Arkansas Medicaid Income Limits 2026: ARHOME and ARKids

Applying is free, and Medicaid pays for health care; it isn't a cash grant. For other states, see our national Medicaid income limits guide.

Arkansas Medicaid Income Limits by Household Size (2026)

Arkansas lists 5 MAGI income standards for families and working-age adults, and four of them come in two versions: a base percentage and a higher figure that includes the 5% income disregard "if needed for eligibility." According to the DHS Quick Reference guide dated April 2026, a household of four qualifies up to $3,795 a month for ARHOME, $4,042.50 for ARKids A, $5,940 for ARKids B and $5,885 for pregnancy coverage, all with the disregard applied. Amounts are gross monthly income, before taxes.

Source: Arkansas DHS Division of County Operations, Health Care Eligibility Quick Reference (opens in a new tab), pages dated 04/2026. DHS prints sizes 1 to 5 and an "add for each additional member" amount; Grantsights added that amount to reach sizes 6 to 8. The parent/caretaker column is printed for sizes 1 to 9 and has no income disregards. The percentage for parents is the Medicaid.gov conversion of Arkansas's dollar standard (13%, as of December 1, 2023).

Yearly equivalents

Grantsights multiplied the DHS monthly figures by 12 and rounded to the dollar. DHS publishes these limits monthly only.

Seniors, disability and long-term care limits

Arkansas splits its Aged, Blind and Disabled (AABD) programs into more than 10 categories, each with its own income test. These are the ones most families ask about, from the same April 2026 chart:

Source: Arkansas DHS Health Care Eligibility Quick Reference (opens in a new tab), AABD pages dated 04/2026.

How Arkansas Counts Income for Medicaid

Arkansas uses 2 counting systems. ARHOME, ARKids, pregnancy coverage and the parent/caretaker group follow MAGI rules, which start from federal taxable income. The DHS chart lists no resource limit for any of those MAGI programs, so savings, a car or a house don't matter for them.

Household size follows tax filing. It's usually you, a spouse and the children you claim. For pregnancy coverage, the chart tells workers to include the number of expected babies in the household size, so a pregnant woman living alone is a household of two.

The 5% disregard is the step that trips people up on Arkansas's chart. DHS prints the base limit first (133% for ARHOME, for example) and then a second column labeled "Additional 5% Income Disregard if needed." The worker uses the higher figure only when your income falls between the two, so if you're $40 over the base line, you can still qualify. For ARKids A, the chart limits that extra disregard to children who have other insurance.

AABD rules cover SSI-related groups, ARSeniors, nursing homes and waivers. They count income the way SSI does: a $20 general exclusion on unearned income, then $65 plus half of the remaining earned income. They also apply a resource test.

For example, a family of three in Arkansas (a single mother, a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old) earning $3,400 a month gross gets three answers from the 2026 chart. She's specifically $258.20 over the ARHOME limit for three ($3,141.80 with the disregard), so she doesn't qualify for ARHOME. Both children are $53.30 over ARKids A ($3,346.70) but well under ARKids B ($4,917.60), so both get ARKids B with copays. Arkansas uses the same children's limit from birth to 18, so unlike some states, the two kids don't split between programs. The mother would look at the Marketplace, where $40,800 a year is about 149% of the 2026 poverty guideline for three, a range that usually qualifies for premium tax credits.

Arkansas Medicaid Asset Limits

$2,000 for one person and $3,000 for a couple is the resource limit for SSI-related coverage, the nursing home group, PACE and the AABD spend-down, according to the Arkansas Medicaid program guide DHS published in April 2026. ARSeniors and the Medicare Savings Programs use a higher limit of $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple.

What DHS excludes from that count:

• Your home.
• One vehicle, plus a second vehicle if it's essential to earning a living.
• Burial spaces and irrevocable burial arrangements, plus up to $1,500 per spouse in revocable burial funds.
• Life insurance without a cash surrender value, and personal effects.

What counts: cash and bank balances (minus that month's income), stocks and bonds, real property other than the home, and life insurance with a cash surrender value when the face amount is over $1,500.

When one spouse enters a nursing home or a waiver program, the other spouse can keep part of the couple's resources, up to $162,660 in 2026 under a formula, according to the chart. Workers with Disabilities has no resource limit at all, which makes it the strongest option for a working adult with a disability who has some savings.

Arkansas and Medicaid Expansion: ARHOME's Future in 2026 and 2027

Arkansas expanded Medicaid, and the Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) (as of December 1, 2023) lists the state at 133% for expansion adults, 13% for parents and caretakers, 142% for children's Medicaid, 211% for separate CHIP and 209% for pregnant women. Arkansas runs expansion through ARHOME, a waiver program, rather than standard state plan coverage. Neighboring Texas never expanded, while Louisiana and Missouri cover adults to the same 138% line; Tennessee is another non-expansion neighbor.

