Alaska Senior Health Insurance

Explore Your Options

Alaska, known for its hunting and fishing, outdoor activities and of course it’s beautiful landscaping is a great place to call home. When you become eligible for Medicare in Alaska, it’s important to know what your options are. Because there are many areas in Alaska that are not highly populated it may be more difficult to find affordable health coverage. But rest assured, you still have options. The Specialists at MySeniorHealthPlan.com can help explain original Medicare and the different ways to supplement it.

Medicare Supplements, also known as Medigap plans, are available and perhaps the most common choice among the Medicare eligible population in Alaska. Medicare Supplements are plans standardized by the government so coverage between carriers does not vary. However, these plans do vary in premium costs, customer service and carrier reputation. Medicare Supplements are state specific, but benefits can be used nationwide. If you are new to Medicare (or up to 6 months after) you can enroll into a Medicare Supplement Plan without undergoing health underwriting. If you are not new to Medicare, you can still purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan, but you may have to answer health questions and your acceptance is not guaranteed. Different carriers will ask different health questions to determine your acceptance into a plan. Speak to a Specialist at MySeniorHealthPlan.com to walk you through the different Medicare Supplement Plans available in Alaska.

Medicare Supplement Plans do not include prescription drug coverage. Therefore, most people also obtain a Prescription Drug Plan, or Part D. Luckily Prescription Drug Plans are statewide policies and the residents of Alaska have multiple options. When choosing a Prescription Drug Plan to fit your needs it’s most important to know the costs, not just the premium but your individual prescription costs as well. These stand-alone plans are offered by private health insurance carriers and premiums and prescription cost vary between them. By speaking with a Senior Health Insurance Specialist at MySeniorHealthPlan.com, you can rest assured knowing that they can help you make a well-informed decision when choosing your Prescription Drug Plan. If you need Extra Help paying for your prescriptions please click here.

Next, there are Medicare Advantage Plans (MAPDs), or Part C. This type of plan is county specific and coverage options vary between counties. In 2012 there were no Medicare Advantage Plans offered in Alaska but since then a few MAPD options have been added in highly populated areas. Medicare Advantage Plans are network-based plans and you may need a referral to see a Specialist. These plans can change annually, so make sure that you get your free yearly analysis from MySeniorHealthPlan.com to ensure you have adequate coverage year to year. These plans typically include prescription drug coverage but not always. Because this type of plan is very limited in Alaska, call MySeniorHealthPlan.com to see if you have MAPD options available in your county.

Some residents of Alaska have Indian Health Services as well. The relationship between the Federal Government and Native American tribes constitutes various rules to follow. However, CMS has made Medicare & Medicaid healthcare services accessible to all Native Americans who are eligible. For more information visit click here.

Senior Resources:
Indian Health Services: http://www.ihs.gov
Medicare: www.Medicare.gov
Alaska Division of Insurance: http://commerce.alaska.gov/web/ins/
Alaska Comprehensive Health Insurance Association: http://achia.com/achia.asp