Many affordable health insurance options are available to residents of Alaska. You can enrol in an employer-sponsored insurance plan, enrol in DenaliCare or Medicare, search for a plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace or purchase a plan from an insurance company. Also, you can pick the cheap health insurance in Alaska that meets your preferences and medical needs by comparing many plan types for different ages in our guide to the Alaska Health Insurance Marketplace.
Health Insurance in Alaska: What You Need to Know
- Alaskans can enrol in 2022 health insurance from November 1, 2021 to January 15, 2022 through open enrolment. ACA insurance isn’t available until next year unless you qualify for a special enrollment period.
- Certain life events may be required to qualify for a special enrollment period. Also, newlyweds, newly-married couples, and new parents have a 60-day special registration period.
- Alaskans can enrol in a new health insurance plan through the federal Marketplace. As part of the Affordable Care Act, all of these policies meet the requirements and can also tell you if you are eligible for the Advanced Premium Tax Credit.
- Those who don’t want to use the federal exchange can buy a plan from any insurance company they want. Also, health Insurance Marketplace enrollment is required to receive the refundable portion of the Advanced Premium Tax Credit.
- Their employer’s insurance plan covers about 48.4% of Alaskans. Additional 3.5% are uninsured; 21.3 % receive Medicaid and 10% are enrolled in Medicare. Moreover, there are approximately 11.5 million uninsured Alaskans in the United States.
Alaska Health Insurance Marketplace
Alaska uses the federal health insurance exchange. Creating an account on HealthCare.gov is the first step in the enrollment process. Also, you’ll need to provide accurate contact information when you create an account.
After submitting your application, the website calculates if you’re qualified for the Advanced Premium Tax Credit, which lowers monthly rates. Furthermore, you’ll be informed if you’re eligible for Medicaid and other financial aid programs. Please ensure that you have the complete name, date of birth, and Social Security number of everyone who will be included in your application before submitting it.
In addition, you’ll need to provide the following:
- What is your marital status?
- How many dependents did you claim for yourself in the last tax return?
- Your household’s total annual revenue
- Whether or not you’d like to be eligible for financial aid.
We’ll now take a look at the Health Insurance Marketplace’s plans. Each policy’s monthly premium, deductible, and coinsurance are displayed on HealthCare.gov for easy comparison. With the comparison tool, you can also compare up to three different plans side by side to find the one that’s right for you and your family. You can complete your registration on the website once you decide. Furthermore, because of their high acceptance rate and low cost, Marketplace plans are the best option for a local looking for young adults’ health insurance.
The following organizations offer health insurance plans via the Alaska health exchanges:
- Moda
- Premera
Alaska’s Healthcare Plans
There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to finding the best health insurance plan for you. According to the ACA, anyone earning less than 138% of the federal poverty line can now qualify for Medicaid in Alaska. People who don’t qualify for Medicaid may buy insurance on the state of Alaska health insurance marketplace.
Each metal tier of Alaska healthcare plans on the marketplace has varying deductibles, premiums, and out-of-pocket expenditures. In comparison to Bronze Expanded, Gold plans have higher premiums but lower deductibles, allowing you to pay less out of pocket for medical care.
Gold plans are ideal for high health care costs.
Alaska’s gold plans feature the lowest deductibles and middle-range premiums. With a lower deductible, you pay less out of pocket for medical care once you’ve met the deductible. So, Gold plans are usually best for people who know they will have a lot of medical bills throughout the year.
The Moda Pioneer Gold 1500 is Alaska’s least expensive Gold plan. Compare all of Alaska’s tiers up above.
Silver plans are best for small deductibles and possible ways to save money.
Silver-deductible plans cost between bronze and gold. Gold, Silver, and Bronze all give premium tax credits. Silver plans offer cost-sharing reductions for deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Moreover, if your income is below 250% of the poverty line, you could get help with deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
The Moda Pioneer Silver 4500 is Alaska’s Silver plan that costs the least.
Bronze Expanded Plans are best for people who are healthy and young.
Bronze Expanded plans are the lowest on Alaska’s insurance exchange. They’re better for younger, healthier people without high medical bills.
