Apply For Pregnancy Medicaid Arkansas

Arkansas Medicaid Income Limit Charts

The Arkansas Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.

For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.

Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in Arkansas who qualify for Medicaid.

Arkansas Medicaid Income Limit for Children

Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.

How to Read the Arkansas Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above

You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.

Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.

For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 209% of the Federal Poverty Level which for a family of two is $36,408 as shown in the chart above.

How To Apply For Medicaid In Arkansas

The Arkansas Medicaid application process is an opportunity for residents who cannot afford health insurance to obtain medical coverage. Learning how to apply for Medicaid in AR is beneficial for families who meet the eligibility requirements to receive Medicaid benefits. It is important for prospective applicants to understand what will be on the AR Medicaid application form and where to apply for Medicaid insurance in the state. If you are wondering, Can you apply for Medicaid online? or Where do you sign up for Medicaid in Arkansas? continue reading the outlined information below.

Where do you sign up for Medicaid in Arkansas?

While many states allow applicants to apply for Medicaid online, the state of Arkansas does not have a way to sign up for Medicaid via web. However, you may print the Medicaid form from the internet and fax it to 870-534-3421 or mail the form to:

DHS Jefferson County

P.O. Box 5670

Pine Bluff, AR 71611

If you are enrolled in the program, workers at the county office will provide you with more information on what health care services Medicaid covers and which medical providers are available to you. They will also ask you to pick a primary care physician.

Find out more about the requirements to receive benefits from Medicaid in our free guide.

Information Required on the Medicaid Application Form in Alabama

• Your name, birth date and Social Security Number
• Your before-tax income

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Can An Uninsured Woman Enroll In Marketplace Coverage Upon Giving Birth

Maybe. If the baby is eligible for Marketplace coverage, then the baby qualifies for an SEP as a new dependent. In such instances, the regulations will also permit an SEP for the new mother, as someone who has gained a dependent through birth.

WOMEN ALREADY ENROLLED IN FULL-SCOPE OR EXPANSION MEDICAID

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District Of Columbia Medicaid

Eligibility overview: Washington, D.C., has one of the most generous Medicaid programs in the U.S., covering adults with household incomes up to 210% of the FPL as part of its expansion program. It also has programs for pregnant, parent/caretaker, elderly, disabled and child residents.Income requirements: The expansion covers adults without dependents who make up to $2,082 a month when applying on their own. Elderly, blind or disabled D.C. residents are eligible if they make up to 100% of the FPL, or $1,063 per month for one individual, and have resources below $4,000 for one person. D.C. also covers pregnant women with incomes up to 319% of the FPL, or $3445 monthly, and parents/caretakers with incomes up to 216% of the FPL.

How to apply for Washington, D.C. Medicaid: You can apply online at DC Health Link or by visiting your closest Income Maintenance Administration Service Center.

Other notable programs: Long-term care and nursing home care services Spend Down, a Medicaid program for people who exceed income limits, but have high medical bills Emergency Medicaid for people who canât qualify for standard Medicaid due to citizenship/immigration status.

A Huge Challenge Is Looming

One added reason for concern about the staff shortages and delays is that DHS will soon have to redetermine eligibility for everyone covered by Medicaid. When the federal Public Health Emergency ends, DHS is required by state law to redetermine eligibility within six months for all 1.1 million Arkansans who have Medicaid-funded health coverage or are part of the Childrens Health Insurance Program. That includes children on ARKids First, seniors in nursing homes, people with disabilities, those with private insurance coverage funded through the ARHome program, and more.

One of the key aspects of the Public Health Emergency first declared in March 2020 was that no one could lose their existing Medicaid coverage, regardless of changes in their circumstances, while the emergency declaration is in place. It remains in place, at least until mid-October. When it does end, federal policy would allow the state to redetermine eligibility for those enrolled in Medicaid within 14 months of the Public Health Emergencys end. But a state law passed in 2021 requires the state to do so within 6 months.

Thankfully, Arkansas has been checking eligibility for those currently on Medicaid throughout the pandemic. As of February, they had a list of 300,000 people who may not be able to keep their coverage when the Public Health Emergency ends, and theyre already reaching out to them to ensure that all their information is updated before the redeterminations begin.

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Who Is Eligible For Medicaid In Arkansas

The federal government specifies certain low-income populations that must be covered in order for a state to qualify for Medicaid funding. The federal government also defines optional coverage groups and establishes baseline income guidelines. States can set eligibility limits at or above the federal guideline.Here is where Arkansas has set its eligibility levels:

• Children from birth to age 18 with incomes up to 211% of FPL
• Pregnant women with incomes up to 209% of FPL
• Parents with incomes up to 138% FPL
• Non-elderly adults with incomes up to 138% .
• Certain elderly and disabled individuals: see chart for eligibility requirements.

