing section (opens in a new tab). Shorter clocks apply to pregnant applicants (20 days), KidsCare (30 days) and some hospitalized applicants (7 days), while disability-based SSI-MAO and Freedom to Work cases get 90 days.

1. Online: through Health-e-Arizona Plus (opens in a new tab), which also lets you upload documents and request an appeal.
2. By phone: 1-855-HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587) for the nearest office, or AHCCCS's member help line at 855-220-0903 for questions about the 2027 changes.
3. In person: at a DES Family Assistance Office or with a community assistor.
4. ALTCS: apply through an ALTCS office at 602-417-7000 or 1-800-654-8713; the process includes a medical assessment of nursing-home level of care.

Have pay stubs or a recent tax return, Social Security numbers, and proof of citizenship or immigration status ready. ALTCS applicants also need bank statements and property records. If you need food help too, our Arizona food stamps guide covers Nutrition Assistance, which uses its own limits.

What to Do If You're Denied

You have 30 days from the date on the decision notice to ask for an appeal, according to the Arizona DES appeals page (opens in a new tab), which covers AHCCCS Medical Assistance decisions made by DES. To keep your coverage while you wait, appeal within 10 days of the notice. For decisions AHCCCS makes itself, such as ALTCS and Freedom to Work, AHCCCS policy 1702 (opens in a new tab) accepts appeals received by the 35th calendar day. Filing within 30 days is safe for both.

You can appeal by mail, phone, fax, email, in person or through Health-e-Arizona Plus. Check the reason on the notice first: if it's income, compare the agency's number with your gross pay and household size, and ask whether the 5% disregard was applied. Free legal aid offices in Arizona can help with hearings.

If You're Over the AHCCCS Limit

Going $50 over the adult line still leaves at least 6 other routes, and for families with children your best bet is KidsCare. Per the AHCCCS chart, KidsCare charges $10 to $70 a month in premiums, and that one payment covers all eligible children in the household.

• Marketplace coverage: adults over 138% of poverty can buy a plan with premium tax credits through HealthCare.gov (opens in a new tab), and losing AHCCCS opens a special enrollment period.
• KidsCare: up to 225% of poverty for children under 19.
• Medicare savings programs: with Medicare, QMB, SLMB and QI-1 cover premiums up to $1,796 a month for one person, with no asset test in Arizona.
• Freedom to Work: a worker with a disability can qualify with earned income up to $3,325 a month.
• WIC: an Arizona mom-to-be or a parent of a child under 5 can get food benefits up to 185% of poverty, a higher line than AHCCCS uses; our WIC income limits guide has the chart.
• Seniors and disability: if an ALTCS or SSI-MAO denial leaves a gap, compare our SSI income limits guide and our roundup of help for seniors programs.

Arizona families juggling several bills at once can compare the percentage bands in our federal poverty guidelines guide, then check grocery help in our SNAP income limits guide and summer cooling costs in our LIHEAP income limits guide. If rent or a power bill is the bigger worry, Grantsights' free eligibility checker lists official Arizona and national programs to look at. It doesn't make AHCCCS decisions or submit applications; it shows where to apply.

FAQ: Arizona Medicaid Income Limits

What is the income limit for AHCCCS in 2026?

$1,769 a month for one adult and $3,658 for four, effective February 1, 2026, plus a 5% disregard.

How much can a family of 4 make and qualify for AHCCCS?

$3,658 a month for the parents; kids 1 to 5 up to $3,878; KidsCare up to $6,188.

What is the KidsCare income limit in Arizona?

225% of poverty: $5,123 a month for three and $6,188 for four.

What is the AHCCCS income limit for pregnant women?

$2,814 a month for two and $3,552 for three, at 156% of poverty.

What are the ALTCS income and asset limits for 2026?

$2,982 a month in income and $2,000 in resources for one person.

Does Arizona have an asset limit for Medicaid?

Only ALTCS and SSI cash; most AHCCCS groups, including SSI-MAO, list none.

When do AHCCCS work requirements start?

January 1, 2027, for some adult-group members aged 19 to 64.

How long do I have to appeal an AHCCCS denial?

30 days from the notice date; 10 days to keep coverage during the appeal.

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Sources

1. AHCCCS Eligibility Policy Manual, Section 615 Income Standards (opens in a new tab), revised February 3, 2026 - MAGI, KidsCare, SSI-MAO, ALTCS and Medicare savings limits
2. AHCCCS Eligibility Requirements chart (opens in a new tab), February 1, 2026 - resource limits, premiums, ALTCS spousal amounts
3. AHCCCS Eligibility Policy Manual, Income Deductions for MAGI Programs (opens in a new tab) - 5% disregard amounts effective February 1, 2026
4. AHCCCS: H.R. 1 Overview (opens in a new tab) - implementation timeline and noncitizen changes from October 1, 2026
5. KeepMyAHCCCS.com (opens in a new tab) - AHCCCS member guide to work requirements and six-month renewals starting January 1, 2027
6. Arizona Revised Statutes 36-2901.07 (opens in a new tab) - expansion trigger at an 80% federal match
7. AHCCCS: Eliminate the Enhanced FMAP for Expansion Populations (opens in a new tab), April 2025
8. AHCCCS Eligibility Policy Manual, Application Processing (opens in a new tab)
9. AHCCCS Eligibility Policy Manual, 1702 Eligibility Appeal Requests (opens in a new tab)
10. Arizona DES: Appeals for Nutrition, Cash, and Medical Assistance Benefits (opens in a new tab)
11. HHS ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
12. Medicaid.gov state eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) - Arizona row, data as of December 1, 2023
13. Health-e-Arizona Plus (opens in a new tab) - online application
14. HealthCare.gov: Lower costs on Marketplace coverage (opens in a new tab)