Medicare in Arkansas: compare your plan options with a licensed agent

Your guide to Medicare in Arkansas

Last reviewed October 2026 by the licensed team at Amerance Health Insurance Group. Costs shown are 2026 Medicare figures from CMS.

Medicare is a federal program, so Parts A and B work the same way in Arkansas as in every other state. What changes from state to state is which private plans you can choose from, the state rules that apply to Medicare Supplement insurance, and the local programs that can help you pay for coverage. This page covers what's specific to Arkansas.

Your Medicare options in Arkansas

People with Medicare in Arkansas choose between two main paths:

Original Medicare, with a Medicare Supplement and Part D

Original Medicare (Part A for hospital care and Part B for medical care) lets you see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. That's useful if you see specialists across Arkansas or spend part of the year out of state. Because Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket limit, many people add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to cover deductibles and coinsurance, plus a stand-alone Part D plan for prescriptions.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They bundle hospital, medical and usually drug coverage into one plan, often with dental, vision and hearing benefits and a yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Plans are approved county by county, so what's available in Little Rock may differ from what's available in Fayetteville or rural Arkansas. Most use provider networks (HMO or PPO), so it's important to confirm your doctors and hospitals before you enroll.

Not sure which path fits you? Read our Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement comparison.

Arkansas Medicare Supplement (Medigap) rules

Arkansas doesn't have a birthday rule, but since 2018 it has required some Medigap access for people under 65.

• No birthday rule: outside open enrollment and guaranteed issue situations, insurers can ask health questions when you switch plans.
• Under 65: insurers must make at least one Medigap plan (usually Plan A) available to people under 65 on Medicare. If you apply within 6 months of enrolling in Part B, the insurer can't charge more because of your health. Premiums for people under 65 are often much higher than at 65.

Everywhere in the U.S., your strongest protection is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period: the 6 months starting when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers in Arkansas must sell you any Medigap plan they offer, at the same price as someone in good health. Plan G and Plan N are common choices for people new to Medicare. Compare what each Medigap plan covers.

Turning 65 in Arkansas

Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your 65th birthday: the 3 months before your birthday month, the month itself and the 3 months after. Sign up in the 3 months before your birthday month so your coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65. If you already receive Social Security, you'll be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically. Otherwise, apply through Social Security online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office in Arkansas.

If you're still working, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. Our Turning 65 Medicare guide walks through every deadline, or you can take our 2-minute quiz to get a personal game plan.

Help paying for Medicare in Arkansas

• Medicaid (Arkansas Medicaid): Arkansas residents with limited income and resources may qualify for Medicaid in addition to Medicare. Learn more from Arkansas Medicaid.
• Medicare Savings Programs: run through Arkansas's Medicaid agency, these can pay your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), and in some cases your deductibles and coinsurance.
• Extra Help: a federal program that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. Apply through Social Security.
• Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs): Medicare Advantage plans for people with both Medicare and Medicaid, which coordinate both sets of benefits.

Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Arkansas

We do not offer every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or Arkansas SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program).

2026 Medicare costs in Arkansas

Original Medicare costs are set nationally by CMS and are the same in Arkansas as everywhere else. Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D premiums vary by plan and location.

Key Medicare dates for Arkansas residents

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31, 2027, if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
• General Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31 each year, if you missed signing up for Part A or Part B.
• Moving within or out of Arkansas: if you move out of your plan's service area, you get a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan.

Arkansas Medicare FAQs

Medicare help in nearby states

We also help people with Medicare in Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. See all the states we serve.

Sources

• CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
• Arkansas Insurance Department: Medicare resources (SHIIP)
• Arkansas SB 642 (2017): Medigap for people under 65