This page has information specific to this state, including contact information for federal and state agencies, and some key information about laws and consumer protections. Sometimes, state laws are more protective than federal law. For more information on this state's specific laws (e.g., on employment or health insurance), visit Triage Cancer's Charts of State Laws.
Advocacy
- For more information on state services, state agencies, and elected officials, you can view the state government website.
- For more information on how to register to vote in this state, visit the Arkansas Secretary of State's website.
- View state legislative information, including the legislature's daily schedule and information on current legislative bills.
- For additional information and resources related to advocacy, visit Triage Cancer's Advocacy Topics Page.
Disability Insurance
Federal Disability Programs
- The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two disability benefits programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For more information on each program and how to apply, visit the SSA Disability Benefits website.
- SSI provides monthly financial assistance to individuals who have: 1) a disability, or are age 65 or older, 2) a low-income level, and 3) low resources. Some states add money to the federal SSI payment. Arkansas does not currently add money to the federal SSI payment.
- Find your local SSA office
- For more information on disability insurance, visit Triage Cancer's Disability Insurance Topics Page.
Private Disability Insurance
- You can also purchase short-term and/or long-term disability insurance directly from a private insurance company or this type of insurance may be offered by your employer as an employee benefit. See our Quick Guide to Long-Term Disability Insurance for more information.
Employment
Federal Fair Employment
- The U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits. For more information about the EEOC, including how to file a complaint, visit the EEOC's website, call 800.669.4000, or email info@eeoc.gov.
- The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, that provides free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues. They also have several resources on how to approach an employer to request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and a Searchable Online Accommodation Resource where individuals can find suggested accommodations based on job duties or limitations that they are experiencing. For more information, visit the JAN website, call 800.526.7234, or email jan@AskJAN.org.
State Unemployment
- Arkansas' program is administered by the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, 501-682-2121
- Filing an unemployment claim (applicants may file online or at any Arkansas Workforce Center Office)
- Complete weekly recertification for benefits (online, or call 501.682.2121)
- Current weekly benefit amount and maximum length of benefits (payment can be made either to a debit card or via direct deposit)
- Unemployment Insurance Information Handbook
- Unemployment frequently asked questions
- Claimants must register with The Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) Program (funded by the federal Department of Labor) and conduct regular job search tracking activities in order to continue qualifying for unemployment benefits. There is a specific program for those who lose their jobs or have reduced hours due to increased imports.
Vocational Rehabilitation
- Your state's Vocational Rehabilitation agency provides vocational rehabilitation services that are designed to help job seekers with disabilities obtain competitive employment in integrated work settings. For more information on their services, eligibility requirements, and how to apply, visit the Arkansas Division of Workplace Services (Adult Education) website or call 501.682.1970.
More Information
- For more employment resources, visit Triage Cancer's Work & Cancer Topics Page.
Employment – Taking Time Off
Federal Leave Laws
- The U.S. Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division enforces the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (866.487.9243). The FMLA is a federal law that allows eligible employees to take up to a total of 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year under certain circumstances.
State Family & Medical Leave (for self & for caregivers)
- Some states have family & medical leave laws. Arkansas does not currently have a family & medical leave law.
State Paid Family Leave (for caregivers)
- Some states have paid family leave laws that support caregivers. Arkansas does not currently have a paid family leave law.
State Paid Sick Leave (for self)
- Some states have paid sick leave. Arkansas does not currently have a paid sick leave law.
- Some states have kinship laws that allow you to use your sick leave to care for a child. Arkansas does not currently have a kinship law.
State Paid General Leave (for any reason)
- Some states provide general paid leave. Arkansas does not currently have a general leave law.
State Bone Marrow Donation Leave
- Some states provide leave to donate bone marrow.
- Arkansas law requires private employers to provide up to 90 days of unpaid leave for bone marrow donation.
County & Local Leave
- Some cities and counties have additional leave laws.
Workplace Leave Policies or Employment Contracts
- Everyone’s situation is different. Check your employee handbook, your workplace policies, and/or your employment contract (if you have one) to see whether you are eligible to take paid or unpaid time off from work.
More Information
- For more information about leave laws in each state, see our chart on taking time off from work.
- For more employment resources, visit Triage Cancer's Work & Cancer Topics Page.
Estate Planning
Triage Cancer's free State-Specific Estate Planning Toolkit includes information about estate planning in general, and information about Arkansas estate planning documents, and the specific forms you need.
