Arkansas Medicaid (ARHOME) 2026: How to Apply

Arkansas Medicaid, ARHOME and ARKids First are health coverage, not cash, and DHS doesn't charge to apply. Our Arkansas Medicaid income limits guide has the full chart for every household size.

Arkansas Medicaid at a Glance (November 2026)

About 217,000 Arkansans were enrolled in ARHOME as of February 1, 2026, according to DHS's February 23, 2026 news release. Here's the rest of the picture from DHS pages checked November 13, 2026:

Who Qualifies for Arkansas Medicaid and ARHOME in 2026

The DCO quick reference chart lists 5 conditions for ARHOME: age 19 to 64, not pregnant when you apply, not eligible for or enrolled in Medicare, not eligible as a parent or caretaker relative, and income under 133% of poverty, with an extra 5% disregard if it's needed to qualify. There's no resource limit for ARHOME, ARKids or pregnancy coverage.

Arkansas's other main groups:

• ARKids First A: children under 19, Medicaid, no resource limit.
• ARKids First B: children under 19 in families over the ARKids A line, with small copays (DHS's dental page lists a $10 dental copay for ARKids B).
• Pregnant women: full pregnancy coverage, with presumptive eligibility so care can start before the full decision.
• Aged, blind and disabled (AABD): SSI-related categories, nursing facility and waiver care, and Medicare Savings Programs, each with resource tests.

DHS says on its county operations FAQ that eligibility "is determined based on income, resources, Arkansas residency, and other requirements." For how Arkansas's lines compare with other states, see our national Medicaid income limits guide.

What ARHOME and Arkansas Medicaid Cover

ARHOME has run since January 1, 2022, when it replaced Arkansas Works, according to the DHS ARHOME page. Instead of a state Medicaid card network, most ARHOME adults get a private insurance plan that Medicaid pays for. DHS lists 2 carriers: Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ambetter. Coverage questions go to your health plan or DHS at 1-888-987-1200.

Ambetter's exit. DHS's August 6, 2026 release says Centene announced in July 2026 that it will end its participation in ARHOME starting in 2027. The ARHOME FAQ says this is unrelated to the work rule and that DHS will move affected people to another plan within ARHOME. DHS promised open enrollment instructions "in the near future"; Grantsights didn't find them posted on November 13, 2026. If you're an Ambetter ARHOME member, watch your mail and your Access Arkansas account.

Life360 HOMEs. The ARHOME page describes 3 extra support programs: Maternal Life360 for high-risk pregnant women, new mothers and babies; Rural Life360 for people in rural communities; and Success Life360 for young adults at the greatest risk of poor health outcomes.

Copays for ARHOME. Per the DHS cost-sharing page, adults above 20% of poverty in an ARHOME plan pay $4.70 or $9.40 depending on the service, up to a quarterly cap set by household income. Once you hit the cap, copays stop for the rest of the quarter. These services carry no copay:

Source: DHS ARHOME cost-sharing page (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026.

Dental. The DHS dental page says adult dental care has a $500 yearly limit, unused amounts don't roll over, and you pay only for work over $500 or services Medicaid doesn't cover. Dental moved from MCNA and Delta Dental back to regular Medicaid on November 1, 2024, so you now use your Medicaid ID card at the dentist. Children have no dollar limit on medically necessary dental care. For help finding a dentist, call 1-800-275-1131 (TDD 1-800-285-1131). The page doesn't say how ARHOME plan members get dental, so ask that number.

How to Apply for Arkansas Medicaid, Step by Step

DHS uses 1 application for the whole family, whether you're applying for ARHOME, ARKids, pregnancy coverage or nursing home care.

Step 1: Choose how to apply

Step 2: Gather proof

The DHS apply page doesn't post a single checklist; having these on hand answers most of the application's questions:

• Pay stubs for the last month for every worker in the household
• Social Security numbers and proof of citizenship or immigration status
• Children's birth certificates for ARKids
• Health insurance cards for anyone already covered
• Bank and property records for AABD, nursing home or Medicare Savings Program applications

Step 3: Wait for DCO, then pick a plan

Federal rules give DCO up to 45 days to decide, or 90 days for a disability-based application. Once you're approved for ARHOME, you choose a carrier. A 2021 DHS waiver summary said people who don't pick are auto-assigned after 42 days; check your approval letter for the current deadline.

