Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Arizona. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Medicare and health costs
AHCCCS (Medicaid) in Arizona
AHCCCS (said "access") is Arizona's Medicaid program.
People 65 and older may qualify for AHCCCS Medical Services through the SSI MAO group with income up to the poverty level, and Arizona doesn't count savings for this group. Nursing-home care and help at home come through the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), which has a higher income limit and a $2,000 savings limit.
How to apply in Arizona
- By phone
- 1-800-654-8713
- In person
- For long-term care (ALTCS), at an ALTCS office; call 602-417-7000 or 1-800-654-8713 for the nearest one.
- By mail
- Mail an SSI MAO application to AHCCCS, P.O. Box 25520, SSI MAO, MD 15022, Phoenix, AZ 85002-5520.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Arizona
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (2026) | $1,330 a month (100% of the poverty level) | $1,804 a month (100% of the poverty level) Source: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (source 1) |
| Savings limit (2026) | No limit | No limit Source: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (source 1) |
| Spend-down if your income is over the limit | No Source: KFF (source 2) |
|---|---|
| Income limit for nursing-home or home-care Medicaid (2026) | $2,982 a month (300% of the SSI amount) for ALTCS, with a $2,000 savings limit; you must need a nursing-home level of care Source: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (source 1) |
| Medicaid for adults under 65 (expansion) | Yes: adults 19 to 64 without Medicare may qualify with income up to $1,769 a month for one person (133% of the poverty level, 2026) Source: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (source 1) |
How Arizona is different
Where Arizona's rules differ from the federal rules for Medicaid for people with Medicare.
- No savings limit for people 65 and older in the SSI MAO group
- Higher income limit: 100% of the poverty level
- Nursing-home care and help at home through the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS)
Source: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (source 1)
Good to know
- ALTCS members may have to pay a share of the cost of their care, and the state's estate recovery program may recover the cost of services received after age 55.
- If you're married and your spouse lives at home, between $32,532 and $162,660 of the couple's savings may not be counted for ALTCS (2026).
Source: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Arizona
Division of Aging and Adult Services
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Arizona
Medicaid for older adults in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCCS Eligibility Requirements, February 1, 2026 (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- KFF, Medicaid Eligibility Levels for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (Non-MAGI) in 2026. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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