Ranked 14 of 15 states · median $828/mo · CMS PY2026
Licensed Independent Agent · NPN #22052447 · 21 States
A 40-year-old nurse practitioner in Arkansas pays a median $828/month for a Silver plan before subsidies — 14th of 15 on cost. The cheapest plan in the state is $753 from Octave in Arkansas. On median Silver premium, Arkansas ranks 14 of 15 for this occupation.
Patient-facing and on-your-feet work produces steady, predictable claims — routine visits, refills, physical therapy, the occasional urgent care. That profile is decided by copay design and by whether your providers are in network, not by the sticker premium, so carrier count sits alongside cost below.
Occupational context: Needlestick and infectious exposure; standing strain.
This is background for choosing a plan, not for pricing one. Since 2014 every Arkansas exchange plan has been guaranteed issue and community rated: same age, same ZIP, same tobacco status means the same filed premium whether you are a nurse practitioner or an accountant. Occupation changes the shopping criteria, nothing else.
Premium is set by rating area, so a nurse practitioner in one Arkansas county can pay materially more than one an hour away. Six counties from across the state, cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old:
| County | Cheapest Silver @40 | Issuer | Deductible | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Ashley | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Chicot | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Craighead | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Faulkner | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Hot Spring | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
The spread across just these six is $0/month — $0 a year for the same metal tier. Statewide the range runs $753 to $879. Coverage by County publishes all 75 Arkansas counties individually.
| Arkansas — network and cost | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Median Silver premium @40 | $828 |
| Cheapest Silver @40 | $753 — Octave (Arkansas) |
| Most expensive Silver @40 | $879 |
| Carriers filing in the state | 4 — Ambetter from Arkansas Health & Wellness, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Health Advantage, Octave |
| Plan types available | POS, PPO |
| Counties with only one carrier | 0 of 75 |
Arkansas has 4 carriers filing and 0 of 75 counties served by a single issuer. For a nurse practitioner with an established provider relationship, that carrier count is the number that decides whether you keep your doctor.
Source: CMS Plan Year 2026 Qualified Health Plan Landscape file. 3,900 plan records across 75 Arkansas counties. Full-price filed rates before premium tax credits — verify at enrollment.
Cheaper for the same coverage: Utah ($805), Texas ($807), North Carolina ($828). More expensive: Nebraska ($875).
Side-by-side: Arkansas vs Texas · Arkansas vs North Carolina · Arkansas vs Nebraska
Read the comparison as context, not as a shopping list. Your county of residence determines what you can buy, and for a nurse practitioner that is fixed unless you relocate. Where it is actionable is a move already in progress — that is a qualifying life event, and you have 60 days on either side of it.
Deduction categories that generally fit this trade: Malpractice insurance, licensing, DEA registration, CE. Note the ordering problem with health premiums: the §162(l) deduction lowers your AGI, and your AGI is what sets your premium tax credit, so the two calculate against each other. That is a CPA conversation and worth having before you enroll, not after.
If your household income is above the subsidy range, ACA is not automatically the answer. There are other categories of coverage that may fit, and they work very differently. That is a conversation, not a web page.
The cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old in Arkansas is $753 per month from Octave, with a state median of $828. Both figures are full price before premium tax credits; most buyers pay less after subsidies.
No. Under the ACA, carriers cannot rate, decline, or exclude based on occupation or health history. Rates vary only by age, ZIP code, tobacco use and household size.
Yes. Plan types filed for 2026: POS, PPO.
Arkansas ranks 14 of 15 states covered here, at a median $828 per month. Indiana is cheapest at $558 and Nebraska is most expensive at $875.
This page compares states. For Arkansas specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — I publish that on Coverage by County, including a page written for Nurse Practitioners in Arkansas and a blog covering deductibles, subsidies and special enrollment.