 |
 |
 |
Government Employers Offering Family Plans
The
federal and state governments and virtually all the larger local
governments
nationwide offer family health insurance.
Other Sources of Health-Care Coverage
Medicaid (including Denali KidCare)
Medicaid
is a joint federal-state program that pays medical costs for low-income
Americans.
The program was expanded in 1997 to make more children and pregnant
women eligible; that
expansion in Alaska is called Denali KidCare. Children in families
earning up to 200 percent of
the federal poverty guideline income can qualify for Denali KidCare,
if they meet other criteria.
Indian Health
Service
All
Alaska Natives are eligible for Indian Health Service programs.
These programs are not
“health insurance,” because they are offered only at IHS hospitals
or clinics. Still, they provide
medical coverage.
How Much Does Insurance Cost - And Who Pays?
Estimated
Monthly Premiums c, 2001
U.S.d Alaska
Individual ±$232 $270-$700
f
Family ±$600 $650-$825
Who
Pays the Family Insurance Premiums?
(Among
Employers Offering Insurance)
 Estimated
Employee Contributions
For
Family Coverage
Private
Businesses, U.S. 1999
20%-30%
Alaska Public Employers, 2001
±5% - 30%
Source: see note a for figure;Alaska estimates based on figures
from major public employers
Notes
for figures:
a
U.S. Agency for Health Care Research
and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Includes all
businesses that offer at least basic health insurance. Figure for
Alaska is 1997; U.S. figure is 1999.
b Businesses
offering at least “major medical,” coverage, which excludes dental
and vision care benefits. Source: Anchorage Access to Health Care
Coalition, Health Insurance Benefits Survey, September 2001.
c Coverage
varies sharply under different plans. Premiums depend on the size
of the deductible, the percentage of costs reimbursed, and coverage
of dental, vision, and prescription drug costs.
d Estimated national average premium for private businesses
offering health insurance in 2001. Based on 1999 figure from Medical
Expenditure Panel Survey, adjusted by annual average increases
in health insurance costs nationwide in 2000 (8%) and 2001 (11%),
as reported in National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans
2001, William M. Mercer Inc.
e Estimated range of monthly premiums for plans offered
by public and private employers in Alaska. Based on (1) survey
of private businesses in Anchorage, conducted by Anchorage Access
to Health Care Coalition, September 2001; and (2) figures
from large public employers in Alaska. Public employees often have
the choice of basic coverage at lower rates or supplemental coverage
at higher rates.
f A few group plans have the same premium for individuals
or families.
Next
page
|
 |
