Alaska AK Health Insurance Plan
Reader’s Question:
How should go about buying prescription drugs here in Alaska if I want to avail of my health insurance plan’s prescription drugs benefits?
Rick
Anchorage, Alaska AK
How are you, Rick!
Most health insurance companies in Alaska would control costs for prescription drug benefits through a formulary. My suggestion is for you to buy drugs from the formulary provided by your health insurer because they are usually less expensive. You will be paying a lower co-pay for drugs on this formulary.
So what if you want to use a drug which is not on the preferred list? All you have to do is to bring the insurer’s formulary to your doctor’s office to see if there is any way you can substitute the drug with a cheaper but medically-equivalent drug on your health insurance company’s formulary. Be aware though that formularies are subject to change. Most insurers regularly add a new drug or stop covering a drug at any time. You don’t have to worry about quality of generic drugs. These are exactly the same chemical properties of the branded ones whose patents have already expired. Most health insurance plans will automatically fill the prescription with a generic unless your doctor specifies the brand name.
There’s another way you can save on medications. I know of some plans which charge you less if you use a pharmacy that’s within their pharmacy network. If that is the case, you can simply ask if your pharmacy is in the network before you fill the prescription. This will save you from paying double for the same drug.
Cheap Health Insurance Anchorage AK
Reader’s Question:
Can you give me some practical tips on how I can find cheap health insurance in Anchorage, Alaska?
Alex
Anchorage, AK
There’s always something you can do, Alex.
And almost every tip I will be giving you is 100% do-able. For starters, you need to watch your health. The healthier you are, the cheaper your health insurance premium rates will be in Anchorage. Simply put, the cost of you health insurance premiums is directly based on risk factors. Let’s say you are an unhealthy person or one who has unhealthy lifestyle, then you are naturally prone to get sick. Health insurance companies will make sure by verifying your health status. If you are proven to be on the high-risk group, then there is a high probability that you will be filing an expensive insurance claim. So, just in case you are indeed living an unhealthy life, you can start reforming your habits by deciding to exercise a lot and eating lots of fruits and vegetables to make you healthy. If you smoke, quit the habit and that will save you some dollars on health insurance premiums.
With regards to the type of plan, you can pick a high deductible health insurance plan. You will be paying lower monthly premiums if you get the plan with a higher deductible. Some high deductible health insurance plans have a health savings account which can save up money for you that is tax-free.
Lastly, it wouldn’t do you any harm if you shop around and ask around. You’ll get some helpful tips from friends and colleagues and be able to get the best deal for your health insurance policy.
Smoker Life Insurance Alaska AK
Reader’s Question:
At the time I purchased my life insurance in Alaska, I decided to quit smoking and was classified as a “Non-Smoker” by my insurance company. Would my premium increase if my insurance company would know that I am now a “Smoker”? I live in Anchorage, Alaska.
Jim
Anchorage, AK
No. In the first place, if the life insurance policy was already issued in Alaska, and then the insured started smoking once again after it was issued, the insurer would not normally be allowed to increase the rates after issue due to the increased risk by becoming a smoker. This is so in the absence of fraud and misrepresentation on the applicant.
The insurance company in Alaska cannot make any changes to affect the rate of the contract which is already in force. The story changes if the policy lapses and the insured wants to reinstate. A re-underwriting will be done based on his current situation and can expect a change in the rate.
I hope this gives you some insight.
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