Arkansas Medicaid Eligibility Income Chart and Asset Limits

The Arkansas Medicaid eligibility income chart for 2026 sets the ceiling for the main adult expansion program (ARHOME) at $22,025 a year for a single person and $45,540 for a family of four, with higher limits for children and pregnant women and a separate set of rules for older adults, people with disabilities, and anyone applying for long-term care.¹ Which limit applies to you depends on your age, household, and category of coverage, so the number that matters is the one tied to your specific program.

2026 Income Limits by Program

The figures below are annual gross income maximums for the four largest MAGI-based programs, calculated from the 2026 Federal Poverty Level and already adjusted to include the 5-percent FPL disregard DHS applies at the final eligibility step.¹²

Program	1 Person	2 People	3 People	4 People
ARHOME / Expansion Adults (138% FPL)	$22,025	$29,863	$37,702	$45,540
ARKids A (147% FPL)	$23,461	$31,811	$40,160	$48,510
ARKids B (216% FPL)	$34,474	$46,742	$59,011	$71,280
Pregnant Women (214% FPL)	N/A	$46,310	$58,465	$70,620

Pregnant women count as at least a two-person household because the unborn child is included in the household size. For each additional person beyond four, add $8,680 to the 100-percent FPL base of $33,000 and multiply by the applicable program percentage.³

ARHOME (Adult Expansion)

ARHOME covers adults ages 19 through 64 earning up to 138 percent of the FPL. Most enrollees receive coverage through premium assistance that purchases a qualified health plan on the marketplace rather than traditional fee-for-service Medicaid.³

ARKids A and ARKids B

ARKids A gives children in families up to 147 percent of the FPL full Medicaid benefits with no premiums and no co-payments. ARKids B covers children in families earning between 147 and 216 percent of the FPL and requires co-payments for most services: generally $10 per doctor, specialist, emergency room, or dental visit, $5 per prescription (generics required when available), and 10 percent of the first day’s cost for inpatient hospital stays. Preventive screenings and immunizations have no co-payment, and total out-of-pocket costs are capped at 5 percent of the family’s annual gross income.⁴

How MAGI Income Is Counted

Children, pregnant women, parents, and expansion adults are evaluated using Modified Adjusted Gross Income, which follows federal tax rules. MAGI counts taxable wages, salaries, and investment income. There is no asset test for these categories, so bank balances, retirement accounts, and the value of your car are not considered.²

Household size under MAGI is based on tax-filing relationships rather than who sleeps under your roof. A child’s household usually includes the child, their parents, and their siblings. A married couple filing jointly is one household even if other relatives live with them.

DHS then applies a 5-percent FPL disregard at the final determination, which effectively lifts each threshold slightly. The dollar figures in the chart above already include that disregard, so the numbers shown are the actual maximum income you can have and still qualify.²

Income and Asset Limits for Older Adults and People With Disabilities

Older adults, people who are blind, and people with disabilities are evaluated under Non-MAGI rules, which include an asset test. DHS counts cash, bank balances, stocks, bonds, and most retirement accounts, including IRAs and 401(k)s. The resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a married couple. Your primary home and one vehicle are excluded.³

Long-Term Care Income Cap

Applicants for nursing facility care, assisted living, or home-and-community-based waiver services such as ARChoices or the DDS Waivers must meet a monthly income cap. For 2026, that cap is $2,982, equal to 300 percent of the federal SSI benefit rate.⁵ Long-term care applicants are always evaluated as individuals for income purposes, regardless of marital status.⁶

Income above $2,982 a month does not automatically disqualify you. A Qualified Income Trust, sometimes called a Miller Trust, is a special bank account where income above the cap is deposited and used only for medical expenses and related costs. Attorney fees to establish one typically run between $400 and $2,000.

Spousal Impoverishment Protections

When one spouse enters a nursing facility or applies for a long-term care waiver, the other spouse (the community spouse) does not have to spend down to poverty. For 2026, the maximum Community Spouse Resource Allowance is $162,660, and the community spouse may also retain a monthly income allowance for living expenses.⁷ The home and one vehicle remain exempt.

Medicare Savings Programs

Arkansans with Medicare who cannot easily cover premiums or cost-sharing may qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, which uses Medicaid funds to pay those costs. The thresholds below apply from April 2025 through March 2026 and are separate from regular Medicaid limits.⁸

QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) pays Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Monthly income must be below $1,043.33 for an individual or $1,410.00 for a couple.
SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) pays the Part B premium only. Monthly income must be at least $1,043.33 but below $1,304.17 for an individual, or at least $1,410.00 but below $1,762.50 for a couple.
QI-1 (Qualified Individual) also pays the Part B premium. Monthly income must be above $1,304.17 but below $1,565.00 for an individual, or above $1,762.50 but below $2,115.00 for a couple.

All three programs require assets below $9,660 for an individual or $14,470 for a couple, with the home, one vehicle, and certain burial funds excluded.⁸ Once QMB is in place, Medicare providers are prohibited from billing you for cost-sharing on covered services.⁹

If You Earn Too Much: Medicaid Spend-Down

If your income is above the Medicaid limit but you have significant medical expenses, the Medicaid Spend-Down program can bridge the gap. It works like a deductible: income above the limit is offset by medical bills you have already incurred or expect to incur. Once those expenses bring your effective income down to the eligible range, DHS approves coverage for a three-month period, after which you re-enroll.¹⁰

Non-Financial Requirements

Before income enters the picture, you must live in Arkansas and intend to stay, be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or non-citizen with qualifying immigration status, have a Social Security Number, and cooperate with DHS in pursuing third-party payments such as accident settlements or other health insurance.¹¹

Non-citizens who are pregnant but do not meet citizenship requirements may still qualify for limited coverage that includes prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services. Emergency-only coverage is available for people who do not meet immigration requirements but need acute care.¹¹

How to Apply

The fastest route is online at Access Arkansas (access.arkansas.gov), where a single application covers your whole household. You can upload pay stubs and proof of residency, save a partial application, and check your case status.¹² Paper applications are available at any local DHS county office, and you can apply by phone at 1-855-372-1084. Certified application assisters at local offices can help you gather documents and complete the process.¹³

Retroactive Coverage

Arkansas can pay medical bills from up to three months before your application date if you were eligible and received services during those months. This is worth checking if you had unpaid bills before you applied. Retroactive coverage is not available for the Adult Expansion Group (ARHOME); for expansion adults, coverage cannot start earlier than the month of application.¹⁴

1
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States
2
Medicaid.gov. Arkansas – Medicaid
3
Division of County Operations. Quick Reference Medicaid Chart
4
Arkansas Department of Human Services. What Does ARKids Pay?
5
Social Security Administration. SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2026
6
Health Care Eligibility Quick Reference. Health Care Eligibility – Quick Reference
7
Medicaid.gov. Spousal Impoverishment
8
Arkansas Insurance Department. Medicare Savings Program
9
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Beneficiaries Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid
10
Arkansas Department of Human Services. Frequently Asked Questions
11
Arkansas Department of Human Services. Health Care Programs
12
Access Arkansas. Access Arkansas Landing Page
13
Arkansas Department of Human Services. Apply For Services
14
Arkansas Legislature (DHS Policy Document). Medical Services Policy Manual – Section A, Retroactive Eligibility