Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Sept. 19, 2025, that her administration has negotiated significantly lower health insurance rate increases for Arkansans buying coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
After rejecting proposed hikes as high as 54.2% in August, Sanders said average increases for 2026 plans will now be 35.8% lower than first requested. The revised rates cover six plans offered by Centene and Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which together insure about 308,000 residents. The new premiums take effect Jan. 1.
“Healthcare costs are growing out of control, and Arkansans are fed up,” Sanders said in a statement. “By standing up to insurance companies, we were able to ease the burden on beneficiaries and taxpayers.”…