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How to Apply for Medical Assistance

Apply for Medical Assistance Benefits

Health insurance through AHCCCS helps individuals cover the cost of doctor’s office visits, physical exams, immunizations, prenatal care, hospital care and prescriptions they need. The information on this page will help you prepare and apply for benefits.

Ready to apply?

Apply for Medical Assistance Online

This video is available in American Sign Language.

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. View 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.

Apply for Medical Assistance Online

Screen for Eligibility

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 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.
  • 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.

Applying for Medical Assistance

When you are ready, you can submit your application and required documentation.

Apply Virtually

DES has implemented virtual office services statewide 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 easiest way to apply for benefits is online through Health-e-Arizona Plus. You may also begin the application process by phone by calling 1-855-432-7587.

Apply for Medical Assistance Online

Guide for Applying Virtually - English

Guide for Applying Virtually - Spanish

Find a Community Assistor

If you need additional support, you can work with a Community Assistor to complete the application process. 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.

Apply in Person

If you are unable to access services virtually, the DES Family Assistance Administration has offices statewide to assist you with the application process. Find your DES local office.

Mail or Fax an Application

To apply by mail or fax, you can do one of the following:

After Application

We may call you or send you a letter if we need any other information or proof to decide your case.

You may need to complete an eligibility interview by phone. We strongly recommend that you have income information, ID, Social Security numbers, and Citizenship verification at the interview. During your interview, we will review your information in determine if you qualify for the program. At the end of your interview, we will let you know when we need any additional information to decide your case. We will also send you a letter asking for this information.

Some program requirements may be difficult or dangerous for victims or survivors of domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault, or stalking, and their families. Speak with your DES eligibility specialist, to determine whether you may be exempt from these requirements. Your DES eligibility specialist can also give you information on sexual and domestic violence related resources that are available in your community. We will keep all information you provide private, as required by law. 

How do I provide additional information, when requested?

To serve you better and assure that you receive the benefits you qualify for, please:

  • Give us all requested information as soon as possible
  • Let us know if you need assistance in getting the necessary information. We can assist you.

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

When you apply for Medical Assistance online, you can either upload requested information or fax it. Please include a cover sheet with your faxed documents. (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 when I’m 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 be mailed a letter with 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 processed in a timely manner.

Request an Appeal

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:

  1. If there is enough information available to determine that you are still eligible, an approval letter is sent.
  2. 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.

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