How to get Medicaid or low-cost care in Alaska

Alaska Medicaid in plain words

Medicaid is a program that pays for health care for people with low incomes. The state Department of Health runs it, and the Division of Public Assistance handles applications and renewals. According to KFF, a health policy research group, the state widened the program on September 1, 2015.

Before that date, a single adult with no kids at home usually could not get Medicaid. Today the state lists adults ages 19 to 64 without dependent children as one of the groups that can qualify. Under the federal expansion rule, the income limit for these adults is 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level is a yearly dollar amount the government uses to measure poverty. It grows with the number of people in your home.

Other groups can also qualify, including low-income children and pregnant women. The state also names families and older adults. People who have a lasting disability can qualify too. A children's program called Denali KidCare is part of the picture. To read about each group, see our page on who qualifies for Medicaid.

Ways to apply

The state says the easiest way to apply for income-based Medicaid is on HealthCare.gov, which is the federal site for health plans. You can also apply on Alaska Connect, the state's own portal, where you can upload papers and renew your coverage. You sign in to Alaska Connect with a myAlaska account, and you can make one on the spot.

If you would rather talk to a person, call the Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778. People who use a relay service can dial 7-1-1. The state also has an online screening tool that gives you a quick idea of whether you might qualify.

There is no sign-up season for Medicaid, so you can apply in any month of the year, and it costs nothing to apply. If you are unsure, apply anyway, because the state decides from your answers. Our guide to applying for Medicaid lists the papers to gather first.

What changes in January 2027

The state's Stay Covered page says changes begin in January 2027. Adults ages 19 to 64 on Medicaid will need to work, go to school, join a training program or volunteer to keep coverage. The federal rule sets the amount at 80 hours a month, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That is the federal agency in charge of Medicaid. Some people will also renew every six months instead of once a year.

Many people will not be affected by the change, according to the state. It names these groups as likely not affected.

• People who are pregnant or in the postpartum period, which is the time after a birth, are not affected.
• Alaska Native and American Indian people are not affected by the rule.
• People who are medically frail, which means they have a serious health problem or disability, are not affected.
• Parents and caregivers of a child 13 or younger, or of a person with a disability, are not affected.
• Veterans with a total disability rating and people in treatment for a substance use condition are not affected.

Alaska also lists some exemptions of its own. One is living in an area where the unemployment rate is 6.45 percent or higher. Another is living in a place the federal government has declared a disaster area. A third is getting inpatient or residential care, and the list also includes traveling for medical care that you cannot get nearby.

Keep an eye on your mail for an envelope marked State of Alaska Stay Covered with the words immediate action required. If you get a form or letter, answer it by the date shown. You can update your mailing address and your phone number on Alaska Connect. A simple habit helps here, which is to keep every letter from the state in one folder and write down the date on each one. When a letter asks for proof, send it before the due date. The Medicaid work requirement guide explains how proof usually works.

When your income is above the limit

Higher earners can use the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, which is the route the state points to. A Marketplace plan is private insurance you buy yourself. The site shows whether your income qualifies for a tax credit, which is money that lowers the monthly cost. If you lost a job, read about what to do after losing insurance to learn about the sign-up window.

Tribal health care and community health centers

Alaska Native and American Indian people can use the tribal health system. The Indian Health Service says it covers all 228 federally recognized tribes in the state. The system includes tribal hospitals and health centers, plus small village clinics that are staffed by community health aides, who are trained local workers. The Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage handles referrals for specialty care across the state.

Community health centers get money from the federal government, and they see everyone. They set your price by your income and family size. The Alaska Primary Care Association says it supports 29 of them, and its website has a map for finding the one closest to you. You can also use the free Find a Health Center tool from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Ask every center about its sliding fee, which is a price scale based on what you earn. Then find out what papers to bring and how long the wait is for a first visit. Our guide to sliding-scale clinics can help you compare prices.

Looking up an Alaska doctor

The State Medical Board runs a Professional License Search on the state's licensing website, and you can search by last name or by license number. The result shows the license type and its dates, along with any disciplinary notes. For questions, you can call the board's Anchorage office at 907-269-8160.

Monthly-fee doctors and emergency rooms in Alaska

Some doctors here charge a flat monthly fee for primary care, which is called direct primary care. The doctor does not bill insurance for those visits, and the fee does not cover the emergency room or a hospital stay. You can search our directory of cash-pay doctors, and the office should give you the fee in writing.

In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. A federal law requires every hospital with an ER to look at you and treat an emergency, insured or not. If a bill comes later, our guide to hospital financial assistance shows how to ask for help.