The Basics
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is a public program that helps pay medical expenses for people with low income. How you may qualify depends on your family’s situation, including things like whether you have a disability, how much you have in income, whether you are pregnant, or if you are a child.
This article focuses on one way that some people with disabilities may be able to qualify for AHCCCS. This is not the only way that a person with a disability can qualify for AHCCCS, but if you have been determined disabled by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or by AHCCCS, this way of qualifying may help you for two main reasons:
- It may let you get AHCCCS even if you make more money than the standard AHCCCS income limit, and
- It may let you get AHCCCS and Medicare at the same time.
The rules described in this article are not the only way to qualify for AHCCCS. Most people who get AHCCCS qualify under other rules, and you or other members of your family may qualify under those other rules, even if you don’t qualify under the rules for people with disabilities. Learn more in DB101’s other AHCCCS article. If you have a disability and work, you should also read DB101’s AHCCCS Freedom to Work article.
This article is about AHCCCS for people with disabilities and will help you understand:
- If AHCCCS is right for you
- Different ways you may qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability
- What services it covers
- How much you will have to pay, and
- How to sign up.
If, after reading this article, you need more help in understanding AHCCCS, we recommend you talk to trained experts who can help you. Here are some good resources:
- Visit or call your local DES/Family Assistance Administration office.
- Talk to a Federally Qualified Health Center.
- Get local help from HealthCare.gov.
- If you have a disability, talk to a Work Incentive Consultant to learn more about health programs for people with disabilities.
- AHCCCS may not count all of your earned income if you have a disability, so it may be an option if your income is too high for standard AHCCCS.
- If you have a disability, you may be able to get AHCCCS and Medicare at the same time.
- If your earned income goes up, you can switch to AHCCCS Freedom to Work, which has a higher earned income limit.
- If your disability does not qualify you for AHCCCS, you may be able to qualify for AHCCCS through other rules that have no disability requirement.
Note: DB101 keeps track of changes to health coverage and related laws. DB101 has been and will continue to be updated to reflect any changes. For news related to health coverage, visit the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Learn more
Get Expert Help
Ask an Arizona Work Incentive Consultant your questions about work and benefits.
1-866-304-WORK (9675)
A Work Incentive Consultant is a trained expert who can help you understand Social Security work incentives, disability benefit programs, and how they are impacted by work. Their goal is to help you transition to work and make a sustainable financial plan for your future.
Give Feedback