For example, one applicant in Jonesboro, a 24-year-old retail worker earning $1,700 a month with no job-based insurance, is under ARHOME's $1,768.90 base line for one person and qualifies without the disregard. Her paychecks already show more than $580 a month, so when the full work rule starts on January 1, 2027, DHS can likely confirm her through wage records (an illustration from DHS figures, not a real case).

ARHOME's Work and Community Engagement Rule

The rule entered a soft launch on July 1, 2026, and DHS says "no penalties will be in effect until January 1, 2027," per its February 23, 2026 release. Arkansas is carrying out the federal interim final rule published in the Federal Register on June 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab). From the ARHOME FAQ checked November 13, 2026:

Who: ARHOME members 19 to 64 unless exempt.

What counts: at least 80 hours a month of work, volunteering in a formal setting, school or training, or a combination, or at least $580 a month in income. The FAQ says DHS would look at a couple's combined income.

Which months: new applicants from January 1, 2027 must show they met the rule in the month before applying. Current members must show they met it in at least one month every six months. DHS first checks wage records and SNAP data.

How to report: online at Access Arkansas, by phone at the Customer Service Center (855-372-1084), or in person. DHS's February release says a vendor-run service center expected to start outbound calls in December 2026 when automated checks can't confirm someone.

Exempt: people who are pregnant or entitled to postpartum coverage; under 19 or over 64; former foster children under 26; tribal members or Alaska Natives; veterans with rated disabilities; people with special medical needs; people in substance use or alcohol treatment; people already meeting SNAP or TANF work rules; people caring for a child 13 or younger or a person with a disability; and people entitled to Medicare Part A or enrolled in Part B. The FAQ adds that people with SSDI but no Medicare fit under special medical needs.

If DHS can't confirm you: you get a notice and 30 days to send proof or show you're exempt. DHS's February release says benefits are suspended for members who don't show compliance within those 30 days, and applicants can be denied. You can reapply.

What happened to Pathway to Prosperity? DHS announced its own work program, Pathway to Prosperity, in January 2025, and its waiver was still pending with CMS when the 2025 federal law passed. DHS's February 2026 release says the new federal-style rule keeps that program's goal of building skills and economic independence. Grantsights didn't find a CMS decision on the Pathway to Prosperity request on DHS's pages on November 13, 2026.

The ARHOME Waiver Extension and What Changes in 2027

DHS's November 5, 2026 release says CMS approved a six-month temporary extension of the ARHOME waiver beginning January 1, 2027. DHS had asked for two years in an August 5, 2026 letter, after CMS found the pending five-year renewal wouldn't meet new budget neutrality rules under the 2025 federal law. DHS secretary Janet Mann said the waiver "will not be renewed in its current form," and DHS expects changes to how expansion coverage is delivered to be a major topic of the 2027 legislative session.

What that means for members, per DHS:

• Coverage keeps going. DHS says coverage continues for eligible ARHOME enrollees beyond January 1, 2027.
• No action needed yet. DHS says members don't need to do anything now.
• The work rule isn't affected. The extension talks have no bearing on the January 1, 2027 start.

Backdated coverage. Grantsights analysis of the CMS ARHOME special terms and the DCO chart shows Arkansas already limits ARHOME to coverage starting 30 days before the application date, under a waiver approved for January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2026. Federal law cuts expansion adults everywhere to 1 month back for applications from January 1, 2027, so for ARHOME applicants the change is small. Other Arkansas groups that now get 3 months back drop to 2 months under the same federal law.

What DHS Doesn't Tell You About Arkansas Medicaid

DHS's pages are spread across divisions, and 5 practical points are easy to miss:

1. Ambetter members face a plan change. DHS hasn't posted open enrollment steps yet. Don't ignore a letter about choosing a new carrier, or DHS may pick one for you.
2. Thirty days of backdating is short. If you're uninsured and land in the hospital, apply right away; ARHOME won't reach back three months the way some states do.
3. Copays have a quarterly ceiling. A member who sees several doctors in one quarter stops paying once the cap is reached, and medically frail members pay none.
4. Adult dental runs out. The $500 yearly limit resets each year; dentures and extractions planned near the limit are worth timing with your dentist.
5. One month in six can satisfy the work rule. Members with seasonal or irregular work don't need to log every month, only enough to show compliance in the period DHS checks.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

A common mistake is letting your contact details go stale. The ARHOME FAQ tells members to update their address and phone on Access Arkansas, because the work rule notice, the Ambetter transition and renewal letters all arrive by mail or phone call.

