Alaska Health Insurance Consumer Guide

Here are the eligibility requirements for health coverage through the Marketplace in Alaska:⁴

• You must live in Alaska.
• You must be lawfully present in the U.S.
• You must not be incarcerated.
• You must not be enrolled in Medicare.

The open enrollment window in Alaska runs from November 1 to January 15. This is when you can sign up for ACA-compliant individual and family health plans.⁴

For your coverage to start on January 1, you must sign up by December 15. If you enroll between December 16 and January 15, your coverage will begin on February 1.⁴

You can still make plan changes or enroll in the Marketplace beyond the open enrollment window. However, you must qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP).⁵ SEPs generally require a qualifying life event, such as losing your health coverage involuntarily or gaining a dependent.

If you miss the open enrollment deadline and don’t have a qualifying life event, you may still be able to apply if you meet one of the following criteria:

• Your income is below 150% of the poverty level, and you qualify for premium tax credits. In this case, you can enroll anytime until at least 2025. 
• You’re a Native American.⁶

You lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage between March 31, 2023 and July 31, 2024. In this case, you can enroll through the extended SEP.⁷

To enroll in an Alaska Marketplace health plan, you can:

• Go to HealthCare.gov online – the ACA exchange website.
• Dial the Marketplace Call Center at (800) 318-2596.
• Contact agents, navigators, certified application counselors or an approved enhanced direct enrollment entity.⁸

Go to localhelp.HealthCare.gov to find a navigator, certified application counselor, or agent in your area. 

Here are a few options for finding affordable insurance in Alaska: 

• Use the ACA Marketplace (HealthCare.gov): You may qualify for income-based subsidies called Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) under ACA. These credits lower your premiums.

In 2023, more than eight out of ten eligible enrollees received premium credits and saved about $741 monthly. Those receiving subsidies paid approximately $125 per month in premiums.⁹

Source: CMS.gov¹⁰

Another way to save money while using the Alaska exchange is cost-sharing reductions (CSR). You may be eligible for CSR if your income is less than 250% of the federal poverty level.¹¹

• Apply for Medicaid if you’re eligible: You can enroll through HealthCare.gov or my.alaska.gov. Our Medicaid eligibility guide walks you through the process.
  
• Look into short-term health insurance: If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, one insurer in Alaska currently offers short-term health insurance plans.

Two insurance companies offer plans in Alaska’s health insurance Marketplace:¹²

• Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
• Moda Assurance

Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska plans are available statewide.

Moda Assurance has a more limited coverage area in Alaska. These plans are only available in the following regions:¹³ 

• Municipality of Anchorage
• Matanuska-Susitna Borough
• Kenai Peninsula Borough
• Fairbanks Northstar Borough
• Southeast Alaska

The 2024 proposed rate changes for Alaska’s individual market insurers are listed below:¹⁴

Source: HealthCare.gov¹⁵

When looking at overall average rate changes, it’s important to understand:

• The averages only apply to full-price premiums. Few people pay full price since 85% of Alaska’s exchange enrollees receive subsidies.¹⁶ Their net rate change depends on their plan rate and subsidy amount changes.
• Averages don’t account for premiums increasing with age. Even if an insurer doesn’t change rates, you’ll likely pay more each year as you get older. Subsidies may offset this rate change for eligible enrollees.

During open enrollment for 2023 health coverage, 25,572 people signed up for private health plans through Alaska’s exchange.¹⁷

In Alaska, Marketplace enrollment peaked in 2016, then declined each year until 2020. But it has been steadily increasing since 2021. This growth was due in part to American Rescue Plan subsidies, which continue through 2025 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.¹⁸

Source: 2014,¹⁹ 2015, ²⁰ 2016,²¹ 2017,²² 2018,²³ 2019,²⁴ 2020,²⁵ 2021,²⁶ 2022,²⁷ 2023,²⁸ 2024²⁹

HealthCare.gov
The official federal website where you can sign up for health insurance plans through the ACA Marketplace. 

Denali KidCare
Alaska’s children’s health insurance program. 

United Way of Anchorage
Federally funded Navigator organization to assist with Medicaid and exchange enrollment in Alaska. 

Alaska State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Programs (SHIP)
Enrollment counseling and advice to Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers.

Medicare Rights Center
A national service for Medicare-related questions.

Alaska Comprehensive Health Insurance Association
Created by the Alaska State Legislature to provide coverage for residents unable to obtain individual health insurance.