Arkansas Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Arkansas?

Arkansas was ranked in 2009 as the 40th healthiest state to live in, according to the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• The state's improved ranking was due in part to a decrease in the rate of preventable hospitalizations and a decrease in the rate of deaths from cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of smoking has also decreased by 3.6 percentage points – to 22.3 percent – in the past 10 years.

  The bad news:

  • The prevalence of obesity in Arkansas has risen 4.3 percentage points – to 29.5 percent – in the past five years.
  • Only three states had worse rankings for premature death.

  The state's best and worst category ratings:

  • Prevalence of binge drinking – 7th
  • Prevalence of obesity – 41st
  • Number of primary care physicians – 41st
  • Prenatal care – 41st
  • Prevalence of smoking – 43rd
  • Poor physical health days – 43rd
  • Infant mortality – 43rd
  • Preventable hospitalizations – 44th
  • Cardiovascular deaths – 44th
  • Cancer deaths – 45th
  • Occupational fatalities – 46th
  • Premature death – 47th

  See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Arkansas.

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  Does Arkansas have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

  Arkansas Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
  Toll-free 1-800-285-6477

  
  

  IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Arkansas will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Arkansas's participation, click here.

  Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

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  Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Arkansas

  Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

  • Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Arkansas and all other states.
  • Its guide on how to find health insurance in Arkansas.
  • Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

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  Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Arkansas

  Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

  Review Georgetown's guide for Arkansas.

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  USNews health insurance rankings for Arkansas

  US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Arkansas.

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  Official State Goverment Sites with Arkansas Health Insurance Information

  

  Arkansas Insurance Department Life and Health Division -- regulates life and health insurance in Arkansas.

  Arkansas Insurance Department Consumer Services Division -- regulates life and health insurance in Arkansas.

  Arkansas Senior Health Insurance Information Program -- regulates life and health insurance in Arkansas.

  ARKIDS 1ST -- provides two coverage options for more than 70,000 Arkansas children: ARKids A offers low-income families a comprehensive package of benefits; ARKids B provides coverage for families with higher incomes.