Arkansas Medicaid

Updated August 2026

Arkansas Medicaid is administered by the Division of Medical Services (DMS) within the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS). Arkansas has two distinct types of Medicaid coverage operating simultaneously: traditional Medicaid for children, pregnant women, elderly, and people with disabilities — and ARHOME for the expansion adult population.

Arkansas began a soft rollout of ARHOME work requirements on July 1, 2026

Arkansas DHS began a soft implementation of the Community Engagement and Work Requirement for ARHOME members ages 19–64 on July 1, 2026. No coverage penalties apply until January 1, 2027, when affected members must show 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, job training, or coursework to keep coverage. Certain groups are exempt (pregnant and postpartum individuals, caregivers of young children, people with disabilities, veterans, and others). Visit humanservices.arkansas.gov for current requirements and exemption categories.

What is Arkansas Medicaid — and what is ARHOME?

ARHOME — the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me program — launched on January 1, 2022, replacing the Arkansas Works program. Arkansas is the only state in the country to cover its Medicaid expansion population through a premium assistance model: instead of putting expansion adults directly into a state Medicaid plan, ARHOME uses Medicaid dollars to purchase private health insurance for eligible members. Per DHS, ARHOME coverage is offered through qualified health plans from Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield, Arkansas Health & Wellness (Ambetter), and QualChoice. Members are enrolled in private plans but remain technically covered under Medicaid.

This premium assistance model is nationally unique — no other state delivers ACA Medicaid expansion this way. It means ARHOME members have private insurance cards, private plan benefit structures, and private plan member service lines. The underlying Medicaid eligibility determination still runs through DHS.

Who qualifies for ARHOME?

Per DHS, ARHOME covers Arkansans ages 19–64 who are not enrolled in Medicare and whose household income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. No asset test applies to ARHOME eligibility. The program serves adults who were previously uninsured or who earned too much for traditional Medicaid but too little to afford private coverage.

Ages 19–64 (inclusive)
Income at or below 138% FPL — approximately $1,884/month for a single person in 2026
Not enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B
Arkansas resident with U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status
No asset test — savings and property do not affect ARHOME eligibility

Source: Arkansas DHS ARHOME program page at humanservices.arkansas.gov; DHS People Also Ask FAQ (June 2026). Income figures are approximate 2026 calculations based on HHS FPL guidelines. Verify current thresholds at access.arkansas.gov or call 1-888-987-1200.

Traditional Arkansas Medicaid — for everyone else

Arkansans who are not in the ARHOME expansion group receive coverage through traditional Medicaid if they meet eligibility requirements. Per DMS, traditional Medicaid covers:

Children (ARKids First-A): Medicaid coverage for children under 19 whose family income falls within the MAGI Medicaid limit. ARKids First-A is the Medicaid track; ARKids First-B is the CHIP track for families slightly above the Medicaid threshold.

Pregnant women: Qualifying pregnant women receive full Medicaid benefits through delivery and 12 months postpartum. Presumptive eligibility allows coverage to begin quickly while the full application is processed.

Seniors and people with disabilities: Individuals 65+ and those receiving SSI qualify under traditional Medicaid. Long-term care waiver programs (ElderChoices, ARChoices) provide home and community-based services for qualifying members.

ARHOME's Life360 HOMEs: targeted care for high-risk populations

ARHOME includes three specialized care tracks called Life360 HOMEs. These are not separate programs — they are enhanced coordination programs embedded within ARHOME for members at elevated health risk.

The Maternal Life360 HOME focuses on high-risk pregnant and postpartum women and their newborns. The Rural Life360 HOME addresses Arkansans in rural communities, where access to providers is more limited. The Success Life360 HOME targets young adults who face the highest risk of poor health outcomes.

Enrollment in a Life360 HOME is based on risk stratification, not member choice. Members identified as high-risk may be contacted by their ARHOME plan for care coordination services.