Alaska’s Marketplace:
Online Health Insurance

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This morning, Alaska’s online health insurance market debuted. Today, Alaskans can shop online for private insurance to meet the requirements of the new federal health care law. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has become muddled and confusing since its original enactment in 2010. Most recently, rhetoric on the government shutdown and postponement of the law creates even more confusion.

It is my job to keep you informed of your options and educated on the major components of the Affordable Care Act as they take effect in the next year. What matters to me is maximizing the benefit of the ACA for Alaskans.

Senator Gardner and Senator Ellis have both written very informative newsletters outlining the major components of the Affordable Care Act; however, in this newsletter I will specifically focus on Alaska’s online health insurance market. 

1.       Accessing the Marketplace: Connect to Alaska’s health insurance marketplace at healthcare.gov.

2.       Comparing Plans: Alaska’s marketplace currently consists of two providers: Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska and Moda Health. Once you’ve accessed the marketplace online you can compare plans side-by-side to see benefits and prices. The plans are required to be described in simple language so there is no guesswork about what’s covered. Every plan is required to cover important benefits including doctor visits, hospital care, emergency care, prescriptions, preventative care, and more.

3.       Choosing a Plan: After reviewing options, you can sign up on the spot. Financial help to pay for the insurance is available to those with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, or $23,050 and $92,2000, per year for a family of four, and the amount of the subsidy varies with income.

4.       Covered: Coverage can begin as soon as January 2014 and open enrollment lasts until March 2014. You will not be denied coverage if you have a pre-existing condition like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, or even cancer, and your coverage cannot be cut off or cancelled if you get sick.

As the Affordable Care Act continues to take effect it will continue to have a huge presence in the news. The following are articles from local papers that were just in yesterday’s and today’s news:

Yesterday’s news:

Alaska broker makes big move under Affordable Care Act – AND

Alaska's online insurance market set to debut – AP

Online Insurance Market Set to Debut – AP

'Obamacare' comes into focus for AK - Peninsula Clarion

In today’s news:

Any glitches in Alaska health exchange rollout won't undermine goal, fed official says – AP (ADN)

'Obamacare' exchanges start up as gov't shuts down – AP (ADN)

Insurance markets open to surge of new customers – AP (ADN)

Please contact me if you have any questions about information in this newsletter, or anything that I did not cover. Here are several additional resources for you to access regarding the Affordable Care Act:

·   Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium site: http://anthctoday.org/aca/or email healthreform@anthc.org

·   State Division of Insurance: http://commerce.alaska.gov/ins/Insurance/ACA/

·   Enroll Alaska: http://www.enrollingalaska.com

By phone:

·  24-hour hotline corresponding to the http://www.healthcare.gov  page: 1-800-318-2596

·  United Way of Anchorage is making information available via the 211 Alaska information referral line

As always, please contact me if I can be of service to you or your family,

I Answer to You!

Sincerely,

Representative Andy Josephson
716 4th Ave, Room 390
Phone: 907-269-0265
Rep.Andy.Josephson@akleg.gov