The waiver expires December 31, 2026. In its August 6, 2026, announcement, DHS said the waiver "will not be renewed in its current form" and that Secretary Janet Mann had asked CMS for a two-year extension. DHS also said the decision doesn't end Medicaid expansion or affect eligibility, that beneficiaries don't need to do anything now, and that if CMS doesn't grant the extension, coverage continues "through existing statutory authorization." The same announcement noted that Centene will stop participating in ARHOME starting in 2027. As of November 3, 2026, Grantsights found no published CMS decision on the extension.

The work requirement. According to the DHS work requirement guide announced February 23, 2026, ARHOME is moving from a test phase to penalties:

• July 1, 2026: soft launch. DHS runs automated checks and labels each ARHOME adult as exempt, meeting or not meeting the requirement. No penalties in 2026.
• January 1, 2027: full launch. Adults 19 to 64 in ARHOME who aren't exempt must work, volunteer or go to school at least 20 hours a week (80 a month). People who don't comply can lose coverage or be denied at application.
• 30 days to fix it. A beneficiary found not meeting the requirement gets 30 days to show compliance before benefits are suspended.
• Exemptions DHS lists include pregnant and postpartum women, disabled veterans, caregivers and people with special medical needs.

The trigger law. Act 530 of 2021, which created ARHOME, requires DHS to send CMS a plan to end the program within 30 days if the federal match for ARHOME drops below 90%, and to move people out within 120 days, while keeping coverage in place during that process. The match hasn't changed, so the trigger hasn't fired.

Grantsights didn't find an Arkansas DHS notice describing six-month renewals or the October 1, 2026, noncitizen changes for Arkansas specifically, so those aren't covered here.

What Arkansas DHS Doesn't Tell You About These Limits

The Quick Reference chart is detailed, but 5 things on it are easy to miss:

1. The parent limit almost never decides a parent's case. A parent in a family of three is capped at $276 a month in the parent/caretaker group. Grantsights analysis of the April 2026 DHS chart shows ARHOME covers that same parent up to $3,141.80, which is $2,865.80 more a month. The chart also says a person can't be in ARHOME if they're eligible as a parent/caretaker, so the lowest-income parents land in the smaller group and everyone else lands in ARHOME.
2. Pregnancy coverage is shorter here. The DHS chart says Arkansas pregnancy Medicaid "ends at 60th day post-partum." Most states now cover a full year after birth. A new mother in Arkansas should plan for what comes next before that 60-day mark, which may be ARHOME if her income fits.
3. Turning 65 lowers the limit. A 64-year-old in ARHOME can have $1,835.40 a month; at 65 the ARSeniors limit is $1,064, which is $771.40 less, and an asset test starts. Medicare Savings Programs fill part of the gap.
4. ARHOME only reaches back 30 days. The chart lists retroactive coverage for ARHOME as 30 days before the application date, while ARKids, the parent group and most AABD groups can reach back 3 months. An adult with an unpaid hospital bill shouldn't wait to apply.
5. "133%" isn't the real ceiling. Many websites quote only the base limit. If your income is between the two ARHOME columns, ask the worker to apply the 5% disregard.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

These errors cause many wrong answers on Arkansas eligibility:

• Using net pay. Every MAGI figure on the DHS chart is gross income. Pre-tax retirement and health insurance contributions can come off; taxes can't.
• Assuming ARHOME ends on January 1. It's a common mistake to read the waiver news as the end of expansion. DHS says eligibility isn't changing; the delivery system may.
• Ignoring work requirement mail. Starting January 1, 2027, missing a request to report hours is one of the fastest ways to lose ARHOME coverage you'd otherwise keep. Keep your address, phone and email current at Access Arkansas.
• Applying for the kids only after the parent is denied. Each family member is checked separately, and ARKids B reaches 216% of poverty.
• Paying someone to apply. Applying for Medicaid, ARHOME or ARKids is free. A red flag is any caller, text or website that charges a fee, asks for gift cards or wants your bank login to "speed up" an application. DHS county offices don't charge.
• Moving money before a nursing home application. Giving assets away can delay long-term care coverage. Talk with legal aid or an elder law attorney first.

How to Apply for Arkansas Medicaid and How Long It Takes

Federal rules give states up to 45 days to decide most Medicaid applications and 90 days when the application is based on disability, under 42 CFR 435.912 (opens in a new tab). The DHS chart lists these ways to apply:

1. Online at Access Arkansas (opens in a new tab), which also handles change reports and electronic notices.
2. By phone or paper: call 1-855-372-1084 for an application form, the number printed on the DHS chart.
3. In person at your local DHS county office.