Bronze Expanded plans have cheap premiums and high deductibles that can help you save money on health insurance. Also, if you have a serious health problem or have to see your primary care doctor often, a high deductible can make your out-of-pocket costs high.
The Moda Pioneer Bronze 6500 is the Bronze Expanded plan in Alaska that costs the least.
Alaska Personal Health Insurance
We’ll talk about personal health insurance in this article. Alaska personal health insurance comprises the following:
- Managed Care Plan: The insurer agrees with a network of healthcare providers to provide a managed care plan for their customers. Amounts will be increased if you go to a hospital or clinic that is not part of your insurance network.
- Indemnity, or fee-for-service: You are free to select the site of your therapy. Expect to spend roughly 20 percent of your medical expenses out of your own pocket. Coinsurance is the term used to describe this form of cost sharing.
- HMO: An HMO is a type of health insurance plan: The care you receive is coordinated by your primary care physician. To keep costs down, HMOs only cover services referred by your primary care physician.
- PPO: If you are a member of a preferred provider organization (PPO), your doctor of choice is covered by the PPO network. PPOs operate with a network of approved providers to negotiate lower prices on their members’ behalf. Also, you’ll save money and yet be able to use out-of-network doctors. Seeing a specialist does not require a referral from your primary care physician.
- POS (Point of Service) plans: An HMO/PPO hybrid, a POS plan is a hybrid of the two. You can do so:
- Work with a primary care physician to keep track of any treatment.
- Get medical care from a provider in the insurance company’s network.
- Make use of service providers outside of the network.
How treatment goes will depend on the type of plan. According to several studies, the private health insurance buying process is more cost-effective than enrolling in an employer-sponsored plan. You can also check EPO health plan if you want to save money on health insurance.
Individual and Family Health Insurance in Alaska: Purchasing Options
AK private health insurance may be an option for you if you are self-employed or your company doesn’t provide a group plan:
The premiums on your current health insurance plan are too high, or your coverage needs have changed since you first signed up for it. If any of these situations apply to you:
Affordable AK Individual and Family Health Insurance in Alaska is a challenge.
Suppose you and your husband or domestic partner seek new medical insurance in Alaska. In that case, we advise you to compare health insurance quotes both jointly and separately to obtain the most cost-effective plan.
The cost of individual and family health insurance in Alaska may be determined partly by how old the youngest policyholder is, depending on the health insurance provider. Some couples with a significant age difference may save money by applying for the same insurance policy rather than filing for separate policies. Health insurance costs can be reduced for couples who are only a few years apart by enrolling in separate plans. As a couple, you should make sure that the health insurance plan you choose meets all of your needs.
Group Health Insurance in Alaska
Group health insurance in Alaska is marketed to corporations and organizations, which subsequently offer coverage to their members and employees. Also, group and company health insurance policies are cheaper than individual or family coverage because medical costs can be shared. Moreover, federal law mandates guaranteed issues for all small group health insurance policies.
Whether your plan is completely insured or self-insured will affect your protection. Plan benefits must state if it’s self-insured. Still, group health plan eligibility is required. Your employer may not give everyone health coverage. Also, your company may provide an HMO plan you can’t join because you live outside the coverage area. Your health can’t affect admission or pricing. Health status includes a medical condition, history, genetics, and impairment. Moreover, employers may decline or restrict coverage for other reasons (such as part-time work) if they are unrelated to health status and consistently implemented. In Alaska, insurance firms must cover all qualifying small-business employees.
An HMO may also impose an affiliation period when you start a new job with health insurance. You won’t have health insurance throughout your affiliation. HMO affiliation periods cannot exceed 2 months (3 months for late enrollees), and no premiums can be paid. In certain cases, FMLA allows 12 weeks of job-protected absence. The FMLA covers 50-worker enterprises.
Furthermore, employers or insurers may ask if you have pre-existing conditions when joining a group health plan. Or, if you file a claim during the first year of coverage, the plan may check whether it was for such a condition. If so, it may exclude coverage for similar services for a time. In group health insurance, federal and state restrictions limit pre-existing condition exclusion periods.
Only conditions diagnosed, treated, or advised in the 6 months before joining a group health plan are pre-existing. This is the look-back period. (The meaning of pre-existing conditions varies for individual health plans and self-employed people.)
