Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is calling on the state’s insurance commissioner to reject proposed individual ACA rates filed by Centene and Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Centene’s QCA Health Plan requested a 54% rate increase, and BCBS’ HMO plan requested a 25.5% increase for 2026.
“Arkansas’ Insurance Commissioner is required to disapprove of proposed rate increases if they are excessive or discriminatory, and these are both,” Gov. Huckabee Sanders said April 6. “I’m calling on my Commissioner to follow the law, reject these insane rate increases, and protect Arkansans.”
Insurers nationwide are requesting a median ACA rate increase of 15% based on preliminary rate filings, according to a KFF analysis of proposals from 105 insurers in 20 markets.
In their filings, insurers have cited the looming expiration of enhanced premium tax credits as one reason for rising premiums, along with rising medical costs overall.
The tax credits will expire at the end of 2025 without action from the Republican-controlled Congress. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a bill in August that would make the credits permanent. A permanent extension could cost taxpayers $335 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Since the introduction of the enhanced tax credits in 2021, marketplace enrollment has more than doubled from 11.4 million in 2020 to 24.3 million in 2025.
Insurers, hospitals, healthcare trade associations and civic groups have urged congressional leaders to extend the tax credits before their expiration.
