Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026)
After the largest premium jump on record in Arkansas last year, a lot of families are asking what they can realistically afford for 2027. This page answers that with the actual income lines, the share of income you are expected to pay, and the programs that fill in around them. For dates, insurers and statewide rules, see our Arkansas health insurance guide.
Four paths to affordable health insurance in Arkansas
Because Arkansas expanded Medicaid, nobody falls into a coverage gap here. Which path is cheapest for you depends on household income and who is in the household.
- ARHOME (adults 19–64, up to about 138% FPL): Arkansas’s Medicaid expansion, which buys private Marketplace plans with Medicaid funds. From January 1, 2027, most members must complete 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteering unless exempt.
- ARKids First for children: ARKids A is full Medicaid at no cost; ARKids B is the state’s CHIP program for higher incomes, with copays for some services.
- Marketplace plan with a premium tax credit (above the ARHOME limit up to 400% FPL), plus cost-sharing reductions up to 250% FPL.
- Unsubsidized coverage above 400% FPL: compare Marketplace and off-exchange plans, and consider HSA-eligible options.
Apply for ARHOME and ARKids at Access.Arkansas.gov or a local DHS county office; both accept applications all year. For a Marketplace plan, use HealthCare.gov during Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period.
Affordable health insurance Arkansas income limits for 2027
Eligibility for 2027 coverage is measured against the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines from ASPE. Use your best estimate of 2027 household income, meaning modified adjusted gross income for everyone on your tax return.
| Household size | 100% FPL | 138% FPL (ARHOME adult limit) | 400% FPL (subsidy cliff) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $22,025 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $29,863 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,702 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $45,540 | $132,000 |
Children qualify for ARKids at higher incomes than adults qualify for ARHOME; the DHS ARKids page publishes the current limits. That means a family can have parents on a subsidized Marketplace plan and kids on ARKids at the same time.
Your expected share of income for 2027
The premium tax credit limits what you pay for the benchmark (second-lowest-cost) silver plan to a set share of household income. The IRS published the 2027 percentages in Rev. Proc. 2026-26.
| Household income (% FPL) | Expected contribution |
|---|---|
| Under 133% | 2.15% |
| 133% – 150% | 3.23% – 4.30% |
| 150% – 200% | 4.30% – 6.78% |
| 200% – 250% | 6.78% – 8.66% |
| 250% – 300% | 8.66% – 10.22% |
| 300% – 400% | 10.22% |
| Over 400% | No subsidy |
Those percentages are a little higher than in 2026, when the range was 2.10% to 9.96%. The credit is a fixed amount once calculated, so you can apply it to any metal level. Our 2027 subsidies guide works through examples.
Honesty.AI applies the 2027 rules to your income, household and county and ranks plans by total yearly cost.
What happened to Arkansas premiums, and what’s next
For 2026, the Arkansas Insurance Department approved an average Marketplace increase of 22.2%, the largest one-year rise on record in the state, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. At the same time, the enhanced federal credits expired, so many subsidized families felt the change twice.
For 2027 the requests are smaller: insurers proposed changes from 3.1% to 15.9%, per a review of the filings by ACASignups, pending AID approval. Two Centene companies, Celtic Insurance Company and QualChoice Life and Health Insurance Company, did not file 2027 rates, so some Arkansans will need to choose a new plan. Shopping is how you find affordable health insurance; Arkansas renewals are rarely the best deal by default.
Why silver often wins under 250% FPL
If your household earns up to 250% of the poverty level, silver plans come with cost-sharing reductions that cut the deductible, copays and out-of-pocket maximum. These extra savings exist only on silver plans bought through the Marketplace, as HealthCare.gov explains.
The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum for a standard plan can reach $12,000 for one person or $24,000 for a family. A bronze plan with the lowest premium leaves you exposed to that, while a cost-sharing silver plan limits it. For anyone who expects regular prescriptions, a pregnancy or ongoing care, compare plans on premium plus expected costs. Our guide to how to choose a health plan has a worksheet approach.
