HealthSpring is the best Medicare Advantage provider in Arkansas, with a median maximum annual cost exposure of $4,750 and a 4.5 CMS star rating. Cost-conscious enrollees in Essence Healthcare’s 10-county service area may prefer its plans, which have the lowest median cost exposure on this list at $3,750. Humana and UnitedHealthcare serve all 75 Arkansas counties, offering broad access for rural residents. Aetna Medicare and Wellcare round out our list but have higher median cost exposure than our top-ranked carriers.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Arkansas (2026)
Updated: September 1, 2026
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Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Arkansas
| Overall rating based on cost, quality, benefits and availability. | Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum. | Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans. | Number of Arkansas counties where plans are offered. | Number of Medicare Advantage plans offered in Arkansas. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HealthSpring | 4.6 | $4,750 | 4.5 | 43 | 5 |
Essence Healthcare | 4.3 | $3,750 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
Humana | 4.2 | $5,900 | 3.5 | 75 | 15 |
UnitedHealthcare | 4.1 | $6,700 | 4 | 75 | 7 |
Aetna Medicare | 4.1 | $8,575 | 4 | 59 | 8 |
Wellcare | 4.0 | $6,500 | 3.25 | 75 | 7 |
* Arkansas Blue Medicare and Devoted Health also operate in Arkansas but aren't included here because they either scored below our threshold or lacked sufficient data for a complete evaluation.
Arkansas Medicare Advantage Market Overview
Arkansas Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have broad plan access but uneven quality. The state has 49 non-SNP plans across eight carriers, and nearly all have a $0 monthly premium. But fewer than four in 10 Medicare contracts earn at least four CMS stars, and maximum annual cost exposure ranges from $3,350 to $9,250 by plan.
Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans | 49 | Arkansas beneficiaries can choose from 49 non-SNP plans across the state. |
Carriers | 8 | Beneficiaries have plan options from eight insurance companies. |
CMS contracts | 19 | Some carriers offer plans through multiple Medicare contracts. |
Median plans per county | 29 | The median Arkansas county has 29 plans available. |
Medicare Advantage enrollment in non-SNP plans | 164,651 | More than 164,000 people are enrolled in the plans we analyzed. |
Plans with a $0 premium | 98% | Nearly all Arkansas plans charge no additional monthly premium. |
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP) | $6,500 | This limits annual in-network medical cost sharing under most plans. |
MOOP range | $3,350–$9,250 | Worst-case annual cost exposure varies widely between plans. |
Average CMS star rating | 3.56 out of 5 | Arkansas plans average slightly more than 3.5 stars for CMS quality measures. |
Contracts rated 4+ stars | 36.8% | Nearly two-thirds of Arkansas Medicare contracts have ratings lower than four stars. |
HealthSpring
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4.2/5Benefits & Access
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$4,750Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
43Plans Available
5
Essence Healthcare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
4.6/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
3.9/5Benefits & Access
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$3,750Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
10Plans Available
2
Humana
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
4.4/5Benefits & Access
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,900Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
75Plans Available
15
UnitedHealthcare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Access
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$6,700Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
75Plans Available
7
Aetna Medicare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
3.9/5Affordability
4.2/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Access
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$8,575Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
59Plans Available
8
WellCare
MoneyGeek Rating
4/ 5
4.2/5Affordability
3.7/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Access
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$6,500Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.25Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
75Plans Available
7
How to Choose the Best Arkansas Medicare Advantage Plans
Arkansas Medicare Advantage beneficiaries can choose from 49 plans across eight carriers. The right plan depends on how you prioritize potential medical costs, provider flexibility and supplemental benefits. Since 98% of plans have a $0 monthly premium, focus on what you could owe when receiving care rather than the monthly premium alone.
- 1Network type
Arkansas HMO plans have a median out-of-pocket maximum of $5,900, compared with $6,700 for HMO-POS plans and $7,250 for PPOs. HMOs can reduce potential cost exposure if your preferred providers are in-network and you’re comfortable with referral requirements. PPOs provide more flexibility to use out-of-network providers but have higher cost limits.
- 2Maximum out-of-pocket limits
Annual limits range from $3,350 to $9,250 across Arkansas plans. Confirm each plan’s limit and review cost sharing for services you expect to use, including hospital stays and specialist visits.
- 3CMS star ratings
Only 36.8% of Arkansas Medicare Advantage contracts have CMS star ratings of four stars or higher, while the statewide average is 3.56 out of five. Use star ratings to compare overall performance in areas such as care quality, member experience and plan administration.
