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To protect taxpayer dollars from criminals and ensure Arizonans in need can access benefits in a timely manner, beginning this week, claimants filing initial claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) will need to verify their identities using ID.me’s safe and secure online portal before they can receive PUA benefits. Learn more.

AHCCCS suspended all Medicaid disenrollments during the Public Health Emergency through its expiration on October 22. Beginning September 1, Medical Assistance Renewal letters will be issued so eligibility can be re-determined when the Emergency ends. No member who is an Arizona resident will be disenrolled, regardless of eligibility, until after the Public Health Emergency ends. Learn more.

States across the nation continue to see an extraordinary number of claims filed as a result of identity theft. DES has become aware that some Arizona residents are receiving notices and benefit cards at their address with the names of individuals who do not reside at that location. This is the result of criminals attempting to obtain funds from the new federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program by using randomly selected in-state addresses during the application process. More information regarding unemployment fraud can be found here. To report fraud, file a report online or call the DES Fraud Hotline at 1 (800) 251-2436.

DES Services Related to COVID-19

Applying for Medical Assistance (AHCCCS Health Insurance)

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Announcements

Extended Call Center Hours

The Family Assistance Administration Call Center extended its hours. Call 1-855-432-7587, 7am-6pm Monday thru Friday for services, applications and questions related to Nutrition, Cash and Medical Assistance.

DES Virtual Office Services

On April 10, 2020, DES is implementing virtual office services in all locations to continue to better serve our customers and communities in this time of need while protecting the health and safety of our customers and staff. The Department is now directing individuals towards ways to access services virtually, through online options or telephones to the greatest extent possible, and limiting public traffic in lobbies and field offices per CDC public health guidance. Learn more: https://des.az.gov/content/des-virtual-office-services

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is Arizona's Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to serve Arizona residents. AHCCCS provides medical insurance coverage to thousands of Arizonans each year. It helps citizens obtain doctor’s office visits, physical exams, immunizations, prenatal care, hospital care and prescriptions they need.

Returning Users

Eligibility

AHCCCS offers many different medical programs. DES only determines eligibility for the following programs:

Medicaid for adults and children with limited income.

KidsCare for uninsured children under the age of 19 who have income higher than the Medicaid limit.

Eligibility for the Medical Assistance program is based on the following requirements:

Income
Arizona residency
Pregnancy
Citizenship and qualified non-citizen status

The requirements differ for each program. Under state and federal laws, individuals who qualify for medical assistance – except for Federal Emergency Medical Services – must be either U.S. citizens or qualified immigrants. Find additional eligibility information.

You can screen for eligibility to see if you qualify for Medical Assistance; however, the best way to know if you are eligible is to submit a completed application for benefits and go through the application process.

Information Needed to Apply

Whether you are applying for the first time, or renewing your benefits, you may need one or more of the following pieces of information to complete your application:

Proof of citizenship and identity for everyone who is applying for benefits.
Alien Registration Cards, if there are non-U.S. citizens applying for benefits in your household.
Social Security numbers for everyone, or proof that a Social Security number has been applied for.
Birth certificates for everyone who is applying for benefits.
Name, address & daytime phone number of landlord or neighbor.
A statement verifying your address and the names of everyone living with you. The statement must be made by a non-relative who doesn’t live with you. It must be signed, dated and include that person's address and telephone number.
Proof of ALL money your household received from any source last month and this month.
Proof that your employment ended and last date paid.
Verification of any medical insurance other than AHCCCS.

Submitting Your Application

Submitting your completed application and required documentation starts the application process. Once your application is received, it will be reviewed to determine if you qualify for benefits. The following are ways that you can apply:

Complete and submit an online application through Health-e-Arizona Plus.
Download the Application for Benefits with KidsCare Application Addendum and turn it in by mail or fax.
Call (855) 432-7587 to request a paper application be mailed to you. After receiving and completing the application, turn it in by mail or fax.
Go to find an assistor, enter your ZIP Code to locate community assistors near you for help with the application process. Contact the community assistor's office by telephone. In-person services may be unavailable or limited in manners that support social distancing.

Note: when you are applying for Medical Assistance for the first time you will need to select a health plan for each person applying for Medical Assistance. If you do not select a plan, a plan will be selected for you.

After Application

We will call you and, when needed, send you a letter if we need any other information or proof to decide your case.

How do I provide additional information, when requested?

To serve you better and to make sure you get all the benefits you need, please:

Provide all the information and proof as soon as possible
Contact us if you need help getting information, so we can assist you

You can mail or fax copies of the requested information. Please do not turn in original documents.

When you apply online at Health-e-Arizona Plus you can upload requested information or fax it with a cover sheet. (For additional instructions, see the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) in Health-e-Arizona Plus titled 'How do I fax documents to HEAplus')

When will I know if I am approved?

A decision will be made by one of the following dates:

Within seven days from the application date if you are hospitalized
Within 20 days from the application date if you are pregnant
At the latest, 45 calendar days from the application date

When a decision is made regarding your case, you will receive a letter containing the results. You can also monitor the status of your application online at Health-e-Arizona Plus.

What can I do if I disagree with the decision?

You can request an appeal when:

An application is denied,
Benefits are stopped, or
An application is not acted upon in a timely manner.

After I Am Approved

Reporting Changes

You are required to report any changes that may affect your Medical Assistance eligibility.

Renewals

Based on your eligibility data from the prior application:

If there is enough information available to determine that you are still eligible, an approval letter is sent.
If eligibility cannot be determined, you will be sent a pre-populated renewal form with a Request for Information letter describing the information needed to complete the renewal. The process can be completed through Health-e-Arizona Plus. If you do not provide the requested information by the due date, your eligibility will be stopped.

If you are no longer eligible for the program you are currently enrolled in, you will be screened for eligibility in any other Medical Assistance program.

Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other nondiscrimination laws and authorities, ADES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Persons that require a reasonable modification based on language or disability should submit a request as early as possible to ensure the State has an opportunity to address the modification. The process for requesting a reasonable modification can be found at Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Modification.

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