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Alaska Health Insurance
Health insurance plays a pivotal role in an individual’s life. Purchasing suitable health insurance coverage for your family is expensive as well as requires a comprehensive assessment of all potential risks and its impact on your finances. More than 47 million Americans are uninsured, majority of whom are the working families. The unaffordable health insurance costs can cause financial havoc in these families’ lives. For those families who are not covered under their employers’ group plan, there are low-cost state sponsored health insurance programs.
According to the America's 2008 Health Rankings, Alaska has maintained its 30th position since 2007 to become one of healthiest state to live in. The high rate of smoking and percentage of children in poverty is gradually decreasing over the past couple of years. The state of Alaska, having the population of more than six hundred fifty thousand people, boasts of both private-market and public health insurance alternatives. The private-market health insurance comprises of numerous types of health plans including family, medicare supplemental, short-term, student, group and dental. Additionally, the state and federal government sponsored programs provide low-priced health coverage to the uninsurable residents of Alabama who meet specific eligibility requirements such as age, income, etc.
The Alaska Division of Insurance is in charge for regulating all types of insurance sold in the state of Alaska including health insurance policies offered by private-market health insurers or public health coverage programs. However, approximately 17.7% of the population remains uninsured, which is the biggest health issue for the Alaskan lawmakers. According to the Censor Bureau’s 2007 and 2008 Current Population Survey, approximately 48.1% uninsured Alaska residents come under the 200% FPL category.
Choosing a health plan is not as easy as it was before. Therefore, it is mandatory to consult with a licensed health insurance agent/broker to avail the appropriate health insurance alternatives.
Individual/Family Health Insurance
Below is the guidelines for applying for and obtaining individual health insurance in the state of Alaska. These regulations apply to all insurance companies offering individual or family health insurance in Alaska:
Medical Underwriting | Yes |
Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Period | 12 months |
Look Back Period | 6 months |
Look Back Standard | No definition |
Mandatory Benefits | Cancer screening for women, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, reconstructive surgery after mastectomy, OB/GYNs as Primary Care Providers |
Market Rate Restrictions | None |
Guaranteed Issue Options | None |
Small Group Health Insurance
Below is the guidelines for small group health insurance in the state of Alaska. These regulations apply to all insurance companies offering small group health insurance in Alaska:
Small Group Size | 2 to 50 |
Employee Qualifications |
|
Guaranteed Issue | Yes (No Guarantee Issue for group |
Premium Rating Factors | Rate Bands with Limits |
Rate Adjustment Factors | 35% |
Look-Back Period | 6 months |
Pre-existing condition exclusionary period | 12 months |
Mandatory Benefits | Same as individual |
State Cobra Variations for Small Groups
Below are the COBRA guidelines for small groups in the state of Alaska. For employer groups of more than 20 employees, refer to the federal COBRA guidelines:
Mini-Cobra Option | No |
Eligible Group Sizes | NA |
Extension of Benefits Period – Standard | NA |
Extension of Benefits Period – Disabled | NA |
Maximum Premium Increase | NA |
State Legislation Reference | NA |
Additional Notes | NA |
State Sponsored Health Insurance Programs
There are several state sponsored health insurance programs in the State of Alaska to assist those without insurance in obtaining adequate coverage.
High-Risk Pools
Some states offer special state sponsored health insurance plans for qualified persons that are not eligible for individual health insurance due to pre-existing medical conditions. The guidelines for enrollment in these programs vary by state. The high-risk pool in the State of Alaska is summarized in the chart below:
Plan Name | Alaska Comprehensive Health Insurance Association |
Website | |
Phone Number | 888-290-0616 |
HIPPA Eligibility Required? | Yes |
Available Carriers | Six Comprehensive PPO Plans with different deductibles and Non PPO Traditional Plan |
Pre-Existing Condition Waiting Period | 6 months |
Enrollment Periods | Open to new enrollment |
Premium Limits | No more than 175% of standard rates |
Lifetime Maximum Benefit | $2 Million |
Special Notes | Also available to people who have lost their group health insurance and have exhausted or have no COBRA option available |
Children’s Health Insurance Program
Through shared funding from the federal government, the State of Alaska provides health insurance for uninsured children that meet certain eligibility guidelines. A summary of this program is outlined in the chart below:
Program Name | Denali Kid Care |
Website | |
Phone Number | 888-318-8890 |
Apply Online | Yes |
Age Limits | Under 19 |
Insurance Carrier | NA |
Length of Coverage | 6 months |
Residency Requirements | Alaska residents |
Other Eligibility Requirements |
|
Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions | No |
Cost | None |
Medicaid
Medicaid is a state program partially funded through the federal government. Qualification guidelines, as well as the types of people that are eligible, will vary by state. The chart below provides a summary of the Medicaid programs in the State of Alaska:
Governing Agency | Medicaid |
Website | http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dhcs/medicaid_medicare/default.htm |
Phone Number | 907-465-3347 |
Residency Requirements | Alaska residents |
Federal Poverty Line Income Limits | Family Income - up to 185% of FPL |
Additional Resources
Alaska Health Care Options Matrix™ Guide
Provided by the Foundation for Health Coverage Education, the guide is a quick reference guide prepared by the non-profit Foundation for Health Coverage Education that outlines Alaska’s public and private health care choices for individuals and groups with various demographic profiles.
Family Health Insurance Guide by HealthInsuranceFinders.com
The guide created by HealthInsuranceFinders.com provides useful information regarding health insurance coverage such as individual/family health insurance, group health insurance, separate child health insurance and state-sponsored programs that are available for low to middle income families.
Alaska: At-A-Glance
Provides all-inclusive health data of Alaska. Statehealthfacts.org is a project of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and is designed to provide free, up-to-date, and easy-to-use health data on all 50 states.
