Arkansas Group Purchasing Arrangements

The Small Employer Health Insurance Purchasing Group Act of 2001 allowed the formation of health insurance purchasing groups for the purpose of buying health insurance. This legislation allows health insurers to offer options to consumers participating in the purchasing group that include all, some, or none of the Arkansas coverage mandates and contains some actuarial protections to minimize the concern of anti-selection.

On January 1, 2005, the first health insurance purchasing group in Arkansas was initiated. Administratively housed within and sponsored by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, businesses with fewer than 100 employees and not currently offering health insurance who band together may negotiate coverage with health insurance carriers.