Best Health Insurance in Arkansas








Best Overall for Health Insurance in Arkansas
MoneyGeek’s research indicates that the overall best health insurance company in Arkansas is Blue Cross Blue Shield. The insurer received a high MoneyGeek score of 70 out of 100 for its fair maximum out-of-pocket costs, excellent plan offerings and superior claims management.
To find top health insurance providers in Arkansas, we reviewed data for five POS and 20 PPO Silver plans.
MoneyGeek Pick: Blue Cross Blue Shield

pros
Offers the highest array of plan types
Plans have relatively lower maximum out-of-pocket limits
Has a lower claims denial rate compared to other companies
cons
Plans are significantly more expensive compared to other providers
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Our top selection for the best health insurance company in Arkansas is Blue Cross Blue Shield. The provider has six Silver PPO plans. These plan types feature more out-of-network coverage options and higher flexibility but tend to be more expensive than other plans.
Blue Cross Blue Shield’s health insurance plans cost an average of $475 per month, the highest in the state. It has a fair average MOOP cost of $8,430 and a denial rate of approximately 18%, indicating that the insurer is less likely to deny customer claims.
Plan Recommendations
The following Silver Plans are MoneyGeek’s top three choices offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield in Arkansas:
- Silver Plan HSA1: $493 per month; MOOP $6,380
- Silver Plan Standardized: $424 per month; MOOP $8,900
- Silver Plan 2: $456 per month; MOOP $8,550
Best Health Insurance in Arkansas for Low Out-of-Pocket Costs
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers the best health insurance in Arkansas to those looking for a plan with low out-of-pocket costs. In addition to its low maximum out-of-pocket costs, it earned an impressive MoneyGeek score of 86 out of 100 for its superior claims management and plan offerings.
We evaluated 11 Gold plans, four Gold POS plans and nine Gold PPO plans to determine the best plans for this category.
MoneyGeek Pick: Blue Cross Blue Shield

pros
Offers the lowest MOOP costs of the evaluated providers
Ranked second for claims management, indicating that it has a low denial rate
Offers the most variety of plan types
cons
Has the second-highest health insurance cost in the state
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers two PPO Gold plans in Arkansas. While these plans have the average lowest MOOP cost in the state at $6,113, they feature a high average monthly cost of $581. The insurer approves most claims.
With PPO plans, you can enjoy more flexibility in choosing health care specialists since you do not need a referral to access services outside your network of providers.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek suggests getting the following plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield if you are interested in low-MOOP health insurance:
- Gold Plan HSA 1: $606 per month; MOOP $3,525
- Gold Plan Standardized: $556 per month; MOOP $8,700
Best Cheap Health Insurance in Arkansas
Ambetter provides the best cheap health insurance in Arkansas, scoring 80 out of 100 in MoneyGeek’s analysis.
For this category, MoneyGeek weighted affordability as the most important factor. Health insurance plans that feature a low monthly premium cost typically have higher out-of-pocket costs. These plans may still be cheaper for individuals who do not expect to use medical services regularly.
We reviewed data from five Silver POS and 20 Silver PPO plans to provide recommendations for the most affordable health insurance providers in Arkansas.
If you're focused soley on cost, MoneyGeek also determined the cheapest health insurance in Arkansas.
MoneyGeek Pick: Ambetter

