ALTCS: Health Insurance for Individuals Who Require Nursing Home Level of Care
The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS, pronounced ALL-Tecs) is health insurance for individuals who are age 65 or older, or who have a disability, and who require nursing facility level of care. Services may be provided in an institution or in a home or community-based setting.
Those who qualify do not have to reside in a nursing home. Many ALTCS members live in their own homes or an assisted living facility and receive needed in-home services.
The following application includes:
- How to apply for ALTCS
- Non-financial eligibility requirements
- How resources are treated
- How income is treated
- The cost of care
- How ALTCS determines medical eligibility
- Types of ALTCS services
Filing an Application for the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) - DE-828 | Rich Text Version
Llenando una Solicitud para el Sistema de Cuidados a Largo Plazo de Arizona (ALTCS) - DE-828 | Rich Text Version
ALTCS 1-page Empowerment Tool - English | Spanish
Trusts and ALTCS Eligibility Quick-Reference Guide | Rich Text Version
Long Term Care Partnership Program
For information about how ALTCS counts resources under The Long Term Care Partnership Program, please review the following document:
Difficulty of Care Income Exclusion
Some individuals receive income because they provide personal care or attendant care to an ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care Services) member who resides in their home. The monies (income) received for providing personal care or attendant care services are NOT counted toward AHCCCS eligibility in some instances.
Income is usually included when determining Medicaid eligibility, however, income earned for providing attendant care or personal care services to an ALTCS member living in the same home is considered a Difficulty of Care payment. Income that meets the conditions of a Difficulty of Care payment is not counted against eligibility for some AHCCCS programs.
AHCCCS uses electronic sources to obtain income information. These sources do not identify income from providing attendant or personal care to an ALTCS member living with the caregiver as difficulty of care payments. Therefore, these payments may not have been excluded in the income calculation.
If you receive Difficulty of Care payments and have been denied or discontinued for being over the income limit, please contact AHCCCS at 602-417-5010 to report this income as Difficulty of Care income.
How to Apply
Click the “How to Apply” link in the left menu for more information about how to apply, covered services, available health plans, and additional resources. For other questions please contact your nearest ALTCS office.