AHCCCS Supports Military Families and Their Children

Honoring military service means caring for the whole family. In Arizona, that commitment includes protecting access to affordable, reliable health coverage through AHCCCS — our state’s Medicaid program, which helps military families get much-needed care without the added stress of high medical fees or out-of-pocket expenses.  

A new report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families (CCF), “Medicaid: Important for Military Families & Future Readiness,” shows how Medicaid helps fill the gaps left by TRICARE, our nation’s military health plan, and ensures active-duty members and veterans — and their families — have access to health coverage and care.    

In Arizona, nearly 8,000 military-connected children call our state home, and many of them depend on AHCCCS to get the care they need to grow and thrive.  

Children make up 40% of all Arizonans who receive health care through AHCCCS, including for doctor visits, immunizations, dental care, and more. This includes military-connected children whose families may still face coverage gaps and high out-of-pocket costs, even with TRICARE. That’s where Medicaid steps in for some families as a secondary payer to bridge those gaps and protect low-income military families from medical expenses they shouldn’t have to shoulder alone.  

When service members are confident their families have access to high-quality, affordable health care, they can focus on their missions with peace of mind. But the deep cuts that Congress is considering will make it harder for many military families to get the care they need and add financial stress for families who already sacrifice so much.   

AHCCCS is more than just a public program. It’s a vital source of security and care for Arizona’s children, veterans, and military families. We must stand together to protect it.