AHCCCS Rules That Change

At 18, your child can manage his or her AHCCCS benefits and make medical decisions privately. You won’t have access to your child’s medical records unless he or she authorizes it. That's why it's important to teach your child how to make health decisions and manage benefits now, so that your child will know how to do them later.

Income-Based AHCCCS and KidsCare

Income-based AHCCCS and KidsCare cover children 18 or younger if the total combined income of everybody who lives in the same household is 205% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) or less ($63,960 per year or less for a family of four).

When your child turns 19, AHCCCS KidsCare eligibility ends. For adults, the income limit for income-based AHCCCS is 138% of FPG ($43,056 per year for a family of four). If your child doesn’t qualify for income-based AHCCCS as an adult, there are other options:

• If you or your child’s other parent can get employer-sponsored coverage, your child can be on that plan until turning 26.
• If employer-sponsored coverage is not available, your child may get help paying for individual coverage on HealthCare.gov if household income is 138% of FPG or higher.

Note: If your child moves out of your house and you don’t claim your child as a dependent on your taxes, your child might qualify as a single person living alone.

Health Coverage Income Limits for Your Family

Your family size:	123456789101112
Annual income limits for your family:
	$15,060
	$5,380
	$15,060
	$5,380
Income-based AHCCCS (138% FPG)
AHCCCS KidsCare (205% FPG)
Subsidized private plans, reduced fees (250% FPG)
Subsidized private plans (no income limit)	--
If your family's income is at or below the limit for a program, you may qualify if you meet other program rules. Notes: Some types of income do not count against these limits, including SSI benefits. Different programs sometimes use slightly different numbers for the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). For private plans with subsidies, your monthly premium amount depends on your income.

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Rules that Don't Change At 18 or 19

Most other eligibility rules for AHCCCS and private health insurance don't change when your child turns 18 or 19:

• Disability-Based AHCCCS covers children and adults who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and some low-income people with disabilities who don't get SSI. Note: It may be easier for your child to qualify for SSI and disability-based AHCCCS as an adult, because parental income is no longer counted and does not affect eligibility.
• AHCCCS Freedom to Work covers people 16-64 years old who have disabilities, don't get SSI, and make as much as $76,320 per year.
• Employer-sponsored coverage through your job or your child’s other parent's job has to allow your children to be on the plan until their 26th birthday.
• Individual coverage is an option for children and adults if employer-sponsored coverage is not available. Households may get help paying for it on HealthCare.gov if household income is over 138% of FPG.