Ranked 14 of 15 states · median $828/mo · CMS PY2026
Licensed Independent Agent · NPN #22052447 · 21 States
A 40-year-old plumber 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 highest out-of-pocket maximum, Arkansas ranks 2 of 15 for this occupation.
Trade work concentrates cost into rare, expensive events rather than spreading it across the year. That inverts the usual shopping logic: a lower premium with a $9,200 ceiling is a worse deal than a higher premium with a $6,000 one, because the ceiling is what you actually hit. These rankings follow the ceiling.
Occupational context: Confined-space entry; sewage and biohazard exposure; back strain.
None of that changes your price. ACA plans in Arkansas are community rated — premium varies by age, ZIP code, tobacco use and household size only. Your occupation cannot be used to rate you, decline you, or exclude a condition. What it changes is which plan design is the right bet.
Premium is set by rating area, so a plumber 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Baxter | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Clark | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Crawford | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Franklin | $753 | Octave | $6,000 | 4 |
| Howard | $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 — worst-case exposure | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Lowest annual out-of-pocket maximum | $0 |
| Highest annual out-of-pocket maximum | $0 |
| Cheapest Gold plan @40 | $647 — Octave |
| Gold deductible | $5,900 |
| Cheapest Silver @40 | $753 — Octave |
| Cheapest Silver @50 | $1,052 |
For a plumber, the gap between $0 and $0 in annual out-of-pocket maximum is worth more than any premium difference on this page. One serious injury reaches that ceiling regardless of which plan you picked.
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
Cross-state numbers are useful for understanding whether Arkansas is treating you well, not for arbitrage. You cannot buy an out-of-state exchange plan. If you are a plumber weighing a relocation for other reasons, the premium difference is a real line item worth putting in the decision.
If you file a Schedule C as a plumber, the categories that usually show up are: Tools, van, licensing, materials, liability insurance. The health premium itself is normally an above-the-line deduction under IRC §162(l), which reduces AGI rather than requiring you to itemize. Your CPA should confirm it against your actual situation.
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 Plumbers in Arkansas and a blog covering deductibles, subsidies and special enrollment.