pros
Has the lowest out-of-pocket maximum cost
Offers the most affordable rates in comparison to other providers
Ranked second among insurers for plan type offerings
cons
Denies claims more frequently than other evaluated insurers
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Ambetter’s average monthly premium cost of $439 is lower than all the other competitors we evaluated in Arkansas. Its average MOOP of $8,224 is also the most affordable.
While policyholders will be able to choose from a wide variety of plan options, their claims may be denied; on average, the insurer rejects over 38% of claims.
Arkansas health insurance buyers can select between three POS and 14 PPO Silver plans from Ambetter. POS plans offer more flexibility in provider choice at a lower cost, while PPOs offer the same flexibility with the added bonus of seeing a specialist without a referral.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the following top three cheapest plans from Ambetter if you reside in Arkansas:
- Focused Silver: $416 per month; MOOP $7,500
- Premier Silver: $427 per month; MOOP $7,550
- Everyday Silver: $417 per month; MOOP $8,400
Best Health Insurance for Low Income in Arkansas
Ambetter offers the best health insurance in Arkansas to low-income individuals. The insurer received a MoneyGeek score of 72 out of 100 for its affordability, plan offerings and low out-of-pocket costs.
To find the best insurers for low-income policyholders, our review only took into account those that offered cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) and featured lower monthly premiums. These were 25 in number, including five Silver POS plans and 20 Silver PPO plans.
Typically, policies with CSRs have lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for individuals whose income falls within a certain bracket of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), allowing you to get health insurance for a lower average monthly and yearly cost. While a standard Silver plan covers about 70% of health care costs, a CSR will cover more depending on your income. In Arkansas, the following income brackets receive the corresponding coverage:
- Annual income between $27,180 and $33,975 (201%–250% of the FPL) qualifies for a plan that pays about 73% of health costs
- Annual income between $20,385 and $27,180 (151%–200% of the FPL) qualifies for a plan that pays about 87% of health costs
- Annual income below $20,385 (Up to 150% of the FPL) qualifies for a plan that pays about 94% of health costs
The income bracket changes significantly based on the number of people in a household.
MoneyGeek Pick: Ambetter

pros
Most affordable monthly cost for low-income individuals
Offers a wide variety of plan-type options
cons
Highest claims denial rating of the insurers evaluated
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Low-income health insurance plans from Ambetter cost an average of $439 per month with a MOOP of $7,071. These figures are for individuals whose earnings fall below 250% of the FPL. While the insurer offers affordable policies, it frequently denies policyholders’ claims.
Ambetter offers three Silver POS and 14 Silver PPO plans with CSRs in Arkansas.
Plan Recommendations
The CMS Standard Silver is the best health insurance plan for low-income policyholders offered by Ambetter in Arkansas. Depending on your income level, you may consider the following plan options that feature comparable premiums and different out-of-pocket maximums:
- Focused Silver (201%–250% of the FPL): $416 per month; MOOP $6,300
- Premier Silver (151%–200% of the FPL): $427 per month; MOOP $2,300
- Focused Silver (Up to 150% of the FPL): $416 per month; MOOP $1,200
Best Health Insurance for Young Adults in Arkansas
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best health insurance provider for young adults in Arkansas, with a perfect MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100.
We analyzed Bronze and Catastrophic plans across various providers to establish the best companies in this category since these plans feature the lowest monthly costs and highest out-of-pocket maximums. Catastrophic plans are only available to buyers under age 30.
Specifically, we evaluated the following plan types in Arkansas:
- Bronze: three PPO plans
- Expanded Bronze: two POS and eight PPO plans
MoneyGeek Pick: Blue Cross Blue Shield

pros
Received the highest rating for claims approval
Offers the lowest average monthly premium
Lowest average MOOP cost
The best-rated provider for plan types
cons
PPO plans are popular for Blue Cross Blue Shield but may generally feature higher premiums than HMO and POS plans
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Blue Cross Blue Shield provides health insurance to young adults for an average of $317 per month and an average MOOP of $8,363. The company offers one PPO Bronze Plan and three PPO Expanded Bronze health insurance plans in Arkansas for a low cost and with more flexibility in provider network coverage.
Blue Cross Blue Shield only denies an average of 18% of claims. Of the insurers evaluated, the company has the lowest average out-of-pocket maximum and the lowest monthly premium.
Plan Recommendations
The top three health insurance plans for young adults from Blue Cross Blue Shield in Arkansas include:
- Bronze Plan HSA 1: $300 per month for 18-year-olds and $336 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $7,000
- Bronze Plan Standardized: $266 per month for 18-year-olds and $298 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $9,100
- Bronze Plan 1: $283 per month for 18-year-olds and $317 per month for 26-year-olds; MOOP $8,550
Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Arkansas
Plan types typically differ across each health insurance company. The best overall health insurance providers for each plan type in Arkansas are:
- POS: Health Advantage (MoneyGeek score: 60 out of 100)
- PPO: Ambetter (MoneyGeek score: 60 out of 100)
For this category, we only evaluated Silver plans since they provide the best combination of cost and health insurance coverage for the majority of individuals.
Arkansas has five Silver POS and 20 Silver PPO plans available.
MoneyGeek Pick for POS: Health Advantage

