Program Overview
The Arkansas ARKids First program is also known as the Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP) which provides affordable health insurance to children of poor families residing in the state of Arkansas. The program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
There are thousands of children who are uninsured and this program provides them with an opportunity to get medical insurance and improve their health conditions. Kids who are dependent on their parents and are less than 19 years of age are eligible to apply for this program. In some cases, the program might also provide health insurance to uninsured parents as well.
Program Services
The Massachusetts MassHealth (CHIP) provides services for kids like,
- Regular child check-ups
- Immunization and other preventive measures
- Dental check-ups of the child
- Eye care services (eyeglasses, eye care services)
- Emergency services to the patients
- Medication payments
- Therapy and many more
Application Requirements
There are certain mandatory requirements for the Arkansas ARKids First that the applicant needs to fulfill to qualify for the program benefits. Those are,
- The applicant must be a citizen or legal alien of the United States of America
- The applicant who is a legal alien living in Arkansas (it should be noted that the parents of the applicant are not required to prove their residential status)
- The applicant must be 19 years old or younger or a parent/caretaker with a child under 19 years of age
- The applicant must not be receiving any health insurance including Medicaid because the family income is higher than the requirements for the Medicaid program.
- The applicant has parents working in Arkansas State.
The two important eligibility requirements are,
- Total number of members in the household
- The total annual income of the candidate
The total gross income of the household before taxes must be equal to or less than,
| Size of Household | Annual Gross Income Level |
| 1 | $26,354 |
| 2 | $35,681 |
| 3 | $45,007 |
| 4 | $54,333 |
| 5 | $63,659 |
| 6 | $72,985 |
| 7 | $82,312 |
| 8 | $91,638 |
An extra amount of $9326 is added per person if the total size of the household is more than 8 members. Therefore, it is important to visit a managing agency in your area to help you get your hands on the latest and up-to-date information and program guidelines. This will help you understand the terms and policies of the program and help make the application process easy.
You can also visit the official Arkansas ARKids First program’s website to check your eligibility criteria for the program. The applicant will have to provide information regarding
- Earnings
- Rent or mortgage
- Utility expenses
- Child support expenses
- Day-care expenses
- Other benefit programs you have applied to
- Any other payments
How to apply
- Online application
After making sure of your eligibility for the Arkansas Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the next step is the application process. You can make your application online by visiting the Access Arkansas page. Here you will be provided with all the necessary information. This website provides easy and fast online services to the citizens of Arkansas.
- Apply through the local office
Another easy way of applying for the Arkansas ARKids First is through the Department of Human Services. These centers will provide assistance regarding the health coverage program and the officials will make the whole process less daunting by providing the necessary information.
You can locate a CHIP office in your county by visiting the County Office List website. Here you will find a service center that you can then visit to apply for the AR CHIP program.
After downloading the form kindly fill it as accurately and truthfully as possible because a false statement can lead to termination of the application. Once the application is submitted you cannot change it hence it is advisable to be careful while filling out the application form.
Before filling the application form make sure you have all the required information to speed up the process. Once you have filled out the application form you can return it to MassHealth office.
- Apply Via Phone Call
Individuals interested in the Arkansas CHIP program can also call at the following numbers to find a service center in their community,
- 1-855-372-1084
- 1-800-285-1131 (for TTY users)
You can then talk to the program’s representative in your county and ask for the application form. By calling the above number you get to talk to a highly qualified member of the program who can answer any queries you might have regarding the Arkansas ARKids First program.
For Further Information
The applicants can also visit the Marketplace to see if they qualify for the program. The Marketplace was established to provide healthcare benefits to citizens across various states of the United States of America who are otherwise not able to do so.
If you have more queries please visit the official ARKids First or the Medicaid & CHIP Policies websites. These websites will make sure that you are provided with up-to-date information regarding the program to make the application process easy. You can choose any of the above options to get the application form and apply either in person or online however you feel comfortable.