Need help? We make it easy to get friendly, personal and help with health care reform questions through two fast support options: Email support: Email support is available 24/7 usually with same day response. Address your message to onlineadviser@live.com. Telephone support: Schedule telephone support with a call back at your convenience. OnlineNavigator support is an independent service offered by Tony Novak, CPA, MBA MT subject to the adviser's schedule availability. This support is not intended to replace the services offered and available through other channels by your insurance company, insurance agents and health insurance navigators. Specifically, this service does not replace  online pricing and enrollment functions, billing, claims or administrative services and does not assist with Medicare or Medicaid plans. See the OnlineNavigator web site for details on privacy policy and terms of service.  Covering the Gaps in Obamacare Consumers Direct Accident Medical - Protection UpgradeSM supplemental coverage for as little as $20 per month. Health plans and resources for diabetics in Alaska - a listing of the health plan options and other resources Most Affordable Supplemental Coverage Value Med Insurance - 3 question simple medical eligibility and immediate approval for supplemental doctor and hospital benefits Primary Individual Major Medical Through a Private Exchange Members Health Insurance Exchange allows you to price and choose from among many of the nations leading major medical health insurance options from a wide range of carriers. Personal help is available through OnlineNavigator to help with your selection. Group Insurance Small group coverage is now available through the SHOP exchange at Healthcare.gov Dental and Vision Insurance Core Dental Insurance - preventive, basic, and major dental expenses with the dentist of your choice. Shortest waiting period. Secure DentalOne - one lifetime deductible of $100 and then up to $1,250 per year coverage Critical Illness and Cancer Insurance Consumers Direct Critical Illness Insurance - Secure UpgradeSM $10,000 lump sum supplemental coverage for cancer, stroke or health disease for as little as $25 per month. Online Life Insurance International Term Life - up to $2 million coverage issued by Lloyds online specifically for those who spend time outside of the US Immigrant Insurance Inbound Immigrant - up to five years of liberal health insurance coverage after immigration including maternity coverage, emergency and other essential benefits

Alaska health insurance news by Tony Novak, CPA, MBA, MT     last updated: Febuary 21, 2016 The two top priorities among individuals and small business who pay for their own health coverage is to find more affordable primary insurance and cover rapidly rising out-of-pocket medical costs that are not paid by primary health insurance. Prior to implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Alaska had 13 commercial health insurance companies that issued comprehensive coverage and 7 companies that issued small group insurance as well as a state-sponsored high risk health plan for those who do not meet standard underwriting requirements. Most low cost limited benefit, supplemental and short term insurance plans are available. Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield issues more than 75% of the total health insurance in Alaska. These standard policies may be more expensive than some residents can afford. The state insurance exchange is open now for coverage starting January 2016. Individuals without insurance should make arrangements for temporary coverage until then. Covered health benefits under plans purchased through the exchange in 2016 will be different than those offered though any 2015 health plans. The insurance plan that sets the benchmark for qualified coverage through the exchange is listed here and a list of state-mandated benefits can be found here. Commercial insurance exchanges may also list less expensive Supplemental Accident Insurance without the essential health benefits. www.OnlineNavigator.org. Your enrollment adviser is available to discuss suitability of any plan for your specific situation. Alaska insurance and benefit pricing Alaska had the 8th highest health insurance costs of all states in 2008 with an average annual family premium of $13,383. (The average annual premium for a U.S. family covered under an employer-sponsored health plan in 2008 was $12,298 according to The Commonwealth Fund report. The overall quality of health care ranked 30th out of the 51 states (including DC). The state ranked #6 in physical wellbeing (having good health and enough energy to get things done daily) according to a 2015 Gallup Healthways survey. Alaska regulates the benefits required for both individual major medical and group health insurance plans, known as "mandated benefits". Alaska has 37 individual health insurance mandates that differentiate coverage from policies sold in other states. Mandates are laws that give a specific medical interest group coverage at little or no out-of-pocket expense that would not otherwise be the case under health insurance coverage. Short Term Medical Insurance Secure STM - along with its 12 month and 36 month options, this may be the highest quality short term coverage Secure Lite STM - the lowest priced major medical insurance for 1 to 12 months Secure Saver STM - $2 million maximum coverage at an ultra-low rate Accident Supplemental Accident Insurance Consumers Direct Accident Medical - Protection UpgradeSM supplemental coverage for as little as $20 per month. Smart Accident Insurance - supplemental coverage for emergency treatment of accidents and injuries for as little as $20 per month. Can be used as a stand-alone accident plan or to increase other insurance benefits. Value 24 Hour Accident - up to $10,000 of supplemental health insurance coverage for emergency treatment of injuries at a cost of about $2 per day. Can be used as a stand-alone coverage or added to other insurance. Alaska insurance law and regulation The Alaska Department of Insurance Web site contains information about  individual health insurance. The state insurance department can be reached by telephone at (907) 465-2515 or by mail at PO Box 110805, Juneau AK 99811. The state children's health insurance plan (CHIP) Web site is Alaska Denali KidCare. Small business employee benefit plans Freedom Benefits offers professional help with setup of self-administered Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), Premium Reimbursement Plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and insurance at a low price that any small business can afford. Other resources for small business benefit plans: Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development Dept. of Revenue   Non-insurance Discount Plans Careington PPO Discount Plans - the nation's leading network PPO discount provider allows a no-risk trial of any discount plan for only a $20 processing fee Drug Card America - a free prescription drug card that an be used nationwide Essential Dental Solutions - simple, inexpensive, no waiting period, up to $500 treatment per year Rx Pay Card - $10, $20, or $30 payments for hundreds of popular prescriptions. Telemedicine CallMD - Doctors and nurses literally on call 24/7 to answer questions, help with medical screening and write prescriptions saving you money with the most common types of medical care. $20 per month covers everyone in the household. International Coverage and Travel Insurance

