COBRA in Arkansas

Arkansas does have a state continuation law, but it is one of the shortest in the country. Coverage lasts 120 days, and you have only ten days to ask for it in writing.

Reviewed by Prodest Insurance Group, a licensed insurance agency (NPN 19515569) · Updated 20 October 2026 against the Arkansas Code and federal sources.

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Ten Days to Ask, 120 Days of Cover

Section 23-86-114 of the Arkansas Code lets an employee, or a spouse whose coverage would end because of a change in marital status, continue group hospital, surgical, or major medical coverage for themselves and their eligible dependents.

The request must be in writing within ten days

You must request continuation in writing no later than ten days after your employment ends or your marital status changes. That is a fraction of the sixty days federal COBRA allows, and the clock runs whether or not you have seen any paperwork.

Continuation then ends 120 days after it began, or earlier if a premium is missed, you become eligible for Medicare, or the group policy ends.

If the employer replaces the group policy, continuation carries on under the new coverage rather than ending.

Arkansas Continuation Compared With Federal COBRA

	Federal COBRA	Arkansas continuation
Who it reaches	Employers with 20 or more employees	Insured group plans. Self-insured employer plans are excluded
How long	18 months, up to 36 for some events	120 days
Prior coverage needed	None	Three months continuously insured
Time to apply	60 days	10 days, in writing
What is included	The same plan you had	Medical coverage. Dental, vision, and prescription drugs need not be included
If the plan is cancelled	Coverage ends	Coverage ends, unless the policy is replaced
At the end	Coverage stops	A conversion policy must be offered

You pay the premium monthly and in advance, in line with the group policy.

Who Cannot Use It

Continuation is not available to anyone eligible for Medicare, or to anyone eligible for full coverage under another group policy that covers all of their pre-existing conditions.

It also does not apply where the employer is self-insured. If you are not sure how your former employer's plan was funded, the plan documents or the carrier can tell you.

The Conversion Policy at the End

When continuation ends, you must be offered the conversion policy available under the group policy.

You can also choose to take the conversion policy straight away instead of continuing the group coverage. Doing so waives your right to continuation, so compare the two before deciding.

How Much Does COBRA Cost in Arkansas?

Federal COBRA lets a plan charge up to 102 percent of the full premium: everything your employer was paying, everything you were paying, plus two percent. Based on Arkansas's average employer premium in 2025, that works out to about $663 a month for single coverage and $1,951 a month for family coverage. That is about $104 a month less than the U.S. average of $767 for single coverage.

	Single coverage	Family coverage
Average full annual premium in Arkansas	$7,804	$22,956
Estimated COBRA cost per month (102%)	$663	$1,951

Estimate = average total employer premium in Arkansas × 1.02 ÷ 12, from the federal Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2025). These are averages. Your exact premium depends on your former employer's plan and is listed on your COBRA election notice. If you are on state continuation instead of federal COBRA, the premium rules described on this page apply.

Compare COBRA costs in every state →
Estimate your own premium with the COBRA cost calculator →
Nearby states: Louisiana · Mississippi · Missouri · Oklahoma · Tennessee · Texas

Health Insurance After Job Loss in Arkansas

Because that window runs six times as long as the state's ten-day request deadline, missing the continuation deadline does not leave you without options. It removes one of them.

Arkansas expanded Medicaid through ARHOME, which covers adults aged 19 to 64 with household income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. From January 1, 2027, ARHOME adults who are not exempt must show at least 80 hours a month of work, school, or volunteering, under federal law passed in 2025.

A spouse or parent's plan. Losing your own coverage usually opens a window to join a family member's employer plan, and that window can be as short as 30 days. Ask early.

Common Questions

How much is COBRA insurance in Arkansas?

About $663 a month for single coverage and $1,951 a month for family coverage, based on Arkansas's 2025 average employer premium plus the 2 percent administrative fee federal COBRA allows. Your actual premium depends on your former employer's plan and appears on your COBRA election notice.

What are my health insurance options after losing my job in Arkansas?

Arkansas residents buy Marketplace plans through HealthCare.gov. Losing job-based coverage opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period, and you can enrol up to 60 days before coverage ends so a new plan starts as the old one stops. Because that window runs six times as long as the state's ten-day request deadline, missing the continuation deadline does not leave you without options. It removes one of them.

How long does Arkansas continuation last?

120 days.

How long do I have to ask for it?

Ten days after your employment ends or your marital status changes, in writing.

Do I need prior coverage?

Yes. Three months continuously insured.

Does it include dental and vision?

Not necessarily. Dental, vision, and prescription drugs need not be included.

What happens at the end?

You must be offered the conversion policy available under the group policy.

Who cannot use it?

Anyone eligible for Medicare or for full coverage under another group policy, and employees of self-insured plans.

Sources

Drawn from the Arkansas Code, Arkansas state announcements, and federal sources. Your plan documents and the terms your carrier provides govern your specific situation.

Arkansas Code, Section 23-86-114, Continuation of coverage beyond termination of employment
Office of the Governor of Arkansas, ARHOME work requirement rollout
U.S. Department of Labor, FAQs on COBRA Continuation Health Coverage for Workers
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance Component, 2025

Ten days goes quickly

If you have just left an Arkansas employer, the written request is the first thing to deal with. A licensed agent can check your dates and price a Marketplace plan alongside it. No charge, no obligation.