Medicaid for nursing home and home care in Arizona

Who qualifies

ALTCS is run by AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid agency. You must live in Arizona, be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen, and be aged, blind or disabled. You must also pass two tests.

The medical test

AHCCCS must find that you need the level of care given in a nursing home, hospital or similar facility. This is decided through the Pre-Admission Screening (PAS). You do not have to live in a nursing home to qualify. Many ALTCS members live at home or in assisted living.

The money test

If your income is over the limit

Arizona allows an income-only trust (often called a Miller trust). You open a bank account in the trust's name and deposit your income into it each month, by direct deposit when possible. Income put in the trust does not count toward the limit, but it is still used to figure what you pay toward your care. AHCCCS must be named to receive what is left in the trust after you die, up to what it paid for your care. AHCCCS's guide DE-819 explains the rules.

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What counts and what does not

Assets that count

Bank accounts, stocks, bonds, extra real estate and other things you could turn into cash count toward the $2,000 limit.

Your home

Your home does not count if you, or your spouse, live there, or if you are away in care and plan to return. But if your equity in the home is over $752,000, ALTCS will cover only medical care, not long-term care services. That limit does not apply if your spouse, a child under 21, or a blind or disabled child lives in the home. A home held in a trust or located in another state is not treated as your excluded home.

Gifts and transfers

AHCCCS looks back 60 months from the month you apply. If you gave away assets or sold them for less than they were worth, there may be a penalty period. During it, ALTCS still covers medical care but not long-term care services.

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If your spouse stays at home

• Assets. AHCCCS adds up what both of you own at the start of the first month you are in care and splits it in half. Your spouse keeps that half, but not less than $32,532 or more than $162,660 in 2026.
• Income. If your spouse's income is low, part of yours can go to them. AHCCCS starts from a monthly need standard of $2,705 (July 2026 to June 2027). It can add more for high rent, mortgage and utility costs, up to $4,066.50 a month in 2026. The utility amount it uses is $335 from October 2026.
• Dependents. An allowance can also go to dependent family members living with your spouse.

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What you pay: share of cost

ALTCS members may pay part of the cost of care each month. This is your share of cost.

• In a nursing home: You keep a personal needs allowance of $149.10 a month in 2026. After allowances for a spouse, dependents and your own health insurance premiums, the rest goes to the facility.
• At home or in assisted living: Your personal needs allowance is $2,982 a month, which is 300% of the SSI payment. Most people at home keep their income for living costs.
• Short stays with no spouse at home: A home upkeep allowance of $210 a month can be allowed for up to six months.

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What ALTCS pays for

• Nursing home care.
• Care at home and in assisted living: attendant care, personal care, homemaker services and other home and community-based services. AHCCCS uses an assessment tool to set your hours. You can ask for a review if you need more.
• Medical care: doctor, hospital and prescription coverage through an ALTCS health plan. If you have Medicare, Medicare pays first.

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How to apply

1. Apply online at healthearizonaplus.gov, on paper with form DE-828, by phone, mail, email ([email protected]), fax, at a local ALTCS office, or by asking for a home visit. Call 602-417-4000 or 1-800-654-8713. The main office is at 150 N. 18th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85007.
2. Do the financial interview. Every ALTCS application has one, in person or by phone. You or your representative can do it.
3. Have the PAS assessment. This decides whether you need nursing home level care.
4. Send proof of income, bank accounts and property when asked. If you are in a nursing home or about to move to one, AHCCCS can give you an estimate of your share of cost.
5. Get a decision. AHCCCS has up to 45 days from your application date for most programs.

If you do not qualify for ALTCS, AHCCCS checks whether you qualify for another AHCCCS program.

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After you apply

• Report changes in income, assets or where you live.
• Appeals. If ALTCS is denied or stopped, AHCCCS must receive your appeal by the 35th day after the date on the letter. ALTCS appeals cannot be filed through Health-e-Arizona Plus. Use mail, fax, email, phone or go in person.
• Estate recovery. After death, AHCCCS may claim against the estate for long-term care and related costs paid after age 55.

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Free help

• AHCCCS: 602-417-4000 or 1-800-654-8713.
• SHIP (Medicare counseling): 1-800-432-4040.

Read more about paying for a nursing home and Medicare, or see all benefits in Arizona.

Phone numbers: Free help lines for Arizona agencies

Check what you may qualify for