How to renew your Arkansas Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from Arkansas Medicaid (Arkansas Works)

Always respond to official renewal notices from Arkansas Medicaid (Arkansas Works). Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

Arkansas Medicaid renews annually — renewal is the same process for ARHOME and traditional Medicaid

Arkansas Medicaid eligibility — whether you are in ARHOME or traditional Medicaid — must be renewed annually. DHS sends renewal notices to your address on file. Renew online at access.arkansas.gov, by phone at 1-855-372-1084, or in person at a DHS County Office. The renewal deadline is firm — failing to respond results in coverage termination. Most people who lose Medicaid still qualify and simply missed the renewal step.

How Arkansas Medicaid renewal works

Arkansas uses an ex parte renewal process first. DHS checks income and household data against IRS, SSA, and state agency records. If the data match confirms eligibility, coverage renews automatically. You may receive a notice confirming auto-renewal without needing to take action.

When ex parte renewal cannot confirm eligibility — often due to a change in income, household, or missing data — DHS sends a renewal packet requiring a response. Under 42 CFR 435.916, members have at least 30 days to respond before coverage ends. The most common cause of coverage loss is not responding to these notices.

Watch for your renewal notice. DHS sends it before your anniversary month. Update your address in Access Arkansas any time you move — many renewal packets are never received due to address changes.
Review pre-populated information. DHS may pre-fill your current income and household details. Correct errors before submitting.
Provide updated documentation if requested. Common requests are recent pay stubs, proof of Arkansas residency, or information about new household members.
Submit by the deadline. Use Access Arkansas online, call 1-855-372-1084, or visit your DHS county office. Keep your confirmation or a copy of what you submitted.
Watch for the decision. If approved, coverage continues. If denied, you have appeal rights — request a hearing within the timeframe on the denial notice.

Renewal checklist

Keep your address, email, and phone number current in Access Arkansas throughout the year
Watch for mail and email from DHS — renewal packets look like official government correspondence
Report income changes as they happen, not just at renewal time
Have documentation ready: recent pay stubs, employer letter, or tax return for self-employment income
If household members join or leave (birth, marriage, divorce), report within 10 days per DHS policy
ARHOME members: plan renewal is separate from Medicaid eligibility renewal — your coverage year runs on the calendar year for ARHOME plan selection
If coverage lapses but you still qualify, contact DHS about reinstatement — in some cases coverage can be restored retroactively

ARHOME renewal — what is different

For ARHOME members, Medicaid eligibility renewal (through DHS) and private plan enrollment are separate things. Your Medicaid eligibility determines whether you remain in ARHOME. Your ARHOME plan selection determines which private insurance carrier covers you.

ARHOME plan selection happens annually during the plan's open enrollment period. If your circumstances have not changed, you typically stay with your current plan unless you actively switch. To switch plans, use the ARHOME member portal at ar.gov/arhome or call 1-888-987-1200. Switching is available within the first 90 days of coverage and once annually during open enrollment.

What to do if coverage is terminated

You have the right to a fair hearing if your Medicaid coverage is terminated or denied. Request a hearing within 90 days of the notice date. Filing a timely appeal (within 10 days while coverage is still active) allows you to continue receiving services while the appeal is pending, in most cases.

Contact Arkansas Legal Services at (501) 376-3423 or arlegalservices.org for free help with Medicaid fair hearings. DHS must provide you with a hearing officer who has not been involved in your case and issue a written decision within 90 days.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Arkansas Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact Arkansas Medicaid (Arkansas Works) to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When Arkansas Medicaid (Arkansas Works) sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

Arkansas Medicaid (Arkansas Works)'s online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Arkansas Medicaid (Arkansas Works) to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact Arkansas Medicaid (Arkansas Works) within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Arkansas Medicaid (Arkansas Works) or update your information through the online portal at https://medicaid.mmis.arkansas.gov.