Arkansas DHS - Division of Medical Services
TEFRA (Medicaid for children with disabilities)
Full Medicaid for children 18 and under with significant disabilities who live at home, regardless of parent income. Families above $25,000/yr (and 150% FPL) pay a sliding-scale monthly premium.
Official websiteOfficial Path
Health CoverageBirth to 3Ages 3–5School ageTransition (14–21)
Who qualifies
- Age
- Birth through 18
- Needs
- Meets SSI definition of disability (SSA or the State Medical Review Team decides) AND meets institutional level of care but can be safely cared for at home at lower cost
- Income
- Only the CHILD's income counts: limit $2,982/mo (2026). Parent income affects the premium only.
- Resources
- Child's resources only: $2,000
What it covers
- All Medicaid state plan services (most-used: early intervention day treatment, speech, occupational and physical therapy, prescriptions, autism services)
- No copays
- Retroactive coverage up to 3 months
Monthly premium by family income
Monthly premium based on custodial parents' annual income. Capped at 5% of family gross income per year; no extra premium for additional TEFRA children.
| Annual income | Monthly premium |
|---|---|
| $0 – $25,000 | $0 |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $20 – $41 |
| $50,001 – $75,000 | $52 – $78 |
| $75,001 – $100,000 | $93 – $125 |
| $100,001 – $125,000 | $145 – $182 |
| $125,001 – $150,000 | $208 – $250 |
| $150,001 – $175,000 | $281 – $328 |
| $175,001 – $200,000 | $364 – $416 |
| Over $200,000 | $458 |
Timing
In 2024, about 96% of applications were decided within 90 days; average processing fell to about 23 days by Q4 2024.
How to apply
- 1Apply through access.arkansas.gov or your county DHS office
- 2DHS determines financial eligibility, disability, and appropriateness of care
- 3If the child has private insurance, the family must keep it; TEFRA pays secondary
Verified from official documentsLast checked September 24, 2026
Sources
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