The Arizona Medicaid program is also referred to as the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). There are many different categories of Medicaid for adults and children, each with slightly different rules regarding coverage. If an individual is eligible for one Medicaid category, she is not eligible for any other category. Eligibility for Medicaid is largely determined by the income of the family in relation to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
Pregnant Women
Pregnant women are protected under the Sixth Omnibus Reconciliation Act (SOBRA). To be eligible for Medicaid coverage, the woman must have an income of no more than 133% of the FPL (after deduction). This income limit "increases for each additional baby expected."
Breast and Cervical Cancer Program
To be eligible for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, there is no income limit, but if the applicant is checked through the Arizona Well Woman Health Check Program, her income can be no more than 250 percent of the FPL. In order to be a part of this program, the patient must be diagnosed by the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which then submits the diagnosis to AHCCCS.
Documented and Undocumented Aliens
Medicaid offers federal and state emergency services for documented and undocumented aliens. To be eligible for benefits, the alien must meet the financial requirements of the specific category of Medicaid they are wishing to receive. The only aliens eligible for these services are those who have resided in the U.S. for less than five years.
Family Planning
Arizona Medicaid offers family planning services to any women who lose SOBRA yet require family planning services within 60 days of delivering a child. Women are not eligible if they are more than 60 days postpartum or if they qualify for any other category of Medicaid.
Children Services
SOBRA children age zero to five are eligible for Medicaid if their family's income is 133 percent of FPL or less. SOBRA children age six through 18 are eligible if the family's income is 100 percent of FPL or less. Children are also covered under the AHCCCS for families that have children, as long as the income level of the family does not exceed 100 percent of the FPL.
Medical Expense Deduction Program
The Medical Expense Deduction Program is a program designed for individuals who aren't otherwise eligible for Medicaid due to income. To be eligible for this program, the monthly income cannot exceed 40 percent of the FPL after all allowable medical expenses are subtracted from the income.
Tags: eligible Medicaid, Arizona Medicaid, Breast Cervical, Breast Cervical Cancer, Cervical Cancer