Can A Pregnant Woman Receive Medicaid Or Chip Services Prior To An Eligibility Decision

Maybe. States may elect, but are not required, to provide some categories of Medicaid enrollees, including pregnant women, with presumptive eligibility. This allows pregnant women to receive immediate, same-day Medicaid services, typically at the clinic or hospital where they submit an application for Medicaid presumptive eligibility. Currently, 30 states provide presumptive eligibility to pregnant women.

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Health Care Snap And Tea

For most DHS public assistance programs, you can apply online. To apply for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , cash, and other supports through the Transitional Employment Assistance program, or Medicaid, ARKids, TEFRA, and health care under other categories of Medicaid, go to www.Access.Arkansas.gov.

Learn more about the new featureson Access Arkansas that make it easy to apply and manage your information online:

• Submit a single application for an entire family online, by mail or phone, or in person at local county offices statewide
• Renew your case or update information online
• Upload documents
• Read notices from DHS and set up text and email alerts
• Check the status of applications or renewals

Watch step-by-step videos of how to create an account, apply, upload documents, set up text alerts and more!

For other services, such as assistance paying for child care or accessing services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities waiver, the process is a bit different. You can learn more about the steps you need to take to apply for those programs below.

Transition To Arkansas Works In 2017

In April 2016, lawmakers in Arkansas voted to approve and fund an overhaul of Medicaid expansion in Arkansas, dubbed Arkansas Works. The state submitted the new waiver proposal to CMS in June 2016, and CMS reviewed it over the following months. In December 2016, CMS granted approval for most of the modifications the state had requested, with a five-year extension of the Arkansas Works Medicaid demonstration waiver, which took effect in 2017 .

Under Arkansas Works, enrollees with income above the poverty level pay modest premiums for their coverage , unemployed enrollees are referred to job training/referral, and enrollees can obtain coverage from their employers with supplemental funding from Medicaid.

But only about 20% of the 63,000 enrollees subject to premiums actually paid those premiums in 2017. . The state reported that of the people referred to job training, less than 5% followed through and obtained work referrals. And only one person ever used the Medicaid premium assistance program for employer-sponsored insurance.

Additional changes to Arkansas Medicaid expansion were approved by state lawmakers in May 2017, and Governor Hutchinson submitted an amendment to the states waiver in June 2017, which was under HHS review for several months. The proposed changes, detailed below, were mostly approved by the Trump administration, although the states proposal to cap Medicaid eligibility at the poverty level was rejected.

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Who Is Eligible For Medicaid

The general guidelines for eligibility for Medicaid are set by the Federal government however, each state sets up their own specific requirements for eligibility and these can differ from state to state.

All States are required to include certain individuals or groups of people in their Medicaid plan.

The state eligibility groups are:

• Categorically needy
• Medically needy

In the categorically needy group, this will cover pregnant women whose income level is at or below 133% of the Federal Poverty level.

In the medically needy group, this will cover a pregnant woman who makes too much money to qualify in the categorically needy group. This means that women, who may have been denied Medicaid before, may be able to qualify now.

Long Term Services And Supports

Nursing Facility This program provides coverage for individuals who are residents of nursing homes if the care in the facility is medically necessary and they meet income, resource, and other criteria.

Living Choices This program provides coverage in an assisted living facility for individuals who are aged , or 21 years of age or over and blind or have a physical disability and who meets the income, resource, and other criteria. Services are provided to eligible individuals to allow them to maintain their independence and dignity while receiving a high level of care and support.

ARChoices This program provides coverage for home and community-based services for adults age 21 through 64 with a physical disability OR age 65 and older AND who need help with an activity of daily living, meet nursing facility functional needs criteria, income, resource, and other criteria. Community and Employment SupportsThis program serves individuals of any age who are determined to be developmentally or intellectually disabled, and who would be eligible for coverage if they were in a nursing facility, but choose to remain at home.

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If You Currently Have Marketplace Coverage

• If you want to keep your current Marketplace coverage, donât report your pregnancy to the Marketplace. When filling out your application for Marketplace coverage, select the âLearn moreâ link when we ask if youâre pregnant to read tips to help you best answer this question.
• If you report your pregnancy, you may be found eligible for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Childrenâs Health Insurance Program . If you are found eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, your information will be sent to the state agency, and you will not be given the option to keep your Marketplace plan.
• If you keep your Marketplace coverage, be sure to update the application after you give birth to add the baby to the plan or enroll them in coverage through Medicaid or CHIP, if they qualify.

For Healthy Pregnancies Arkansas Should Streamline Medicaid Eligibility

With an ongoing backlog in Medicaid applications over the past year, tens of thousands of Arkansans have waited longer than the maximum time allowed under federal law for approval of their health coverage.