Other mistakes that cost Arkansas families coverage:

• Underestimating the 30-day appeal window. DHS must receive a hearing request within 30 calendar days of the date on the letter.
• Assuming the work rule covers the whole family. It applies to ARHOME adults only, not ARKids, pregnant women or AABD members.
• Not reporting an exemption. Caregivers of a child 13 or younger should confirm the exemption with 855-372-1084 before January.
• Skipping ARKids. Parents over the adult line should still apply for children, since ARKids B runs much higher.

Red flags: Avoid any site or caller that charges to file an Access Arkansas application or asks for your login. The ARHOME FAQ says a DHS Customer Service Center worker may call about the work rule; that worker won't ask for payment, so if a caller does, hang up and dial 855-372-1084 yourself.

If You're Denied or Lose Coverage

You have 30 calendar days from the date on the Notice of Action, according to the DHS appeals page, which says a late request "will be denied." To file:

• Fill out and return the back of the Notice of Action, or
• Mail Form DHS-1200 or your own letter (county staff can help) to the DHS Office of Appeals and Hearings at Slot S101 in Little Rock; the full P.O. box address is on the appeals page and your notice.

If coverage ended because you missed a work rule notice, the ARHOME FAQ says you can reapply. If you're over the ARHOME line, compare Marketplace coverage on HealthCare.gov.

Other Help for Arkansas Families

Health coverage is one piece. Arkansas families on Medicaid often qualify for food and utility help too:

• Food: our Arkansas food stamps guide.
• Utility bills: the Arkansas LIHEAP guide.
• Pregnancy and young children: Arkansas WIC rules are in the national WIC income limits guide.
• Housing: the rental assistance programs guide.

Grantsights' free eligibility checker points to other official programs in Arkansas. It doesn't decide Medicaid eligibility; the DHS Division of County Operations does.

FAQ: Arkansas Medicaid and ARHOME

How do I apply for Medicaid in Arkansas?

On Access Arkansas, by phone at 855-372-1084, by mail or at a DHS county office.

What is ARHOME?

Arkansas's Medicaid expansion for adults 19 to 64, delivered through Blue Cross Blue Shield or Ambetter private plans.

Who qualifies for ARHOME in 2026?

Arkansas adults 19 to 64 up to $1,835.40 a month alone, not pregnant and not on Medicare.

Does Arkansas Medicaid have a work requirement?

Yes, for ARHOME: full enforcement from January 1, 2027, at 80 hours or $580 a month.

Is ARHOME ending in 2027?

No; CMS granted a six-month extension from January 1, 2027, and DHS says coverage continues.

Does Arkansas Medicaid cover dental for adults?

Yes, up to $500 a year through regular Medicaid since November 1, 2024.

How long do I have to appeal an Arkansas Medicaid decision?

30 calendar days from the date on the DHS Notice of Action.

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Sources

1. Arkansas DHS: ARHOME (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
2. Arkansas DHS: ARHOME cost-sharing information (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
3. Arkansas DHS: ARHOME community engagement FAQ (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
4. Arkansas DHS: Dental information for beneficiaries (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
5. Arkansas DHS: Apply for Services (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
6. Arkansas DHS: County Operations FAQ (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
7. Arkansas DHS: File an appeal (opens in a new tab), checked November 13, 2026
8. DHS news: Arkansas work rule soft launch July 1 (opens in a new tab), February 23, 2026
9. DHS news: Arkansas asks for ARHOME waiver extension (opens in a new tab), August 6, 2026
10. DHS news: CMS grants Arkansas ARHOME extension (opens in a new tab), November 5, 2026
11. Arkansas DCO: Health Care Eligibility Quick Reference (opens in a new tab), 04/2026
12. CMS: ARHOME approval and special terms, 2022 to 2026 (opens in a new tab)
13. Medicaid.gov: Arkansas's eligibility levels among all states (opens in a new tab), as of December 1, 2023
14. Federal Register: rule behind Arkansas's 2027 requirement (opens in a new tab), June 3, 2026
15. eCFR: 42 CFR 435.912 (opens in a new tab)