Arkansas
Cheapest ACA plans in Fort Smith, Arkansas for 2026
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
Fort Smith is in Sebastian County, Arkansas. 7 carriers sell 2026 ACA plans on Healthcare.gov for residents of Sebastian County, and the cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in starts at $447/month before any subsidy. Carriers are licensed and rated at the county level, so the plans below cover everyone in Sebastian County, including Fort Smith.
Cheapest plans by metal tier
Lowest 2026 monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in Fort Smith (Sebastian County), on-exchange, before any subsidy. Per-age figures derived from the CMS QHP Landscape file using the HHS standardized age-rating curve (45 CFR 147.102).
| Tier | Cheapest age 40 monthly | Plans in Sebastian County |
|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $356 | 1 |
| Expanded Bronze | $447 | 14 |
| Gold | $647 | 18 |
| Silver | $753 | 17 |
| Platinum | $833 | 2 |
The actual cheapest Bronze plan in Fort Smith
USAble HMO, Inc. d/b/a Octave Bronze Exp Standardized
$447/moFor a family of four (two 40-year-olds and two kids under 14): USAble HMO, Inc. d/b/a Octave Bronze Exp Standardized at $1,431/month before subsidies.
Carriers selling 2026 plans in Fort Smith
7 carriers sell 2026 plans on Healthcare.gov for Sebastian County residents. 52 plans total in Sebastian County.
| Carrier | On-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| Ambetter | 14 |
| QCA Health Plan, Inc. | 10 |
| HMO Partners, Inc. d/b/a Health Advantage | 8 |
| QualChoice Life and Health Insurance Company, Inc. | 7 |
| USAble HMO, Inc. d/b/a Octave | 6 |
| USAble Mutual Insurance Company | 6 |
| Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield | 1 |
What you'll actually pay in Fort Smith
Estimated monthly net premium for the cheapest Bronze plan above ($447/mo before subsidy) on Healthcare.gov, after federal APTC. APTC is computed against the Sebastian Countybenchmark Silver per 26 USC §36B. Approximate; exact net varies by plan's EHB% and child-rate structure.
Single 40-year-old
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 160% | $677/mo | $0/mo |
| $40,000 | 256% | $487/mo | $0/mo |
| $60,000 | 383% | $276/mo | $171/mo |
| $100,000 | 639% | — | $447/mo |
Family of 4 (two 40-year-olds, two children)
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | 124% | — | Medicaid likely |
| $80,000 | 249% | $1,915/mo | $0/mo |
| $130,000 | 404% | — | $1,431/mo |
| $200,000 | 622% | — | $1,431/mo |
FPL = Federal Poverty Level. APTC = Advance Premium Tax Credit (the federal subsidy). Off-exchange and Catastrophic plans are not APTC-eligible. Enter your real income on the home page to see plan-specific net premium with the per-plan EHB-percent cap applied.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest ACA plan in Fort Smith, Arkansas for 2026?
The cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in is USAble HMO, Inc. d/b/a Octave Bronze Exp Standardized at $447 per month before subsidies. Plans sell through Healthcare.gov. Fort Smith is in Sebastian County, Arkansas; carriers are licensed and rated at the county level. Data refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
How does Fort Smith's 2026 ACA pricing compare to other Arkansas cities?
Cheapest Bronze for a 40-year-old in Fort Smith is $447 per month before subsidies. For comparison: Little Rock at $447/mo; North Little Rock at $447/mo; Arkadelphia at $447/mo. Different cities can have different cheapest plans because plans are sold per county and carrier participation varies by jurisdiction.
Does Arkansas use Healthcare.gov?
Yes. Arkansas uses the federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM) at healthcare.gov for Marketplace enrollment. Arkansas does not operate a state-based exchange for PY2026.
What is ARHOME and how does it differ from regular Medicaid?
ARHOME (Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me) is the current name of Arkansas's §1115 Medicaid expansion waiver, which started as the "Private Option" in 2014 and was renamed Arkansas Works in 2017. Instead of fee-for-service Medicaid, expansion adults 19-64 up to 138% FPL are enrolled into Qualified Health Plans from participating Marketplace carriers, with the state Medicaid program paying the premium. Apply through Access Arkansas rather than healthcare.gov if you are below 138% FPL.
Has Arkansas expanded Medicaid?
Yes, since January 2014 (originally as the Private Option, now as ARHOME). There is no coverage gap in Arkansas. Adults 19-64 up to 138% FPL qualify for expansion coverage regardless of parental status or disability.
More Arkansas pricing
- Statewide Arkansas pricing and metal tiers
- Little Rock pricingcheapest Bronze $447/mo
- North Little Rock pricingcheapest Bronze $447/mo
- Arkadelphia pricingcheapest Bronze $447/mo
Sources
- HealthCare.gov for enrollment, OEP dates, and federal APTC / CSR application.
- Arkansas Insurance Department: Rate Filings for state regulatory oversight of individual-market filings and rate review.
- Arkansas DHS: ARHOME for the §1115 Medicaid expansion demonstration and QHP-based delivery.
- CMS: Arkansas §1115 Demonstration for federal approval of the ARHOME waiver.
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z. Full pricing pipeline + regulatory references at methodology; ACA terminology in the glossary.