The Arkansas Department of Human Services has released new cost estimates for a plan that would use Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for newly eligible recipients.

Department of Human Services officials said Monday that the expansion estimates show the plan would add less than 15 percent to federal health care costs in Arkansas. Officials say it is possible that the expansion would add no additional federal costs.

Recipients would be insured through an exchange under the federal health care law.

DHS estimates that the plan can be fully funded with existing resources at the state level.

The agency worked with legal consultants, actuaries and the Arkansas Insurance Department to come up with the new numbers.

The projection is much lower than a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.