Important information about open enrollment
We’re entering open enrollment season, the time of year when people can enroll or renew health insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace.
Marketplace open enrollment dates: November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027.
However, if you have coverage on the Marketplace or if you have ARHOME Medicaid coverage with a Centene plan, there’s some important information you need to know. Centene, which offers three of the current qualified health plans in ARHOME (Ambetter, QCA Health Plan, and Qualchoice Life and Health), has announced they will end participation in the program effective December 31, 2026.
Therefore, there is a special open enrollment period for Centene plan holders to select alternative plans from October 15, 2026, through December 15, 2026. Those who do not select an alternative plan during this period will be moved to another ARHOME plan and will not lose coverage.
Affordable healthcare is critical
In a series of focus groups Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families hosted across the state, we have already seen Arkansans making tough financial choices between healthcare and other necessities required to keep families afloat. Examples we heard included:
- Not paying rent due to needing a $360 inhaler
- Choosing between buying food and paying for diabetic testing strips that weren’t covered by insurance
- Relying on the internet for medical advice to avoid high healthcare costs
With the loss of enhanced premium tax credits and other changes due to H.R. 1, many Arkansans are already seeing their health insurance premiums and general costs of care increase dramatically, forcing them to make difficult financial choices, and suffering the consequences of high healthcare costs. That is why it is so important to continue to advocate for affordable healthcare coverage for all Arkansans and to ensure everyone in our state is aware of forthcoming changes to the healthcare landscape. Read on to learn the answers to some frequently asked questions regarding healthcare coverage through the ACA Marketplace and ARHOME, our Medicaid expansion program.
FAQs
- What is the ACA Marketplace?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace is a place where people can search for and purchase their own health insurance plans and compare different plans, coverage options, deductibles, and price points. - What is Open Enrollment on the ACA Marketplace?
Open enrollment on the ACA Marketplace is the timeframe in which people can enroll in new coverage or make changes to their existing health insurance coverage for the coming year. Many Arkansans have employer-sponsored health insurance, which may have different open enrollment periods, but open enrollment for those in Arkansas who purchase their health insurance on the ACA Marketplace is the same timeframe every year: November 1-January 15. - When is Open Enrollment on the ACA Marketplace in Arkansas?
Open enrollment for 2027 health insurance plans through the ACA Marketplace officially begins on November 1, 2026, and runs through January 15, 2027. But December 15, 2026, is the last day to enroll or change plans if you need your coverage to start on January 1, 2027. - How do I enroll in coverage or make changes to my existing coverage on the ACA Marketplace?
Arkansans can enroll in new coverage or make changes to existing coverage through the website HealthCare.gov. During open enrollment, participants can compare plans, review changes to premiums and deductibles of existing plans, update your household information, and choose a plan that works best for you. Due to changes from H.R. 1 and the loss of enhanced premium tax credits, many enrollees may once again see a steep increase in their premiums this year. If you have existing marketplace coverage, it is important that you review your plan options each year as premiums, services, and eligibility may have changed. - What should I consider when choosing a plan?
When choosing a health insurance plan, there are many things to consider, but here are the highlights:- What are the plan’s deductible, co-payments, out-of-pocket maximums, and prescription drug coverage? Do those figures match your budget and needs?
- Are your doctors or preferred providers included in the plan? If not, are you comfortable finding new providers?
- A plan with a lower monthly premium may have increased costs when you need care; is that something that works for your family and healthcare needs?
- Most importantly, consider your family’s health care needs and overall budget for care. Review all available plans to make the best choice for you and your family.
- What if I need help navigating the ACA Marketplace open enrollment process?
There are organizations that can help you navigate and complete the open enrollment process. Look for help in your area by visiting HealthCare.gov/localhelp. You do not have to do this alone! - I’m on a Centene plan through ARHOME. How is open enrollment different for me this year?
The Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME) program, Arkansas’s current version of Medicaid expansion, offers health insurance coverage to eligible enrollees through six qualified health plans administered by two insurance programs. One of those insurance programs, Centene, which offers three of the current qualified health plans in ARHOME, has announced that they will end participation in the program effective December 31, 2026.
Fortunately for beneficiaries, this change will not alter their coverage status. The 70,000 enrollees currently enrolled in a Centene plan — Ambetter, QCA Health Plan, or Qualchoice Life and Health — will move into one of the other three remaining Blue Cross Blue Shield qualified health plans. Those enrollees will be able to select a new Blue Cross Blue Shield plan during an early open enrollment period that began on October 15, 2026. Enrollees who do not select a new plan will be automatically assigned and transitioned into a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan.
Beginning October 1, 2026, DHS distributed notices to enrollees in the Centene plans about the change and the early open enrollment period. Centene has already notified enrollees of their exit from ARHOME. - What can I do now to prepare for upcoming changes to ARHOME?
Keep your contact information up to date by visiting Access Arkansas at https://access.arkansas.gov/ - Where can I learn more about what’s going on with Medicaid?
Check out our recent blog post.
And watch this video from the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
We must continue advocating for affordable and accessible healthcare
Families are already faced with tough choices, and access to affordable healthcare should not be one of them. No parent should have to choose between paying for healthcare and keeping food on the table or a roof over their child’s head. As Arkansans begin to navigate the open enrollment process and changes to healthcare coverage, we must continue providing families with the information and assistance they need to maintain stable coverage. Affordable healthcare is essential to the health and financial stability of all Arkansans and their families.
