Most large employers and some small employers offer health plans for employees and their families. Other groups such as fraternal organizations, chambers of commerce, or professional organizations may offer group-sponsored plans as well.

Large employers (organizations with 50 or more employees) are required to offer affordable insurance to their employees and their dependent children. A plan is considered unaffordable if the employee’s share is more than 9.12 percent of their household income or if the plan pays for less than 60 percent of covered health care expenses.

If you are losing your insurance coverage because you are leaving your job, you may want to consider continuation coverage through COBRA.

At Healthcare.gov, you can

• Compare and sign up for plans;
• Get help with paying your insurance premium and out-of-pocket costs, depending on your income; and
• Get enrolled in Medicaid (DenaliCare and Denali KidCare) plans if you qualify.

If you need local assistance, you can

• Call or visit your community health center or one of these organizations.

If you don't qualify for income-based subsidies (assistance with paying your premium and out-of-pocket costs), you can also purchase a plan directly from an insurer.

Or you can learn about options and plans, get insurance advice, and purchase health insurance through an agent or broker. Agents and brokers may sell plans from both inside and outside the Healthcare.gov marketplace.

Keep in mind that the compensation agents and brokers receive from one insurance company or for one plan, compared to another company or plan, may influence them to promote certain plans over others.

How to select an Insurance professional

Ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family about their experiences with their insurance agent or broker.
Check out potential licensed agents or brokers before you decide to buy – it’s your right.
We can tell you:

• How many complaints consumers have filed against an agent or broker.
• Whether they’ve faced disciplinary action in the past.

Understand the difference between agents and brokers

• Agents
• Agents may represent either specific companies or a number of companies.
• An agent sells you the policies of the company they represent.
• Agents receive commissions on their sales.

• Brokers
• Brokers represent and work for you.
• They aren’t appointed by companies.
• Brokers survey the market and bring back options for you to review.
• Many businesses use brokers because they can sample a broader range of available coverage and put together the best package for specific business and coverage circumstances.
• Brokers receive commissions on their sales.
• They must disclose their fees to you.

Search licensees here: https://sbs.naic.org/solar-external-lookup
(You may find it helpful to search using “Advanced Criteria” to focus on the line of insurance you are seeking)

You may qualify for Medicaid if you meet the income requirements.

Even if you don't qualify for Medicaid, your child may qualify for Denali KidCare.

Medicare is the health insurance program for people age 65 or older. You also may qualify for medicare if you:

• Are Under 65 with certain disabilities
• Any age and have End-Stage Renal disease (ESRD) (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant)

Find out more about Medicare options at Medicare.gov.

Apply for Medicare and Disability Benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA).

To get free personalized counseling on general or specific Medicare questions, call Alaska’s Medicare Information Office at 1-800-478-6065 or in Anchorage at (907) 269-3680.

Medicare Supplement Insurance or Medigap Information

Alaska Native and American Indian people have special protections and benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Even if you don’t buy insurance, you and your family can still get health care services at your Tribal health facility.

Alaska Natives who choose to purchase health care coverage can receive special benefits.

For instance, a family of four with income up to $96,570 who purchases coverage at healthcare.gov won’t have to pay out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance, even if you don’t get your care at a Tribal health facility.

If you get a plan, you may also have access to services that the Indian Health Service, tribal programs, or urban Indian programs (known as I/T/Us) may not provide.

Find out more through the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Healthcare.gov info for Alaska Natives.

Learn about and apply for health benefits for veterans and eligible family members through the Veterans Health Administration.

Learn about and apply for health benefits for military and eligible family members through TRICARE.