Arkansas cities: local affordability notes
Program rules are statewide, but what counts as affordable health insurance in Arkansas also depends on which hospitals and clinics are near you. These are the two metros where Arkansans search most.
Little Rock
Central Arkansas has the state’s biggest concentration of hospitals, including UAMS, Arkansas Children’s, Baptist Health and CHI St. Vincent. UAMS runs a financial assistance program for qualifying Arkansas patients, and community health centers operated by Jefferson Comprehensive Care System have Little Rock clinics. Read the Little Rock health insurance guide.
Fayetteville
Northwest Arkansas is growing fast, with University of Arkansas students, a large Marshallese community nearby and a mix of systems including Washington Regional, Mercy and Freeman. Community Clinic has locations across the region. See the Fayetteville health insurance guide.
Who has the hardest time finding affordable coverage
Arkansas still has more uninsured working-age adults than most states: 12.9% of Arkansans ages 19 to 64 were uninsured in 2024, compared with 7.7% of children, according to the Census Bureau. A few groups come up again and again.
- Adults just above 138% FPL, who move from ARHOME to a Marketplace plan after a raise. Silver plans with cost-sharing reductions are usually the soft landing.
- Self-employed Arkansans in farming, trucking, construction and small retail, whose income swings year to year. Estimating 2027 income carefully protects both the premium and the tax return.
- Early retirees and two-earner couples just above 400% FPL, who lost all help when the enhanced credits ended.
- ARHOME members who may not meet the 2027 work rule. Reporting activities or an exemption on time keeps coverage active; if coverage ends, a Special Enrollment Period opens.
Each of these groups can still find affordable health insurance; Arkansas just requires a closer look at income and timing than it did a few years ago.
Help with medical bills in Arkansas
Even good coverage leaves gaps, and uninsured stretches happen. These resources lower costs without replacing insurance.
- Hospital financial assistance. Nonprofit hospitals must publish a financial assistance policy. UAMS Health, for example, has a financial assistance application for Arkansas patients.
- Community health centers charge on an income-based sliding scale and often help with ARHOME and ARKids applications.
- Catastrophic plans are available to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, though they can’t be combined with a premium tax credit.
- Good-faith estimates. If you are uninsured or paying yourself, providers must give you an estimate in advance when you schedule care.
For national context, see our main affordable health insurance guide. Many Arkansans who think they can’t afford a plan find a better answer once their real income is run through the 2027 rules. That is the quickest route to affordable health insurance: Arkansas income, county and household, all checked together.
Affordable Arkansas coverage, with someone on your side
Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent. It compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans for your family, checks ARHOME and subsidy eligibility, and helps you enroll, 24/7 by chat, voice or text.
Frequently asked questions
What is the income limit for ARHOME in 2027?
ARHOME covers adults 19 to 64 with household income up to about 138% of the federal poverty level, about $22,025 for one person or $45,540 for a family of four under the 2026 guidelines. Apply at Access.Arkansas.gov or a local DHS county office.
Can my kids get ARKids First if I buy a Marketplace plan?
Yes. Children often qualify for ARKids First at incomes where parents qualify for a subsidized Marketplace plan instead. ARKids A is Medicaid with no cost; ARKids B is CHIP with copays for some services. Both use the same application.
Who qualifies for a premium tax credit in Arkansas for 2027?
Arkansans who buy a plan through HealthCare.gov, earn above the ARHOME limit and up to 400% of the poverty level, and have no affordable job-based coverage. For 2027 the expected payment for the benchmark silver plan ranges from 2.15% to 10.22% of household income.
Are Arkansas health insurance rates going up for 2027?
Insurers proposed 2027 changes from 3.1% to 15.9%, smaller than the 22.2% average increase approved for 2026. Final rates depend on Arkansas Insurance Department approval, and your own cost depends on your subsidy, plan and county.
Does Arkansas have a state health insurance subsidy?
We found no Arkansas-only premium subsidy for individual Marketplace plans in 2027. Help comes from federal premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, plus ARHOME and ARKids First for lower incomes.
Keep learning: Arkansas health insurance guide · Little Rock · Fayetteville · 2027 subsidies · How to choose a plan