In Alaska, can you get a short term health insurance plan?
Short term health insurance can benefit Alaskans going through a period of transition, such as those who have lost their jobs or seek a less expensive option to full-coverage ACA policies.
Due to Alaska’s adherence to federal standards, any short-term health insurance plan purchased in the state can initially cover up to 364 days, renewed for up to nearly three years altogether.
Temporary health insurance plans in Alaska is a great alternative for seasonal workers, such as construction workers, fishermen, and the tourism industry, because they allow you to choose how long you need coverage.
ACA’s “essential health benefits” aren’t always included in these short-term plans, but they can be added anytime. Carefully read the policy’s disclosures to find out what kind of coverage you can expect.
Best Health Insurance Companies in Alaska
If you’re willing to put in the time and effort to look for the best care, finding affordable health insurance in Alaska is possible. UnitedHealthcare, Blue Shield of Alaska, and Premera Blue Cross serve the state.
Other service providers are out there, but working through an insurance reseller makes it easier to locate them. The following are some of the best health insurance companies in Alaska:
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UnitedHealthcare
People and businesses can get health insurance from UnitedHealthcare’s network of doctors. UnitedHealthcare only works with providers in its network, so customers have to use these plan providers. They don’t need a referral to see a doctor or specialist in the network.
UnitedHealthcare also has a lot of information about health and wellness. There’s an online health assessment, a personal health record, and a module for online health coaching. If you need coverage immediately, you can get it the day after signing up.
Get short-term insurance coverage if:
- Are between jobs
- Can’t pay for regular insurance
- Are a recent graduate or
- Decided to retire early
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Premera
Premera helps people, families, and groups of employers. It is the biggest health plan in the Pacific Northwest, and people in Washington and Alaska also use it.
More than 200,000 people in Alaska are cared for by more than 3,300 doctors and other health care workers.
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield works hard to make sure you can get good care and keep costs down.
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AgileHealthInsurance.com
Agile is a great place to get short-term health insurance online (STHI). STHI is insurance that you can sign up for one month to one year. You need to look at how long STHIs cover you for because some only cover you for up to 3 months.
Agile lets you get quotes from several health insurance companies right away. Also, if you don’t have much time, you can choose to have your policy start the next day. On Agile’s website, you can get health insurance quotes and compare them to find the best plan for your needs.
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Allied Coverage
Allied Coverage is a place where health insurance products can be bought and sold online. Its market is made up of the top health insurance companies.
You can get several quotes on health insurance products and services and save money this way. Using its platform to get quotes from different providers can also save you up to 30%. Use Allied’s online matching service to find a match based on your ZIP code.
You can also buy health insurance guides to help you pick the best plan.
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HealthNet
Health Net is an online marketplace for insurance that no one runs. You can use the website to find insurance companies that fit your needs and budget.
You can look at health products as individual policies or as a bundle of policies.
Affordable Health Care in Alaska: Where to Look
Alaska’s Division of Health Care Services provides inexpensive health care to low-income Alaskans. Moreover, CAMA is a state-funded program for 21-35-year-olds with diabetes, mental disease, cancer, or hypertension. Low-income folks without Medicaid or health insurance can enrol.
Medicaid helps low-income people pay for medical treatments. Also, Medicaid in Alaska covers dental insurance for kids and adults for up to $1,150. It includes cleanings, dentures, fillings, exams, root canals. Alaska’s Denali KidCare insures pregnant mothers and low-income kids up to 18.
Non-Medicaid eligible citizens can contact the Division of Health Care Services for other healthcare options.
The Cheap Health Insurance in Alaska by Metal Tier
Health plans in the exchange are divided into tiers named after precious metals. Less valued metals have cheaper premiums, but medical treatment costs more.
Tiers don’t alter the quality of care you receive but affect the cost of health insurance in Alaska by determining your provider’s portion of medical spending. Expanded Bronze, Silver, or Gold is Alaska’s private plans. Monthly premiums average:
- Expanded Bronze: $416/mo
- Silver: $653/mo
- Gold: $596/mo
Monthly premiums should reflect the tier’s metal value. Some marketplaces ignore this rule. In Alaska, Silver plans can cost more than Gold.