- Triage Cancer Quick Guide to Estate Planning
- Triage Cancer Checklist: Getting Organized
- Triage Cancer Quick Guide to Advance Health Care Directives
- State Laws on Creating Wills, Remote Execution of Estate Planning Documents, & Funeral Designations
- Arkansas Wills
- Senior Citizen Handbook
- More Estate Planning Resources
Finances
For information on financial assistance resources, you can visit the Financial Assistance Resources module at CancerFinances.org. You can then pick from the different categories of financial assistance, to find organizations that may provide financial help to you. Think creatively. For example, if you cannot find anything to help with your medical bills, you may qualify for utility assistance and shift the money you had dedicated to utilities to your medical bills.
- For assistance with managing your finances, including budgeting and dealing with creditors, visit the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
- Bankruptcy may be an effective way to eliminate medical debt, credit card debt, and/or other types of debts. Learn about filing for bankruptcy for free in Arkansas, and visit Triage Cancer's Quick Guide to Bankruptcy.
- Visit Triage Cancer's Navigating Finances Topics Page and CancerFinances.org for more information about ways to manage your finances.
Health Care
Health Insurance Information
- To find general information about health insurance and other types of insurance offered in your state, as well as to learn more about specific insurance companies, agents, or brokers, visit the Arkansas Department of Insurance website, or call 800.282.9134 or 501.371.2600.
- For more information and resources on health insurance, visit Triage Cancer's Health Insurance Topics Page.
Health Insurance Options
Marketplace
- For information about options for buying health insurance from private insurance companies, as well as whether you are eligible for marketplace financial assistance, visit HealthCare.gov or call 800.318.2596.
COBRA
- COBRA provides a way for workers and their families to temporarily maintain their employer-provided health insurance during situations such as job loss or a reduction in hours worked. If you have questions about COBRA, visit the Employee Benefits Security Administration website or call 866.444.3272.
State COBRA
- For information about your state's COBRA law related to maintaining employer-provided health insurance during situations such as job loss or a reduction in hours worked, as well as information about how your state's law works with federal COBRA, visit the Arkansas Department of Insurance, Consumer Services Division website, or call 800.282.9134 or 501.371.2600.
Children's Health Insurance
- Visit this site to learn about the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (ARKids First)(888.474.8275), which provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to be eligible for Medicaid.
- Visit InsureKidsNow.gov to learn about free or low-cost health and dental insurance coverage options for kids and teens.
- Division of Children & Family Services, 501.682.8770
More Resources
- For more information and resources on health insurance, visit Triage Cancer's Health Insurance Topics Page.
Health Insurance Appeals
- If your health insurance company has denied coverage for your care, you can appeal that decision. The process depends on the type of health insurance that you have. Visit the Health Insurance Appeals module on CancerFinances.org to learn more about appeals.
- If you have private health insurance (e.g., through an employer or the Marketplace), you can also file an external appeal with an entity outside of your insurance company, to see if the insurance company is required to cover your care. The external review process is either handled by the state’s insurance agency or the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Visit our Chart of State Laws on Health Insurance Coverage & Navigation to see who runs the external appeals process in your state.
Medicare
- Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease or ALS. For information about Medicare, to create a personal account where you can view your Medicare information, and to learn about plan options, visit Medicare.gov, or call 800.MEDICARE (800.633.4227)
- For help navigating Medicare, contact the Arkansas Insurance Department, 800.224.6330.
- Download a copy of Medicare's handbook, “Medicare & You.”
- For more information, visit Triage Cancer's Medicare Topics Page.
Medicaid
- Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to eligible individuals, including people with low incomes, families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Each state has its own rules for eligibility. Read Triage Cancer's Quick Guide to Medicaid to learn more.
- States have the option to expand Medicaid eligibility to individuals with incomes at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. Visit Triage Cancer's Guide to Medicaid Expansion to see whether your state has expanded Medicaid.
- Visit this site to see if you are eligible for Medicaid in your state.
- Visit this site for information about how to apply for Medicaid and eligibility in your state.
Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP)
- The HIPP program can help pay your group health insurance premium (e.g., COBRA) if you are eligible for Medicaid. For more information, visit the HIPP program website, or call 855.692.7447.
Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, & Treatment (EPSDT)
- The EPSDT benefit is a Medicaid benefit available to individuals under the age of 21.
