KidsCare (Arizona CHIP)
Last updated August 2026
KidsCare is Arizona's CHIP: health coverage for children under 19 whose family income is too high for regular AHCCCS. Two facts have changed in its favor recently, and both are worth acting on. Arizona expanded the income limit to 225 percent of the federal poverty level in 2024, and monthly premiums are suspended indefinitely, so coverage currently costs $0.
The current chart tops out at $6,188 a month for a family of four, about $74,256 a year; $4,058 for a family of two; $8,318 for a family of six. If your kids were denied under the old 200 percent limit, that denial is stale. Apply again.
There is no separate KidsCare application to hunt down. Apply through Health-e-Arizona Plus, the same portal as AHCCCS, Nutrition, and Cash Assistance, and children over the AHCCCS limit are checked for KidsCare automatically. More than 150 Community Partner organizations help with the application free.
The requirements beyond income: the child must be an Arizona resident, a citizen or qualified immigrant with a Social Security number or an application for one, and cannot have other health insurance or access to state-employee coverage.
About those premiums: the old schedule of $10 to $70 a month remains posted, but it is dormant. AHCCCS states, twice, that premiums are stopped until further notice, and if they ever restart, families get a letter before the first premium is due. No silent charges.
Parents should check their own door while enrolling the kids: adults qualify for AHCCCS up to $3,658 a month for a family of four, and the same application checks everyone. A denial for the parents decides nothing about the children, and the reverse is true too.
One honest caveat on the numbers: the KidsCare chart is dated early 2025 while the adult chart has already refreshed for 2026, so the kids' dollar figures may tick up when the state updates them. If your income sits just above a line, apply anyway and let AHCCCS run the current math.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Arizona children under age 19 who are not eligible for other AHCCCS coverage and whose family income is within the KidsCare limits, which increased in recent years
- Covers doctor visits, immunizations, dental, vision, prescriptions, and hospital care; apply even if you think you earn too much, since the limits are higher than regular AHCCCS
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply at healthearizonaplus.gov; children are checked for AHCCCS first, then KidsCare automatically.
- 2
Have proof of income, the child's Social Security number, and Arizona residency ready.
- 3
Confirm the child has no other current health insurance.
- 4
Watch the mail for the decision; premiums are $0 unless AHCCCS writes to you first.
What to have ready
- The child's Social Security number or proof of application for one
- Proof of income and Arizona residency
- Citizenship or immigration documents for the child.
What the application looks like
Common questions
What is the KidsCare income limit?
225 percent of the federal poverty level: $6,188 a month for a family of four, $8,318 for six, per the current chart. The limit rose from 200 percent in 2024, so old denials are worth retrying.
How much does KidsCare cost?
Currently $0. AHCCCS has suspended monthly premiums indefinitely. If premiums ever resume, families receive a letter before the first one is due.
How do I apply?
Through healthearizonaplus.gov, the same application as AHCCCS. Kids over the Medicaid limit are automatically checked for KidsCare.
Can my child get KidsCare with other insurance?
No. The child cannot have other health insurance or access to state-employee coverage.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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