How to get Medicaid or low-cost care in Arkansas

What ARHOME is and who runs it

ARHOME stands for Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me. The Arkansas Department of Human Services, called DHS, says it replaced a program named Arkansas Works on January 1, 2022.

KFF, a health policy research group, says Arkansas expanded Medicaid in 2014. In Arkansas, adults under 65 qualify with an income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Poverty level means a set dollar figure each year, and it rises with the number of people in your home.

The way Arkansas runs expansion is a little unusual. Medicaid uses its money to buy private health plans for many enrollees, and Medicaid pays the monthly premium for you. A premium is the regular payment that keeps a plan active. You then use that plan at doctors who accept it, so ask a doctor's office which plans it takes before you book.

Ways to apply in Arkansas

You can apply for Medicaid at any time of year, and you can choose whichever route is easiest for you.

• Use Access Arkansas, the state's website for benefits, to apply online.
• Visit your county DHS office, and look on the DHS website for a map of the offices.
• Call the Access Arkansas call center at 1-855-372-1084.
• Call DHS general customer assistance at 1-800-482-8988 if you have questions.

DHS also offers a short online form called Access Anywhere. You fill it out, and a worker from the county office contacts you, so you do not wait on hold. Adults under 65 who are not disabled can also start on HealthCare.gov, which passes your information to Arkansas if you look eligible. Before you start, our guide to how to apply for Medicaid can help you gather what you need.

The work rule, and why Arkansas is a test case

A 2025 federal law adds a work rule for adults in the expansion group. The federal Medicaid agency, called CMS, says adults ages 19 to 64 in this group must log 80 hours a month. The hours can come from work, school, volunteering or a work program. Earning at least $580 a month also counts. Some people are exempt, including pregnant people, parents of a child 13 or younger, and people with serious health problems.

Arkansas tried a work rule once before, and it started in June 2018. More than 18,000 people lost coverage that year, according to healthinsurance.org. A federal judge stopped it in 2019, and the federal approval was withdrawn in 2021.

This time the rule comes from federal law. DHS says the new rules launch in full on January 1, 2027. The Arkansas Advocate, a news outlet, reports that Arkansas began a soft launch in 2026. In a soft launch the state checks who meets the rule, but nobody loses coverage over it until 2027. DHS looks at wage records and other state data first, and you get a notice about where you stand.

If you get a notice, read it the day it arrives. Our Medicaid work requirement guide explains the exemptions in detail.

If your income is too high for ARHOME

People who buy their own plan in Arkansas use HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace. Many people get help paying the monthly bill, and the amount depends on your income. Outside the yearly sign-up period you usually need a life event, such as losing a job or job-based coverage, to join. If you lost coverage, our guide on losing your health insurance explains the 60-day window.

While you are between coverage, a community health center or a cash-pay doctor can still see you.

If you are pregnant in Arkansas

Most states now keep new mothers on Medicaid for 12 months after a baby is born. Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families reported in February 2026 that Arkansas was the last state without that 12-month coverage. Ask DHS how long your coverage lasts after the birth, because state rules can change.

A community health center can see you for prenatal visits on a sliding scale, which means the price depends on your income. Our prenatal care guide walks through your choices.

Community health centers in Arkansas

Community Health Centers of Arkansas is a nonprofit group formed in 1985 that speaks for the state's health centers. It keeps a directory of them on its website. You can also use the free Find a Health Center tool from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA. Enter your zip code to see the closest sites.

The price at these centers depends on your income and family size. Call first and ask how a new patient signs up and which papers to bring. Ask them to explain the price in writing before you are seen.

How can I check an Arkansas doctor's license?

The Arkansas State Medical Board has two tools. Verify a License lets you search by license number or last name. Directory Search lists people with an active Arkansas license and a U.S. address. Its advanced search can filter by license type, specialty and location.

Direct primary care and emergencies

Direct primary care is offered by some doctors in Arkansas. In this model you pay a doctor a flat monthly fee for visits. The fee is not insurance, so it will not pay for a hospital stay. In our directory you can see cash-pay doctors in your part of the state. Ask what the fee includes before you sign up.

For an emergency, call 911 or go straight to the nearest emergency room. A federal law says the hospital must examine and stabilize you, insured or not. Our emergency room guide explains how the bill works.