- States are required to provide comprehensive services needed to correct and ameliorate health conditions, including:
- Early: Assess and identify problems early, starting at birth
- Periodic: Check children’s health at periodic, age-appropriate intervals in comprehensive well-child visits, including health education
- Screening: Provide physical, dental, mental, developmental, hearing, vision, and other screening or laboratory tests to detect potential problems
- Diagnosis: Perform diagnostic tests and assessments to follow up when a risk is identified during screening and examinations
- Treatment: Control, correct, or ameliorate any problems that are found
- States are required to provide any additional health care services that are coverable under the federal Medicaid program and found to be medically necessary to treat, correct or reduce illnesses and conditions discovered regardless of whether the service is covered in a state's Medicaid plan. State Medicaid agencies are required to:
- Inform all Medicaid-eligible individuals under age 21 that EPSDT services are available and of the need for age-appropriate immunizations;
- Offer and provide, if requested and necessary, assistance with transportation to medical care.
- Offer and provide, if requested and necessary, assistance with scheduling appointments for EPSDT visits and services.
- Learn more about your state's program (starting on pg. 47).
Coverage for Children
- Visit this site to learn about the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (ARKids First) (888.474.8275) that provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to be eligible for Medicaid.
- Visit InsureKidsNow.gov to learn about free or low-cost health and dental insurance coverage options for kids and teens.
In-Home Support Services (IHSS)
- For information about Medicaid program's that help seniors and people with disabilities to stay in their homes, visit the Independent Choices website, or the ARChoices website or call 501.682.8292
- These programs provide in-home caregiving services, such as help with activities of daily living, household chores, grocery shopping, etc. Some states allow family members to get paid as caregivers.
More Medicaid Resources
- For more information, visit Triage Cancer Medicaid Topics Page.
Free or Low-Cost Health Care
- For a list of Hill-Burton Federally Funded Health Centers that are obligated to provide free or reduced-cost health care, visit the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) website.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) are community-based health care providers that provide primary care services in underserved areas. To search for an FQHC in your state, use the Find a Health Center tool on the HRSA website.
- To find a community clinic in your area: screenings and services in your area, visit the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics website.
- The National Breast & Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (NBCCEDP) provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic services to women who have low incomes and are uninsured or underinsured. For more information about screenings and services in your area, use the CDC search tool.
- The Breast & Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP) provides cancer treatment benefits to eligible low-income individuals diagnosed with breast and/or cervical cancer. For more information, visit the Arkansas Department of Health website.
Health Care Programs & Laws
Women's Health & Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA)
- WHCRA provides protection for individuals who have had a mastectomy. For more information, visit the Employee Benefits Security Administration website.
Privacy
- HIPAA sets rules about health information privacy. To learn more, read this document on sharing health information with family members and friends.
- For more information about HIPAA and to file a HIPAA complaint, visit the Department of Health & Human Services website.
- To learn about making educated disclosure decisions, visit Triage Cancer's Quick Guide to Disclosure, Privacy, & Medical Certification Forms.
State Clinical Trials Law
- This state does not mandate insurers or HMOs doing business in state to cover routine patient costs associated with clinical trials.
(Last updated 8/2022)
More Health Insurance Resources
- For more information and resources on health insurance, visit Triage Cancer's Health Insurance Topics Page.
Legal Assistance
- For more information on ways to find legal assistance and what to consider before choosing a lawyer, read Triage Cancer's Quick Guide to Legal Assistance.
- If you are having difficulty finding a lawyer in your area, you can use the American Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Directory to search for your state and local bar associations. In some states or counties, these bar associations provide referrals to free or low-cost services for individuals with cancer.
- Lawhelp.org provides a search feature for free legal aid programs, legal information, and legal forms related to your state.
- For information about Medical-Legal Partnership programs in your state, visit the American Bar Association's Medical-Legal Partnership Locator.
State Cancer Information
- Your state's Comprehensive Cancer Control Program works to identify problems and develop solutions for health equity in cancer care and survivorship.
- Visit your State Cancer Coalition to learn more about the coalition of stakeholders working together to reduce the burden of cancer in your state.
- To see your state's strategic plan for reducing the burden of cancer in your state, visit the state Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.
- The National Cancer Institute (NCI) gathers data related to a state's cancer screening & risk factors, incidence, and mortality.
Transportation
- Local transit systems may provide free or discounted rates for low-income individuals and families. Some cities also offer bus passes, vouchers for taxi or ride-sharing services, or shuttle services for patients traveling to cancer treatments.
- Dial 211 for assistance.