Insurance companies in Arkansas proposed steep rate hikes for 2026 amid policy changes, prompting pushback from Governor Sanders.
ARKANSAS, USA — Every year, insurers propose a rate adjustment in correlation to market trends and health care costs.
But with the combination of tax credits like the American Rescue Plan Act and Inflation Reduction Act ending in December, new Medicaid work requirements and new insurance laws passed during this year’s legislative session all set to take effect in 2026, insurance companies in Arkansas are looking to raise their rates.
Specifically, Centene is seeking a 54% increase, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield has filed for a 25.5% hike, and Ambetter has requested a roughly 20% jump for their customers. All of these filings apply to individual market plans sold on or off the federal HealthCare.gov marketplace and would impact more than 350,000 Arkansans.
While 5NEWS did not receive a response from Centene or Ambetter after requesting interviews, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield provided a statement:
“Based on individual market filings nationally, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s request is consistent with what other insurers are requesting.”
“We want to assure Arkansans that we don’t take proposed rate increases lightly. As an Arkansas-based, not-for-profit mutual insurance company, we agree that the cost of healthcare is becoming unaffordable for families and businesses. Health insurance costs, however, are driven by the cost and use of healthcare services. In the last several years, we have seen substantial increases in the cost of hospitalizations, outpatient surgeries, prescription drugs, and overall utilization.”
That statement comes in response to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ public condemnation of the filings.
“Arkansans are tired of getting outrageous bills from multi-billion-dollar insurance companies, and my administration will not allow them to take advantage of our people. Nothing justifies year-over-year premium increases of this scale — it’s wrong and prohibited under Arkansas law,” Sanders said.
The governor added that the Arkansas Insurance Commissioner is required to disapprove of proposed rate increases if they are “excessive or discriminatory, and these are both.”
“I’m calling on my commissioner to follow the law, reject these insane rate increases, and protect Arkansans,” Sanders said.
5NEWS also reached out to the Arkansas Insurance Department for an interview with the commissioner. A spokesperson declined the request.
The Arkansas Insurance Department must submit its decision to accept or reject these rate increases to the federal government by Aug. 13. Final rates will go public on Nov. 1 ahead of the 2026 open enrollment period.