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Health Advantage offers two Silver POS plans in Arkansas for an average monthly premium of $449 and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $9,000.
Health Advantage rarely denies policyholder claims and offers a variety of plan options.
POS (Point of Service) plans offer more out-of-network coverage, but they come with a high cost. They suit individuals who need cheaper in-network coverage on specific care and the flexibility to access treatment outside of their provider network.
Plan Recommendations
The best POS Silver plans from Health Advantage are:
- HA Silver Plan Standardized: $425 per month; MOOP $8,900
- HA Silver Plan AH1: $472 per month; MOOP $9,100
MoneyGeek Pick for PPO: Ambetter

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Ambetter provides 14 different Silver PPO plans in Arkansas at an average monthly premium of $436 and an average MOOP of $8,179. The provider offers the lowest premium and MOOP compared to other PPO providers. Its downside, however, is the high claims denial rate.
Preferred Provider Organization, or PPO, plans are the second-most popular health insurance policies. These feature higher premiums than HMO plans but offer a more flexible provider network. Policyholders can access treatment from specialists without a referral.
Plan Recommendations
We recommend the following top two PPO plans from Ambetter:
- Focused Silver: $416 per month; MOOP $7,500
- Premier Silver: $427 per month; MOOP $7,550
Best Short-Term Health Insurance in Arkansas
MoneyGeek’s study found that National General Accident & Health provides the best short-term health insurance in Arkansas, scoring 95 out of 100. Short-term health insurance plans provide temporary coverage and do not include vital health benefits as required by the Affordable Care Act.

National General Accident & Health
National General Accident & Health offers Arkansas residents short-term PPO, accident, dental and critical illness health insurance plans at affordable rates. This provider has low application costs, co-insurance and MOOPs on specific policies, making it our top pick for temporary health insurance coverage.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Alabama
The best health insurance in Arkansas varies based on individual needs and budget. To get the best health insurance plan for you, consider how much you’re willing to spend each month to avoid paying more out of pocket for care.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
Arkansas has 40 PPOs and 11 POS plans. PPO plans are more common in Arkansas and offer a wider network of providers. They also allow you to see a specialist without a referral, although their premiums are a bit high. POS plans are less widely available, but they also offer out-of-network coverage. Typically, they cost more than PPO plans.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
Generally, plans with a low monthly premium feature a high MOOP. For instance, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Silver Plan 1 has a monthly premium of $480 and a MOOP of $8,952, while the Silver Plan HSA1 has a monthly premium of $493 and a MOOP of $6,380.
Consider Arkansas Medicare or Medicaid if You’re Eligible
If you are 65 or older or have a qualifying illness or disability, you may qualify for Medicare, a government health insurance program intended to finance part of your medical costs. Medicare comprises three types of coverage:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance): This covers the cost of inpatient hospital and nursing facility stays, home health care services and hospice care.
- Part B (Medical Insurance): This is the medical insurance component of Medicare. It covers the cost of outpatient services, including preventative care and doctor’s appointments.
- Part D (Prescription Drugs Coverage): A prescription coverage component that pays the cost of prescriptions.
We scored the best Medicare Supplement and best Medicare Advantage plans in Arkansas to help consumers select the right option.
Residents with earnings below 138% of the federal poverty level may also apply for Medicaid, a government-funded program for low-income earners. You may also qualify for Medicaid if you're pregnant, responsible for a child 17 years and below or have a member in your household with a disability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Health Insurance in Alabama
It’s common to have questions about cost and availability when choosing a health insurance provider and plan. We answered the most frequently asked questions about health insurance plans in Arkansas.
About Brenna Kelly, Licensed Health Insurance Agent