The table below shows the cheap health insurance in Alaska for each tier. It is important to compare deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums within the same metal category. Moreover, Low-income individuals should check for cost-sharing reductions (CSR). These have lower deductibles than similar plans.
The Cheap Health Insurance in Alaska by County
Health insurance costs vary across Alaska. The 30 counties in Alaska are divided into three rating areas used to set premiums. Also, these counties calculate ratings the same way.
The most affordable health insurance plan in Alaska costs an average of $653 per month for people who live in the county with the most people, which is Anchorage Municipality. It’s Premera Blue Cross Preferred Silver 3000 HSA from Alaska.
Use the table below to find the most affordable health insurance plans in Alaska for each of the metal tiers for your county.
The plans on the table are based on a man who is 40 years old and wants to buy a cheap health insurance plan in AK.
Why Medicare Supplement in Alaska?
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers hospital and medical expenditures, but you may have out-of-pocket expenses. Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket maximum. Thus, large medical expenses are possible. Moreover, Alaska Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans can cover copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
Medicare Supplemental health insurance plans in Alaska may also cover out-of-country emergency medical treatment and Medicare Part B excess expenses. Medicare Supplement plans in Alaska don’t offer dental, hearing, or medicinal benefits.
Only Medicare Part A and Part B can be used with Medicare Supplement plans in Alaska. As a stand-alone plan, Medicare Supplements cannot be combined with Medicare Advantage.
Get the Best Alaska Health Insurance Quotes Online!
There’s no reason to go without health insurance coverage in Alaska, especially since it’s easy to find a plan that fits your needs and budget.
Health insurance keeps you on the right track and protects you when life throws you a curveball.
Using our list and comparing your options is the quickest method to find affordable health insurance rates in Alaska for you and your family.
Reach out Today at Newhealthinsurance and get affordable health insurance quotes in Alaska now!
FAQS about Health Insurance in Alaska
What is the average monthly cost for health insurance in Alaska?
The average monthly cost for health insurance in Alaska is $599 per month.
Does Alaska have free healthcare?
In Alaska, Medicaid provides free and low-cost healthcare to those who qualify. As a result, many people are unaware that they are qualified for Medicaid benefits. To determine eligibility, you should visit your state’s Department of Health website.
Does Alaska have affordable healthcare?
Many programs are available to help residents in Alaska afford health care. CAMA is a state-funded program. This program helps low-income people without Medicaid or health insurance. A Medicaid program, which provides low-income people with financial support to pay for medical care, is also included in this package. Alaska’s Denali KidCare insures pregnant mothers and low income children.
What is the cheapest health insurance you can get?
A catastrophic health insurance plan with a high deductible and a high maximum out-of-pocket price would be the most affordable option in Alaska. When it comes to preventative care and prescription drugs, this coverage does not cover.
How do Alaskans get health insurance?
Residents of Alaska can still enrol online if they have a qualifying life event after the state’s open enrollment period has expired. Short-term insurance plans are available to Alaskans without qualifying events from private insurers.
How much is health care in Alaska?
For a major medical individual health insurance plan, Alaskans may expect to pay an average of $280 per person. If you’re in good health, your premiums may also be reduced.
The average monthly premium for each level of metal
| Metal Level | Average Monthly Premium* |
| Bronze | $280 |
| Gold | $384 |
| Silver | $422 |
Alaska’s NewHealthInsurance average plan price, but actual prices vary by zip code, age, gender, and other considerations. Also, you can learn more about your options by requesting a personalized quotation.
What types of alternative health insurance plans are available in Alaska?
Alaska has a variety of alternative health insurance policies to choose from.
Primary options for individual health insurance policies include:
- Short Term Health Insurance
- Fixed Benefit Programs
Supplemental Plan Options:
- Accident Safety Measures
- Plans for Critical Illness
- Cancer Treatment Insurance Coverage
- First Day Hospitalisation/Intensive Care Unit Protection
- 100 percent Preventive Care Coverage (Per ACA/Obamacare rules)
- Drug Prescription Coverage
- Plans for Dental, Vision, and Hearing
- Life Insurance
- Freshbenies Added-Value Services
