Arkansas Health Insurers Seek Large Rate Increases for 2026 Plans

For the 2026 plan year, health insurers in Arkansas have requested an average rate increase of 26.2% for individual on- and off-market health plans and 7.9% for small group plans. These proposed hikes exceed typical adjustments and are driven mainly by federal policy changes such as the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and the introduction of Medicaid work requirements, alongside recent Arkansas legislation mandating benefits, limiting prior authorizations, and regulating pharmacy benefit managers. The Arkansas Insurance Department will review these filings to ensure compliance with state laws that prohibit excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory rates, with rates subject to disapproval if found noncompliant. If approved, the individual market rate increase represents an unprecedented rise compared to previous years, notably surpassing the 6.2% average increase approved for 2025, while the small group plan increase is lower than last year's 10.2% hike but still notable. Arkansas has historically maintained some of the lowest individual market premiums in the region and ranked 16th lowest nationally for marketplace benchmark premiums in 2025.