Arkansas Health Insurance

Arkansas has moderate health insurance regulations. It's especially important to familiarize yourself with them, so you know which freedoms insurance companies can exercise and which ones they can't.

This guide:

  • Describes Arkansas health insurance policy regulations.

  • Lists rules Arkansas health insurance companies must follow.

Health insurance policies are regulated by each state's own health insurance laws. Arkansas health insurance companies and policyholders alike must abide by established insurance laws.

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Arkansas health insurance policy provisions

Some of the most important Arkansas health insurance laws are the ones regulating the health insurance policy specifically.

The most basic provision required by all Arkansas health insurance policies is the guaranteed renewability provision. This provision prevents Arkansas health insurance companies from denying your request to renew your existing health insurance policy.

A second, less likeable provision, is the pre-existing condition exclusion provision. Under Arkansas health insurance laws, Arkansas health insurance companies are allowed to permanently or temporarily exclude coverage for any pre-existing medical condition.

What this means, is that your health insurance company is not required to reimburse you for the cost of any treatment relating to the pre-existing condition. This provision can either be in effect for a few years or for the entire life of your health insurance policy, depending upon your policy and health insurance company.

State insurance laws define pre-existing conditions differently. Arkansas health insurance laws define it as any condition you've received medical treatment for prior to the beginning of your health insurance.

Also, if you are switching health insurance plans, a new pre-existing condition exclusion period can be imposed.

Regulating Arkansas health insurance companies

Arkansas health insurance laws do not strict policy restrictions. For instance, Arkansas health insurance companies are allowed to refuse you coverage or charge you more for coverage on the basis of your health.

Your health status is not only initially taken into account. Every renewal of your Arkansas health insurance can result in significant increase in your premiums based on your age or declining health.

However, unless you have violated your contract, no Arkansas health insurance company can refuse to renew your existing health insurance policy. This guarantees that at no time can your policy be canceled because you have fallen ill.

Knowing this, you can see how it is essential for you to be young and healthy in order to get a low costing Arkansas health insurance policy.

Temporary Arkansas health insurance

There are occasions when you will have breaks between health insurance coverage. During this time, it is important that you obtain some sort of temporary insurance to fill in the gaps in you coverage. In Arkansas, temporary health insurance is available in the form of conversion policies.

You are eligible for a conversion health insurance policy if you have recently left a fully insured group policy. A conversion policy is designed to provide you with health insurance coverage during your transition between health insurance coverage. It is not meant to be used a your permanent Arkansas health insurance.

Conversion policy premiums may be much higher than your previous health insurance premiums and the medical benefits covered under the policy may not be the same of your former policy's benefits.

More AR health insurance help

If you want more help getting the a good health insurance policy, read our guide to health insurance.
Also see the guide to Arkansas small business health insurance.

To find out more about AR health insurance laws and regulations, visit the official website of the Arkansas Insurance Department.