With a MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100, Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) offers the best health insurance in Arkansas with the greatest balance of affordability, customer service and coverage. However, if the company is unavailable in your area, Ambetter and Health Advantage also offer some of the top coverage options in the state.
Best Health Insurance in Arkansas
Updated: June 24, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) offers the best and most balanced health insurance coverage in Arkansas.
Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) provides the best cheap health insurance in Arkansas, with Silver-tier plans averaging about $295 per month, where available.
To find the best health insurance in Arkansas, educate yourself on companies available to you, decide coverage needs beforehand and compare plan quotes from several companies.
Best Health Insurance Companies in Arkansas
Best Provider | MG Score | Best Plan |
|---|---|---|
Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) | 82 | Octave Silver AH |
Ambetter | 74 | Everyday Silver |
Health Advantage | 70 | HA Silver AH |
*Our picks are the best companies for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier plans.
Best Health Insurance in Arkansas by Category
While we've given our top picks overall, the best company for you may differ depending on your profile and preferred plan type. So below, we've broken down the top picks for common categories to make more personalized recommendations.
Category | Best Provider |
|---|---|
Children/Familes | Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) |
Young Adults | Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) |
Seniors | Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) |
PPO | Ambetter |
POS | Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) |
Best Arkansas Health Insurance Reviews
So that you can learn about our recommendations, we've broken down our top picks overall, for affordability and customer service reputation.
Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK): Best overall
pros
Most affordable rates in the state
Highest customer reputation score in Arkansas
Best overall for most in Arkansas
cons
Largest number of in-network counties
No out-of-network coverage, unless there's a medical emergency
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) offers excellent value with Silver plans starting at $295 monthly. It provides the best health insurance in Arkansas through one of the largest provider networks available, making it easier to find doctors throughout all 75 counties. As the largest health insurance provider in the state, founded in 1948, this not-for-profit mutual company uses approximately 85% of collected premiums for customer benefits. It maintains an "A" rating from AM Best Company, offering comprehensive individual, family and group health plans with excellent customer service.
How to Find the Best Health Insurance for You in Arkansas
The following recommendations will ensure that buying health insurance that is ideal for you is easy.
Decide on your coverage needs before buying
When looking for the best health insurance, weigh the monthly cost against the maximum out-of-pocket limits for plans. If you go to the doctor often, a plan with a higher monthly fee but lower MOOP can save you money. But you may not need as much coverage if you're not high risk. Also, compare health insurance plan types to ensure how flexible a provider will be in covering you.
Compare company offerings and reputations
Before comparing rates, understand what plans the top companies in your area offer and their terms. Also, look into company reputations through forums and industry sources like J.D. Power to ensure a smooth buying and coverage claims process.
Shop around
Comparing multiple plans from many providers ensures you get the best possible deal. We found that rates can start at $295 per month in Arkansas, depending on your profile and chosen plan type. Open Enrollment lasts from November 1 to January 15, but you may also qualify for Special Enrollment if you've lost your job, divorced or had a child.
Take advantage of federal programs and subsidies
Those with low income, have a qualifying disability or illness, or are 65 years old or older can receive subsidies or be eligible for Medicare plans. In some cases, depending on your details, you can have up to 100% of your premiums covered if you're low-income or have significant savings if you're eligible for Medicare. MoneyGeek also provides information for finding the top Arkansas Medicare Supplement and best Medicare Advantage plans in Arkansas if you want to learn more.
Best Health Insurance in Arkansas: Bottom Line
Our top three picks for Arkansas health insurance are Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK), Ambetter and Health Advantage. However, the best possible health insurance plan for you will vary widely depending on your personal details and coverage needs. Compare as many plans and companies as possible to get the right fit.
Best Arkansas Health Insurance: FAQ
Below we've answered frequently asked questions about the best health insurance in Arkansas:
What is the best health insurance provider in Arkansas for 2025?
Octave (Blue Cross Blue Shield AK) provides the best health insurance in Arkansas for 2025. However, your best choice will depend on your unique circumstances and needs and if coverage is available in your county.
What should you look for when shopping for the best health insurance plan in Arkansas?
When finding the best health insurance plan, compare premium costs and coverage breadth to ensure the plan meets your specific medical needs without gaps in essential services. The ideal plan balances affordability with comprehensive coverage that aligns with your health requirements and anticipated medical expenses.
How We Chose the Best Health Insurance in Arkansas
To rank health care insurance providers in Arkansas, MoneyGeek researched premiums, out-of-pocket costs, claims denial rates and plan types for each available company and compared them across different categories. We then weighted each category to calculate an overall MoneyGeek score and derive rankings.
We weighted most categories as follows:
- Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) score (30%): The MOOP is the most you'll pay per year for health care costs outside of your monthly premiums. The provider with the lowest average MOOP scores the highest.
- Claims denial score (30%): How often a provider denies claims. The provider with the lowest claims denial rate scores the highest.
- Rate score (20%): How much the provider's monthly plans cost. The cheapest provider, on average, gets the highest score.
- Plan type score (20%): Providers score better if they have plan types with broader coverage. A provider with many PPO plans will get the highest score.
In some cases, we adjusted the weightings as follows:
- For the categories "Best Cheap Health Insurance in Arkansas" and "Best Health Insurance in Arkansas for Low Income," we increased the rate score weighting to 50%. We decreased every other category by 10%.
- For the category "Best Health Insurance by Plan Type in Arkansas," we decreased the plan type score weighting to 0% to reflect that we are comparing providers' plans like-for-like. We increased MOOP and claims denial score weightings by 10% each.
Sample Consumer:
MoneyGeek collected data on all available plans in Arkansas for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Unless otherwise noted, all monthly premiums are for a 40-year-old buyer, such as the category for young adults. Plans analyzed in each section include the relevant cited metal tiers, which include Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like 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!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.