- 4Supplemental benefits
Nearly 94% of Arkansas plans include dental coverage and 98% include vision, but only 41% offer hearing benefits. Aetna Medicare, Arkansas Blue Medicare, Essence Healthcare and WellCare include hearing coverage across all their plans. Compare benefit limits and covered services, not just whether coverage is included.
- 5County availability
Humana, UnitedHealthcare and Wellcare serve all 75 Arkansas counties. Other carriers have smaller service areas, including Devoted Health in 24 counties and Essence Healthcare in 10. Confirm which plans are available in your county before comparing their costs and benefits.
- 6Member experience
The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) rating measures members’ experiences with customer service, care access and communication with providers. Arkansas plans average 86 out of 100 on the C26 CAHPS measure. Use this rating as a tiebreaker between otherwise comparable plans.
How Much Does Arkansas Medicare Advantage Cost?
Most Arkansas Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 monthly premium in 2026, but costs vary by plan type. HMOs have the lowest median out-of-pocket maximum at $5,900, compared with $7,450 for regional PPOs. This $1,550 difference can matter if you need extensive medical care. Primary care and specialist copays are similar across plan types, so the tradeoff between maximum cost exposure and network flexibility is the main consideration.
Median Monthly Premium | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Median Max Out-of-Pocket | $5,900 | $6,700 | $7,250 | $7,450 |
Median Inpatient Copay | $295 | $380 | $360 | $460 |
Median PCP Copay | $15 | $15 | $15 | $15 |
Median Specialist Copay | $35 | $32 | $35 | $35 |
* Median cost figures across all 49 non-SNP Arkansas Medicare Advantage plans. All dollar figures rounded to nearest dollar. Source: CMS 2026 data, MoneyGeek analysis.
Arkansas Medicare Advantage Resources
Use these state and federal resources to compare Medicare Advantage plans, understand eligibility and get help choosing coverage.
- Medicare Plan Finder: Compare Medicare Advantage plans available in your ZIP code, including premiums, cost sharing and CMS star ratings.
- Arkansas State Health Insurance Assistance Program: Get free, unbiased counseling from trained advisors who can help you compare plans and understand your Medicare options.
- Arkansas Insurance Department: Access consumer resources, learn about state insurance regulations and file complaints about insurers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two main enrollment windows apply. The Annual Enrollment Period starts from October 15 to December 7 and coverage begins January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period starts January 1 to March 31 and allows one plan switch if you're already enrolled. Qualifying life events such as moving to a new county or losing other health coverage, trigger a Special Enrollment Period outside these windows.
Most Arkansas Medicare Advantage plans include Part D drug coverage. Before enrolling, confirm your medications are on the plan's formulary and check their tier level, higher tiers mean higher copays at the pharmacy. Some plans waive deductibles on lower-tier drugs, which can reduce your annual costs if you take maintenance medications.
Arkansas offers HMO, PPO, Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and PFFS plans. HMOs require you to use a provider network and get referrals for specialists. PPOs give you more flexibility to see out-of-network providers, usually at a higher cost.
Most plans in Arkansas include dental, vision and hearing benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover. Some plans also offer OTC allowances, fitness memberships and transportation assistance. Benefit amounts and coverage details differ by plan, so comparing options before you enroll matters.
Our Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluated Arkansas Medicare Advantage companies using five CMS data sources for the 2026 plan year, including the Medicare Plan Landscape File, Plan Benefit Package files, CMS Star Ratings, the CAHPS Report Card Master Table and the Contract/Plan Enrollment file.
How We Score Carriers
Each carrier in the state receives an overall MoneyGeek score out of five from a weighted average of three category scores:
- Affordability (40%): Maximum annual cost exposure, calculated as annual premiums plus the maximum out-of-pocket limit, along with inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs.
- Quality and Member Experience (40%): CMS Star Ratings make up 60% of this category and CAHPS C26 member ratings make up 40%. Both are measured at the contract level.
- Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, make up 50% of this category. County coverage makes up 30% and plan choice per county makes up 20%.
About Patrick Bryant
Patrick Bryant is the Vertical Lead for Health Insurance at MoneyGeek, where he researches insurance products, writes consumer guides and maintains the scoring methodologies behind our provider comparisons. He analyzed more than 100 health insurance carriers across all 50 U.S. states and multiple policy types. His methodologies are reviewed quarterly to reflect current market conditions and carrier data.
Sources
- CMS.gov. "Medicare Advantage Resources." Accessed September 4, 2026.
- Medicare.gov. "Welcome to Medicare." Accessed September 4, 2026.