Arkansas's cheapest health insurance comes from Blue Cross Blue Shield at $642 monthly on average, which cuts costs by $92 compared to statewide pricing. Second-place Octave charges $706 monthly ($28 savings), followed by Ambetter's $775 rate ($41 savings).
Cheapest Health Insurance in Arkansas: Affordable Plans for 2026
Updated: December 29, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Octave and Ambetter have the cheapest health insurance in Arkansas, with average monthly rates ranging from $642 to $775.
Octave offers the most affordable health insurance in Arkansas across most demographics and POS plans ($764 monthly). Coverage for children averages $457 monthly, teens $546, young adults $612, adults $764 and seniors $1,622. Blue Cross Blue Shield leads for PPO plans ($789).
Cheapest Health Insurance Providers in Arkansas
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $642 | $92 | $7,704 | $1,104 |
| Octave | $706 | $28 | $8,472 | $336 |
| Ambetter | $775 | $41 | $9,300 | $492 |
| Health Advantage | $785 | $51 | $9,420 | $612 |
*Average monthly costs represent the mean of all plan rates for each provider in Arkansas, rounded to the nearest dollar. Monthly savings show the cost difference between each provider's average rate and the statewide benchmark.
Blue Cross Blue Shield
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Deductible
5/5MOOP
Avg. Monthly Rate
$642Avg. MOOP
$6,616Avg. Deductible
$4,333
Most Affordable Arkansas Health Insurance By Category
Age, plan design and metal tier determine your premium costs. Balance monthly rates with deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket expenses to choose the best health insurance provider in Arkansas.
Octave offers the cheapest rates across most demographics in Arkansas. You'll pay higher deductibles ($3,100 average) and out-of-pocket limits ($4,973 average) for those low premiums.
| Children | Octave | $457 | $5,486 | $4,973 | $3,100 |
| Teens | Octave | $546 | $6,547 | $4,973 | $3,100 |
| Young Adults | Octave | $612 | $7,343 | $4,973 | $3,100 |
| Adults | Octave | $764 | $9,164 | $4,973 | $3,100 |
| POS | Octave | $764 | $9,164 | $4,973 | $3,100 |
| PPO | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $789 | $9,467 | $4,994 | $3,100 |
| Seniors | Octave | $1,622 | $19,462 | $4,973 | $3,100 |
*These are average rates for all plan types and metal levels, with teens at 18, young adults at 26, adults at 40 and seniors at 60. For plan type costs, we used average rates for 40-year-olds.
Most Affordable Arkansas Health Insurance By Metal Level
Blue Cross Blue Shield leads Catastrophic coverage at $356 monthly, Health Advantage offers the cheapest Expanded Bronze plans at $470, and Octave leads Gold at $673 and Silver at $764 for 40-year-olds. Health Advantage has the lowest Platinum rates at $873 with a $553 deductible.
| Catastrophic | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $356 | $4,270 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| Expanded Bronze | Health Advantage | $470 | $5,636 | $7,491 | $6,553 |
| Gold | Octave | $673 | $8,076 | $5,325 | $2,963 |
| Silver | Octave | $764 | $9,164 | $4,973 | $3,100 |
| Platinum | Health Advantage | $873 | $10,477 | $2,719 | $553 |
Cheap Arkansas Health Insurance: Personalized Picks
Filter Arkansas health insurance plans by age, plan type and metal level to find rates that match your needs.
Data filtered by:
POS
Silver
40
No
| Octave | Octave Silver Standardized | $753 | POS | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Octave | Octave Silver Ah | $775 | POS | Silver | $4,289 | No Data | 40 | No |
| Health Advantage | Ha Silver Standardized | $785 | POS | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Health Advantage | Ha Silver Ah | $807 | POS | Silver | $4,310 | No Data | 40 | No |
| Ambetter | Standard Silver (Qualchoice) | $810 | POS | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Ambetter | Connected Silver (Qualchoice) | $828 | POS | Silver | $5,793 | No Data | 40 | No |
| Ambetter | Standard Silver (Qualchoice) + Vision + Adult Dental | $833 | POS | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Ambetter | Connected Silver (Qualchoice) + Vision + Adult Dental | $851 | POS | Silver | $5,793 | No Data | 40 | No |
How to Get Cheap Health Insurance in Arkansas
Arkansas health insurance rates vary widely. Use these strategies to find affordable coverage that meets your needs.
- 1Look Beyond the Cheapest Plans
Don't default to the cheapest Bronze or Catastrophic plan. Silver and Gold plans provide better value when you factor in lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, especially if you need regular medical care.
- 2Assess Your Medical Spending
Review last year's health care spending. If you only visited the doctor twice and didn't need prescriptions, a high-deductible plan saves money. For example, if you spent $500 last year on two routine doctor visits and one urgent care trip, a Bronze plan with a $6,000 deductible might save you $150 monthly compared to a Gold plan.
- 3Explore HMO Options
HMO plans cost less than PPO options in Arkansas. You'll need to stay within the provider network, but HMO providers can save you $100 or more monthly.
- 4Verify Subsidy Eligibility
Premium tax credits from the Health Insurance Marketplace reduce your monthly costs based on your income. Even middle-income families qualify for assistance. Check your eligibility before purchasing a plan.
- 5Time Your Purchase Right
Open enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15 each year. Missing this window means waiting until next year unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to major life changes like marriage, birth or job loss.
Cheapest Health Insurance in Arkansas: Bottom Line
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the cheapest health insurance provider in Arkansas, followed by Octave and Ambetter. Compare rates from all three insurers across metal tiers and plan types to find your lowest cost.
Affordable Health Insurance in Arkansas: FAQ
We answer common questions about health insurance in Arkansas:
How do I get cheap health insurance in Arkansas?
Shop during open enrollment (November 1 to January 15) and compare plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Octave and Ambetter across multiple metal tiers. Check your eligibility for premium tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplace. HMO plans cost less than PPO options in Arkansas.
How much does health insurance cost in Arkansas?
Health insurance in Arkansas costs an average of $727 monthly ($8,724 annually) across all plan types and metal levels. Monthly rates range from $213 to $1,854 depending on your age, coverage tier and plan type.
Does Arkansas require health insurance?
Arkansas doesn't require health insurance. The federal individual mandate penalty ended in 2019, so you won't face tax penalties for going uninsured. Coverage provides financial protection from high medical costs and covers preventive care and treatment.
Our Methodology
Comparing health insurance in Arkansas means sorting through multiple providers with different rate structures across age groups and plan types. We analyzed every available plan from federal marketplace data to identify which insurers offer the lowest premiums for Arkansas residents.
Research Approach
We collected premium data for five ages: 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. These ages show how rates change from young adult coverage through near-Medicare eligibility, revealing the full cost range Arkansas residents face at different life stages.
Why We Focus on 40-Year-Olds
Our primary affordability rankings use 40-year-old rates because this age sits at the midpoint of the working-age population in Arkansas. Using one consistent age removes variables and provides clear comparisons across providers without age distorting the results.
Age-Specific Rankings
We also ranked insurers separately at each age bracket. A provider that's cheapest for young adults might not be most affordable for someone near 60, so these age-specific rankings help you find the best rate for your life stage.
All data comes from federal sources and covers metal tiers and plan types available to Arkansas residents through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Related Articles
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.