Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Policies

Alaska does not require insurers to offer Medicare Supplement policies to any class of adults under sixty-five.

 

High-Risk Pool 

The Alaska Comprehensive Health Insurance Association (ACHIA) provides access to health insurance to all residents of the state who were previously rejected coverage by private carriers due to their health. This is available to all Alaska residents on the basis of HIPAA, Medical and HCTC eligibility.

 

Mini-COBRA Policies (Small Group) 

Alaska has no laws regarding continuation coverage for small firms.

 

Medicare Savings Programs (Premium Support) 

Alaska has three Medicare Savings Programs for state residents:

 

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMBs) - for individuals with a monthly income under $1,108 and couples with a monthly income under $1,498, the state pays all premiums for Part B and all Co-Pays and Deductibles for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMBs) - for individuals with a monthly income under $1,333 and couples with a monthly income under $1,801, the state pays all premiums for Medicare Part B

• Qualified Individuals (QIs) - for individuals with a monthly income under $1,503 and couples with a monthly income under $2,029, the state pays all premiums for Medicare Part B

 

State Health Insurance Assistance Program

The Alaska SHIP/SMP is housed in the Medicare Information Office, which is a part of Senior & Disabilities Services (SDS) in the State of Alaska Department of Health & Social Services. The Alaska SHIP works directly with local grantees and dozens of partners statewide to provide services via a system tailored to fit Alaska’s challenging geographic terrain and unique and diverse population. Nearly half of the Alaskan Medicare population lives within a hundred miles of Anchorage, and the other half is scattered over 585,000 square miles of mountainous and remote landscape. Information flows from the Alaska SHIP in various ways; by mail, fax, phone, Internet, publication articles in the Senior Voice, news release to radio stations, printed handouts, and live presentations and through regularly scheduled travel to the population hubs. The goal of the Alaska SHIP is to maintain a cadre of Medicare counselors who provide the needed face-to-face counseling within their local communities. Alaska SHIP actively incorporates events that collaborate with SMP Projects to prevent fraud, waste and abuse and to increase consumer advocacy and interaction.

 

Low-Income Subsidy (“extra-help”) for Prescription Drugs

This program is a subsidy for Part D recipients with resources under $13,070 (or $26,120 for a couple) to receive money towards a Medicare prescription drug plan. The benchmark of support is different depending on which region of the country you live in. The benchmark premium for a region is the weighted average of the monthly beneficiary premiums for basic prescription drug coverage. The amount of the low-income subsidy in Alaska for 2012 is $36.46

 

If you live in Alaska, and you are interested in getting a Medicare Plan, please contact the Medicare experts at eAmeriFamily Insurance.  They are industry veterans and will guide you through the process of getting the right Medicare, Medicare Advantage, MediGap, or Medicare Supplement Plan for you.