The Arkansas Insurance Department has approved the strategic affiliation between Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Cambia Health Solutions.
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Curtis Barnett, President and CEO, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield (left) and Jared Short, President and CEO, Cambia Health Solutions (right)
The affiliation will enable greater capabilities for access to care that is simpler and more affordable, while maintaining the strong local commitment that has served Arkansans for more than 78 years. The affiliation will unify operations and enable the organizations to share best practices and expertise for local plan innovation and services, deliver personalized member experiences and leverage Cambia’s robust technology infrastructure.
“For nearly eight decades, Arkansas Blue Cross has served generations of Arkansans,” said Curtis Barnett, president and CEO of Arkansas Blue Cross. “Our affiliation with Cambia Health Solutions marks a significant new milestone in our history, bringing together two organizations committed to improving healthcare for our members and communities. Our commitment to Arkansas remains unchanged. By combining local expertise, trusted relationships, innovation and scale, we can strengthen our impact, better serve our customers and position ourselves for a strong future.”
Members of all affiliated health plans will retain their current coverage and will continue to use their insurance card just as they do today. Arkansas Blue Cross will maintain its local plan name, board of directors and philanthropic foundation. It will also continue its not-for-profit, mutual insurance company status. All its reserve funds and foundation resources remain in Arkansas. Cambia will maintain its foundation and regional health plans.
“Reaching this milestone puts us one step closer to better serving members, customers and communities through shared innovation, expertise and resources,” said Cambia President and CEO Jared Short. “We look forward to welcoming our Arkansas colleagues and working together to ensure a smooth integration as we create a system that makes healthcare easier and lives better for the people we serve.”
The affiliation will take effect Oct. 1, 2026, making Cambia a six-state enterprise with Arkansas joining Cambia’s family of health plans, which includes Regence health plans in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington, as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.
About Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is the largest health insurer in Arkansas. Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates have more than 3,200 employees. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is comprised of 33 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 106 million members — one in three Americans.
About Cambia Health Solutions
Cambia Health Solutions is a nonprofit healthcare and technology company transforming how people experience healthcare. We serve nearly 4 million people through our regional health plans and reach millions more through our technologies, strategic investments and partnerships. People are at the heart of everything we do as we work to make healthcare simpler, more affordable and more personalized. Learn more at CambiaHealth.com.
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