How to get AHCCCS or low-cost care in Arizona

AHCCCS is Arizona's Medicaid

AHCCCS stands for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. People say it like the word "access." It is the name of Medicaid in Arizona. Medicaid is a government program that pays for health care when your income is low. The state and the federal government share the cost, and Arizona began its program in 1982.

Arizona opened Medicaid to more adults on January 1, 2014, according to KFF, a health policy research group. Since then, most adults ages 19 to 64 can qualify based on income alone. The state says the adult group covers people who earn up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. That level is a yearly dollar amount the government uses to measure poverty.

Children, pregnant people, older adults and people with disabilities have their own groups. Our Medicaid eligibility guide explains how each one works.

Apply through Health-e-Arizona Plus

Health-e-Arizona Plus is the state's website for applying. Many people shorten the name to HEAplus. The same site also lets you apply for food help and cash help. There are several ways to start your application.

• Go online to the HEAplus website, where you can apply for yourself, your family or someone close to you.
• Call the helpline at 1-855-432-7587, which is answered Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The relay number is 1-800-842-6520.
• Ask the website's virtual assistant, called AVA, any question at any hour of the day.
• Get help from a community assistor, since the state says more than 150 community groups use the website to help people apply.
• Print a paper application from the Arizona Department of Economic Security and mail it in.

Our guide to how to apply for Medicaid lists the papers to gather first. After you apply, watch your mail and answer any letter quickly. Keep a copy of what you send, and write down the date you applied.

What if you are waiting or turned down?

Some people are still waiting on an application, or they do not qualify. They may still get help with mental health and with drug or alcohol treatment through other funding. A regional behavioral health authority sets that help up for you. The state lists these phone numbers: 800-564-5465 for central Arizona, and 888-788-4408 for northern and southern Arizona.

What changes in January 2027

The state says its larger changes from the 2025 federal law begin in 2027. Two of them affect adults in the expansion group. One is a new work rule. The other is a renewal every six months instead of once a year.

Starting in January 2027, certain adults must do 80 hours a month of work, school, volunteering or another approved activity. They can also meet the rule by earning at least $580 in the month. Many people do not have to meet it. The state lists children, pregnant people, people with disabilities and caregivers among them. Under the federal wording, parents and caregivers of a child 13 or younger are exempt too.

The state asks members to keep their contact details current on HEAplus so that notices reach them. You can also email questions about the new federal law to HR1@azahcccs.gov. The state says most members will stay eligible, and the changes come in phases over several years. Opening your mail each week is a good habit. Our Medicaid work requirement guide walks through what counts.

When your income is above the limit

Arizona uses the federal marketplace, so you shop for a private plan on HealthCare.gov. That site shows open enrollment as November 1 to January 15. A tax credit is federal help that brings down the price of a plan each month. Extra help that Congress added during the pandemic stopped at the end of 2025. For 2026 and 2027, a person who earns more than 400 percent of the poverty level, or four times that yearly amount, cannot get a tax credit.

If you lose job-based coverage, you may get a special window to sign up. Our guide to losing your health insurance explains how it works.

Community health centers and a license check

The Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers is the state's primary care association. It says Arizona's health centers have more than 175 clinic locations. Their goal is to open care to everyone, whatever their insurance. Fees at these centers usually depend on your income.

The federal HRSA site has a free Find a Health Center tool where you enter your address. Our community health center guide helps you plan your first call. Before a visit, you can check a doctor's license with the Arizona Medical Board's License Verification tool.

Direct primary care in Arizona

A 2019 Arizona law covers direct primary care. This is a flat fee that you pay a doctor for primary care over a set period. The law says the agreement must be in writing and signed by both of you. It also says these agreements are not insurance. A direct primary care doctor may not turn you away or stop your care only because of your health status.

Our directory lets you search for cash-pay doctors by location. Ask the office which visits and tests the fee includes, and get that answer on paper.

For chest pain, trouble breathing or any other emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Even if you cannot pay, federal law says the hospital must check you and treat an emergency until you are stable.