Theyre families like Jessica Lewis and Frank Wood of Fayetteville, who are expecting their first baby this summer. Jessica waited more than four months for her pregnancy Medicaid application to be determined one way or the other, and she kept getting turned away from providers while her application was pending. She didnt have her first prenatal appointment until she was already 6 months pregnant.

At one point, a womens health clinic that is a Medicaid provider told the couple they had to pay a $1,000 deposit to receive prenatal services while their Medicaid application was pending. They didnt have that kind of money, so they delayed care until they found a provider that didnt have such a requirement.

It doesnt have to be this way. If Arkansas adopted a policy called presumptive eligibility for pregnancy coverage in Medicaid, expectant moms like Jessica could be approved quickly based on their income level. Right now, mothers who are eligible for Medicaid are waiting months to get coverage longer than is allowed under federal law even though its abundantly clear that prenatal care is essential to both infant and maternal health.

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Arkansas Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Has Declined Significantly Since 2016

By September 30, 2016, total enrollment in expanded Medicaid in Arkansas had reached 324,000 . And by December 2016, there were 331,000 people enrolled in the states expanded Medicaid. The states total Medicaid enrollment grew by 70 percent from the end of 2013 to December 2016, reaching 948,181.

But as of January 1, 2017, enrolled in expanded Medicaid dropped to 310,951, following the states efforts to remove people from Medicaid who were no longer eligible from the program. 21,280 non-eligible people were removed from the states expanded Medicaid rolls at the start of 2017. Enrollment had climbed to over 320,000 by March 31, 2017, but it had declined to 285,000 by January 2018, in line with the decline in the states overall Medicaid enrollment from 2017 to 2018.

As of January 2019, enrollment in Arkansas Works stood at 234,400 people , although it had grown to . Thats more than 27% lower than it had been in 2016. Although that would be a positive change if the individuals in question had transitioned to employer-sponsored plans or other private health insurance options, Judge Boasbergs ruling makes it clear that there are certainly a number of people who have lost Medicaid coverage and simply become uninsured.

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Arkansas Health And Opportunity For Me Has Replaced Arkansas Works Premiums Only Allowed Through 2022

The Arkansas Works waiver was valid through the end of 2021. As of 2022, the state switched to the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me waiver demonstration. The 1115 waiver was approved by the federal government in December 2021, and allows the state to continue to provide private coverage to more than 300,000 people who are enrolled in the Arkansas Medicaid expansion program.However, the waiver approval notes that after the end of 2022, Arkansas will no longer be allowed to charge premiums to enrollees with income above the poverty level. Medicaid expansion covers adults with income up to 138% of the poverty level, and the Arkansas Works waiver, approved by the Obama administration, included a provision that allows the state to charge premiums for Medicaid expansion enrollees with income between 100% and 138% of the poverty level. But the December 2021 approval of the ARHOME waiver notes that CMS has since determined that premiums can present a barrier to coverage, and therefore, charging beneficiaries premiums beyond those specifically permitted under the Medicaid statute are not likely to promote the objectives of Medicaid.

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Arkansas Medicaid Income Limits Summary

We hope this post on Arkansas Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.

If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Arkansas, you can ask us in the comments section below.

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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.

Election : State Health Care Snapshots

Health care is a top issue for voters in the 2020 election. Polling indicates voter concerns range from the high cost of health coverage and prescription drugs, to protections for people with pre-existing conditions, to womens health issues.

To understand the health care landscape in which the 2020 election policy debates will unfold, these state health care snapshots provide data across a variety of health policy subjects, including health care costs, health coverageMedicaid, Medicare, private insuranceand the uninsured, womens health, health status, and access to care. They also describe each states political environment.

Please note, the data included in these snapshots come from a variety of different sources and time periods, and therefore, may not be comparable.

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Qualifying For Medicare And Arkansas Medicaid

If you are 65 or older, have ALS, ESRD, or youve received SSDI for at least 25 months, you may qualify for Medicare. People who have both Medicare and Medicaid may qualify for a type of Medicare Advantage plan called a Dual Special Needs Plan .

Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance plans that can offer benefits that neither Original Medicare nor Medicaid covers, such as fitness classes and meal delivery.

Many DSNPS have low or $0 monthly premiums, which means that you may be able to receive all of the supplemental benefits Medicare Advantage plans can offer at little or no additional cost to you.

Many people have to wait until the Annual Enrollment Period , which is from October 15 to December 7, to make changes to their coverage. However, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you have a DSNP.

Your DSNP SEP allows you to make one change per quarter from January to September. You can still make a change during the fourth quarter, but you can only make a change during AEP. The change you make during AEP will take effect on January 1 the following year.

A licensed agent with Medicare Plan Finder can help you find out if you qualify for a DSNP and help you enroll. To learn more about Dual Special Needs Plans call 1-844-431-1832 or contact us here today.