Alaska Medicaid Expansion

Alaska is joining many states and expanding Medicaid under ObamaCare. Individuals making less than 138% FPL  (roughly $20,000) will qualify for Medicaid. Individuals who don’t qualify for Medicaid, but make anywhere under $58,880 for 2015 will qualify for cost assistance on health insurance through HealthCare.Gov. Medicaid and cost assistance eligibility increases by family size so families will have higher limits and children of these families qualify for CHIP.

Those dollar amounts come from the Alaska specific 2015 Federal Poverty Level and are based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). The dollar amounts increase every year, Alaska’s expansion most likely won’t go into effect before January 1st, 2016 although no exact date has been set.

“Today, Alaska becomes the 30th state to accept the benefits of Medicaid expansion,”Gov. Bill Walker said to applause at an event announcing his plans in Anchorage on Thursday July 16th, 2015.

2015 POVERTY GUIDELINES – ALASKA

Gov. Bill Walker talks to Medicaid expansion supporters. Photo by Marc Lester / ADN

The History of Medicaid Expansion in Alaska

Due, in part, to Republican leadership Alaska chose not to expand Medicaid after many “red” states opted out of expanding health coverage to their state’s poorest despite 90 – 100% federal funding on January 1st, 2014. Since that date many states, and now including Alaska, decided to expand Medicaid either as envisioned by the ACA or by filing a waiver and creating an acceptable alternative. After about a year and a half of in-fighting between Alaska officials a decision to expand just barely passed and was announced by Gov. Bill Walker. This will cover as many as 42,000 Alaskans.

“Alaska and Alaskans cannot wait any longer,” Walker said. “This is the final option for me. I’ve tried everything else,” he said of his decision to circumvent lawmakers after months of lobbying them to enact his plan via legislation. “I never give up, and I won’t give up.”

Gov. Bill Walker will meet with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell to discuss Medicaid expansion next week. There is not an exact date for the expansion taking place, but it would make sense if it were in place by January 1st, 2016.