Health care (Insurance).(2007 Alaska Forecast)

Alaska employers are concerned with three primary health insurance components: access, quality and cost. In Alaska, a quality health care system has been built and insurers continue to increase access throughout the state, but the rising cost of health care and health insurance often overshadows the positive developments that are being made. In August, a new local health insurance carrier entered the Alaska marketplace offering broad access to providers through top-quality benefits plans. This additional competition will positively impact renewal rates for some Alaska employers; however, many employers will still choose to sacrifice benefit levels for lower prices or go without coverage altogether. In 2007, carriers, agents, providers and important task groups--like the Healthcare Roundtable and associations like Alaska Association of Health Underwriters--will endeavor to create benefit plans designed to offset rising health care costs and decrease the number of uninsured Alaskans.

Ty Phillippay, Marketing Manager, ODS Alaska

Print Get the Mag Weekly Updates