Alaska Insurance News

3/20/2015 About 11 million customers of Premera BlueCross, Premera BlueCross/BlueShield of Alaska, Vivacity and Connexion Insurance Solutions, Inc. customers have been affected by a cyber attack and security breach. On March 17, 2015 the companies began notifying customers that "cyber attackers had executed a sophisticated attack to gain access to the company's information technology systems". Customer information that may have been accessed includes names, dates of birth, email addresses, addresses, telephone numbers, social security numbers, member identification numbers, bank account information, claims information and clinical information.

12/16/2014  Alaska still has 40,000 people without health insurance who would be eligible for Medicaid if the state opted to expand coverage as intended under the Affordable Care Act. Expanding Medicaid would cost the state less than $100 million but would trigger the federal government to pay $1.5 billion into the system. Most Alaska legislators just don't want to pay that much for health care.The Alaska Division of Insurance announced that most health insurance rate increases for 2015 will be between 35% and 40%. This rate increase is much higher than in other states and is likely to push the number of uninsured even higher.

2/11/2014 Professional support for any health care reform issue is available free of charge through an arrangement with OnlineNavigator. All online inquiries are handled personally by Tony Novak, CPA. Online support is available through a number of popular social media channels including Facebook and Google+ as well as e-mail. Telephone support for insurance enrollment is available through Members Insurance Exchange at (800) 609-0683.

7/26/2013 Affordable Smart Term Life Insurance is now available to most Alaska residents from age 20 through 60 directly online with no physical exam, agent appointment or telephone verification. Most policies are issued on the same day with coverage amounts of $25,000 up to $350,000. The level premium life insurance is available for terms of 10, 15, 20 and 30 years. Sample rates for $150,000 coverage for a preferred risk male age 30, non-tobacco $30.85 per month; tobacco user $49.55 per month. A preferred risk female age 30 non-tobacco user would be $26.49 per month and a tobacco user would be $40.96 per month. Rates are higher for older applicants and lower health risks as described online. Pricing is based on input you provide about your medical history but, unlike most other life insurers, does not consider family medical history. Coverage is issued by innovative National Life Group, rated "A" by A.M. Best Company for 2013.

2/22/2013 This page was updated to include a link to the insurance plan that will be used to determine specific "essential health benefits" for insurance that qualified for 2014 federal tax purposes. Also, a link to additional covered benefits required by state law. Non-qualified insurance is likely to continue to be available at a lower cost that does not include these benefits nor qualify for federal tax purposes.

1/1/2013 Alaska's health insurance plans now provide coverage for the cost of treating autism. The new coverage takes effect despite lack of support from the Governor's office. The cost of this coverage is estimated to be less than 2% of total health care costs, according to spokespersons from the state's largest insurers. Earlier estimates of the cost of autism predicted that premiums would rise by more than 3% per year due to this expansion of benefits. Providers emphasize that the diagnosis and cost of treatment of autism are still on the rise, so the true cost is not yet known. In other comparable cases where insurance coverage was expanded, the number of patients diagnosed and treated increase.