Have pay stubs or a recent tax return, Social Security numbers, proof of identity and any immigration documents ready. Seniors and nursing home applicants should add bank statements, life insurance policies and burial contracts. If your household also needs food help, our Arkansas food stamps guide covers SNAP, which has its own limits.

What to Do If You're Denied

30 calendar days is the deadline: the DHS Office of Appeals and Hearings must receive your hearing request within 30 days of the date on the notice, or DHS says the request will be denied. You can fill out the back of the Notice of Action, use form DHS-1200, or write a letter to the Office of Appeals and Hearings, P.O. Box 1437, Slot S101, Little Rock, AR 72203-1437. County staff can help you complete the form. If you're losing coverage you already have, ask in writing that your benefits continue during the appeal.

Check the reason on the notice first. If it's income, compare the figure DHS used with your gross pay and household size, and check whether the 5% disregard was applied. Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Center for Arkansas Legal Services help with hearings at no cost.

If You're Over the Arkansas Medicaid Limit

About 6 other routes remain when income is above the ARHOME line, and for children ARKids B is usually the first one to check.

• Marketplace coverage: adults above 138% of poverty can buy a plan with premium tax credits; see HealthCare.gov's savings page (opens in a new tab). Losing Medicaid opens a special enrollment period.
• ARKids B: covers children up to $5,940 a month for a family of four with the disregard.
• Medicare Savings Programs: QMB, SMB and QI-1 pay Medicare premiums up to $1,795.50 a month for one person, with a $9,950 resource limit.
• AABD spend-down: people who are aged, blind or disabled with high medical bills can deduct those bills to reach the $108.33 limit for up to 3 months at a time.
• WIC serves pregnant women, new mothers and children under 5 up to 185% of poverty; see our WIC income limits guide.
• Older adults and people with disabilities: our SSI income limits guide and help for seniors programs guide list cash and service programs.

Arkansas families juggling several bills at once can also check the LIHEAP income limits guide for heating and cooling help, the SNAP income limits guide for national food assistance rules, and the federal poverty guidelines guide to see where their income sits on each percentage band. For needs beyond health coverage, Grantsights' free eligibility checker points you to official programs for rent, utilities and other bills. It doesn't decide Medicaid eligibility or file anything; it shows where to apply.

FAQ: Arkansas Medicaid Income Limits

What is the income limit for Arkansas Medicaid in 2026?

ARHOME: $1,768.90 a month for one adult, or $1,835.40 with the 5% disregard.

What is the difference between ARKids A and ARKids B?

ARKids A is full Medicaid to 147% of poverty; ARKids B covers children above that to 216%, with copays.

What is the Arkansas Medicaid income limit for pregnant women?

$4,758.23 a month for a household of three at 209%, or $4,872.07 with the disregard.

What are the Medicaid income and asset limits for seniors in Arkansas?

ARSeniors: $1,064 a month and $9,950 in resources for one person.

What is the income limit for nursing home Medicaid in Arkansas?

$2,982 a month, with a $2,000 resource limit for one person.

When does the Arkansas Medicaid work requirement start?

Penalties start January 1, 2027, after a soft launch that began July 1, 2026.

Is ARHOME ending in 2027?

The waiver expires December 31, 2026, but DHS says expansion and eligibility continue.

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

30 calendar days from the notice date, counted by when DHS receives your request.

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Sources

1. Arkansas DHS: Health Care Eligibility Quick Reference (opens in a new tab), pages dated 04/2026 - MAGI, AABD, long-term care and Medicare Savings Program limits
2. Arkansas DHS: DHS to launch soft implementation of work and community engagement requirement starting July 1 (opens in a new tab), February 23, 2026
3. Arkansas DHS: DHS submits request for temporary ARHOME waiver extension (opens in a new tab), August 6, 2026
4. Arkansas DHS: File an Appeal (opens in a new tab)
5. Arkansas General Assembly: Act 530 of 2021 (Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act) (opens in a new tab) - 90% federal match trigger
6. CMS state-by-state MAGI eligibility table, Arkansas row (opens in a new tab) on Medicaid.gov, based on state decisions as of December 1, 2023
7. HHS ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
8. 42 CFR 435.912, Timely determination of eligibility (opens in a new tab) (Cornell LII copy of the federal regulation)
9. Access Arkansas (opens in a new tab) - online application
10. HealthCare.gov: Lower costs on Marketplace coverage (opens in a new tab)