Your ARHOME health insurance options are changing in 2027. Here’s what you need to know.
ARHOME stands for Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me, and it’s the Medicaid expansion program that uses Medicaid dollars to buy private health insurance for beneficiaries. One of those private insurance companies – Centene, also known as Ambetter, QCA, and QualChoice – is leaving at the end of 2026. If you have a plan through Centene, you will need to switch to an Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield plan.
To get ready for this change in 2027, Open Enrollment begins on October 15, 2026. The steps you need to take are outlined below.
What Do I Need to Do?
You have two choices to pick your new 2027 plan during Open Enrollment:
Option 1: Choose your own plan.
Look out for communications from DHS soon and follow the instructions to pick your new Blue Cross Blue Shield plan between October 15, 2026 and December 15, 2026. If you’re already in a Blue Cross plan, you don’t need to do anything. Your coverage will continue as is.
Option 2: Let the state choose for you.
If you do not pick a plan by the deadline, the state will automatically place you into a Blue Cross plan. Your coverage will not drop. If you are automatically placed in a Blue Cross plan, you will have 30 days to change your plan if you choose.
What are the Next Steps?
- Watch out for official communications from DHS about the changes.
- Log into your Access Arkansas account to make sure your address and contact information are up to date.
- Pick your plan between October 15 and December 15, 2026, if you want to choose your own plan. To learn more about plan options and choose your plan, visit ar.gov/ARMedicaid