7/18/2012 Alaska joined a growing number of states that have declined to implement a state-run health insurance exchange. Gov. Sean Parnell cited the uncertainty regarding the implementation of heath reform law as the primary reason for abandoning the insurance exchange project. Alaska had previously received a federal grant of $1 million to explore health insurance options. There are likely to be a strong commercial health insurance exchange in the state and OnlineNavigator is available on request to serve the same role as a government-appointed insurance navigator. 

6/26/2012 Alaska settled a large claim by the federal government for violation of federal privacy of medical information laws related to the state's Medicaid patients. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), the state's Medicaid agency, has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) $1,700,000 to settle possible violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Security Rule. Alaska has also agreed to take corrective action to properly safeguard the electronic protected health information of their Medicaid beneficiaries. Alaskans are often presumed to hold an independent or libertarian attitude with regard to federal laws and so the state's taxpayers may not regard this huge payment to the federal government with favor.

5/8/2012 Alaska legislators have passed an autism coverage mandate and specialty pharmacy legislation. The law will cause an increase in health insurance premiums for 2013 although the amount is not known. Anticipating substantial health insurance cost increases in the future, the state also is seeking federal approval to increase its rate review threshold from 10 percent to 17 percent.

2/1/2012 The Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, a division of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that as of June 30, 2011 Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska is the state's largest health insurance provider and as such, earns the right to set the benchmark for the development of the state's essential benefit plans to debut in 2014 under health reform law.

2/12/2011 With dozens of health plans choices available online offering a wide range of pricing and benefits, how do you find the best combination of price and benefits? Celtic Insurance realizes that the choices can be overwhelming; the company offers more than 40 possible health plan designs in many parts of the United States. A new feature called "Help Me Choose" lets users easily and quickly select the benefits they value most and narrows the list down to a few of the best choices. No personal information is required other than zip code and date of birth.

2/8/2011 The legislation proposing to implement the state's health insurance exchange closely resembles model developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners except that insurance companies would have to be consulted for certain changes that the exchange may consider. The exchange will be run by a board of 12 governor-appointed members representing insurance agents, medical service providers and consumers, insurance companies labor unions and employers. The proposal led by Senator Hollis French is expected to be approved by the legislature largely as proposed.

12/28/2010 The state's pre-existing condition insurance plan attracted only 12 Alaska residents this year despite the government-subsidized premium. This plan provides a health coverage option for consumers who have been uninsured for at least six months, have a pre-existing condition or have been denied health coverage because of their health condition, and are a U.S. citizen or are residing here legally. The federal government pays most of the premium cost. The plan was initially criticized for excessive taxpayer costs but the overall lack of public interest in this insurance was not anticipated. 

12/18/2010 Alaska was one of two states not participating in a conference on the development of government-run health insurance exchange under the American Health Benefit Exchange Model Act. Minnesota's governor (the other state not participating) said that it was a waste of taxpayer money. The meeting reportedly did not address the role of the commercial health insurance exchanges on the implementation of new competing government systems. The model act does not address inter-state insurance exchange proposals nor insurance sales across state lines. Federal officials admitted that they may not be able to provide further guidance until 2012. Meanwhile, most states are motivated to continue to meet requirements to obtain additional funding promised by the federal government for the establishment of insurance exchange by 2014. Freedom Benefits has previously voiced the opinion that the huge amount of money being spent to set up alternate insurance sales system technologies could be better used providing health benefits to the public. We proposed on the Universal Health Insurance blog that adequate commercial insurance sales systems are already in place that could be modified in a public/private partnership to make health insurance more affordable.

5/10/2010 Diabetes Coverage: A new resource to help with health insurance for diabetics in Alaska is available.

This web site is independently owned and managed by Tony Novak operating under the trademarks "Freedom Benefits", "OnlineAdviser" and "OnlineNavigator". Opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the author and do not represent the opinion of any other person, company or entity mentioned. Tony Novak is not an agent, broker, producer or navigator for any federal or state health insurance exchange but may provide uncompensated advice, reviews and referrals to these official resources. Novak is compensated as an accountant, adviser, affiliate consultant, marketer, reviewer, endorser, producer, lead generator or referrer to some of the other commercial companies listed on this site. Information is from sources believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed.