• Preventive Care Coverage of Vaccines
• Plan Amendment—Public Comment Period
• The Division's Website Gets a New Look! 
• Access Your Form 1095-B Online Starting April 2022
• Future AlaskaCare Town Hall Event
• We Value Your Feedback!
• Health Benefit Contact Information

Preventive Care Coverage of Vaccines

The AlaskaCare plan expanded preventive care coverage to the Retiree Defined Benefit health plan effective January 1, 2022.

Join us during 2022 as we explore the preventive care benefits offered by your AlaskaCare Retiree Insurance Plan. Each month from January through June, we will take a closer look at some of the preventive services. If you missed the previous newsletters, find a copy here.

This month we are featuring preventive vaccines.

Preventive Care—Coverage of Vaccines

Vaccines prevent diseases that can be very serious. Adults and children need vaccines to help protect themselves and others. The vaccines recommended for you are based on your age, health condition, and other individual factors.

Effective January 1, 2022, AlaskaCare expanded preventive care coverage in the Retiree Defined Benefit health plan. Many vaccines were already a covered benefit under your AlaskaCare pharmacy plan. However, there are a few exciting benefit additions and changes to be aware of.

• Effective January 1, 2022, vaccines administered at your network pharmacy or medical provider’s office are eligible for AlaskaCare coverage! Previously most vaccines were a pharmacy benefit and only covered when administered at your network pharmacy.
• With the expanded coverage, you can receive a vaccine at your network pharmacy or medical provider’s office and there is no cost to you. Covered vaccines received at your network pharmacy now have a $0 copay.
• To support members during the COVID-19 public health emergency, AlaskaCare temporarily covered Flu and Pneumonia vaccines. These two vaccines are now a standard covered benefit, at no cost to you when you receive them at a network pharmacy or provider’s office.

So, you have more options of where to receive your vaccines and no out-of-pocket cost when you visit a network provider or pharmacy.

Talk with your doctor or other healthcare professional to make sure you are up to date with the vaccines recommended for you.

If you have any questions about your AlaskaCare preventive care benefits, contact the Aetna Concierge at (855) 784-8646.

Plan Amendment—Public Comment Period

The Department of Administration, Division of Retirement and Benefits, is proposing an amendment to the AlaskaCare Defined Benefit Retiree Health Plan, effective June 1, 2022.

On March 18 2022, the Division of Retirement and Benefits (the Division) issued a proposed amendment to the AlaskaCare Defined Benefit Retiree Health Plan (the Plan). This amendment was agreed to as part of the final settlement agreement negotiated between the Division and the Retired Public Employees of Alaska, Inc. (RPEA).

The proposed amendment, which still must be formally adopted by the Commissioner of Administration (the Commissioner), is an important component of the Division’s and RPEA’s agreement to end year’s long litigation on mutually acceptable terms. The amendment’s purpose is to clarify certain parts of the plan’s medical necessity provisions.

Specifically, the amendment offers a neutral reference to the term Claims Administrator, recognizing that the entity contracted to provide this service has, and will, change over time as the Division engages in competitive procurements. In some cases, such as in the case of pharmacy or dental claims, the Claims Administrator may be different than the medical claims administrator. The proposed amendment reflects that reality.

In addition, the proposed amendment confirms that as Plan Administrator, the Commissioner, or their designee, has final authority to determine if a claim should be paid under the terms of the plan. The proposed amendment restates the factors that the Plan Administrator will consider when evaluating a claim within this provision. On an individual basis, this evaluation occurs through the appeals process, specifically when a member reaches the third level appeal to the Division.

Nothing in this amendment is intended to rescind or remove the use of Claims Administrator’s clinical policies in determining medical necessity when adjudicating claims. Nor is the intent of the amendment to change the current process members may undertake when they believe a claim has been inappropriately denied.

The proposed amendment includes some additional changes, outlined below:

• Provides a link to the Claims Administrator’s clinical policy bulletins at the front of the booklet.
• Defines “Plan Administrator,” “Claims Administrator,” and “Aetna.”
• Capitalizes “Plan Administrator” to reflect definitions.
• Provides lawsuits against the State arising from the plan may be brought in any judicial district in the State of Alaska.

The proposed amendment is available here for review. You may comment on the proposed Plan Amendment by submitting written comments:

All comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 20, 2022.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact the Division of Retirement and Benefits at (907) 465-4460 or doa.drb.alaskacare.retiree.plan@alaska.gov no later than May 2, 2022, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.

Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

For more information about the AlaskaCare plans, visit AlaskaCare.gov.

If you have questions about the AlaskaCare Retiree DB Health Plan or your benefits, please contact the Division at (907) 465-4460 (In Juneau) or (800) 821-2251 (toll-free).

The Division's Website Gets a New Look!

The Division of Retirement and Benefits is excited to announce that it will be unveiling a redesigned website on May 3, 2022. The new website will have a similar look and feel as the main State of Alaska (SOA) and most SOA department and division websites, with a streamlined layout designed to be easy to use and navigate.

On May 3, you will find the new Division website at drb.alaska.gov. 

Our team has been working to bring you an improved user experience. Some of the new features include:

• An interface designed for you, the user. You can access the information you need based on whether you are an employee, a retiree, or an employer.
• No hidden or buried pages. All the information on the website is available from the drop-down menus at the top of the home page. Quick links and helpful tools are also available from the right-side fly-out menu. Access this menu by clicking the hamburger icon ( ☰ ) on the upper right side of your browser window.
• No duplicate information. The website contains the same helpful information organized in a way that is easier to find.
• ADA-accessibility. The State of Alaska and the Division are committed to serving all Alaskans. We use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, Level AA as our guide in making our website more accessible for everyone and our content easy to use and understand.
• More responsive design for mobile devices. You should see improved usability on your phone or tablet.

Questions? Contact our Member Service Center toll-free at (800) 821-2251 or in Juneau at (907) 465-4460 or by email at doa.drb.mscc@alaska.gov.

Access Your Form 1095-B Online Starting April 2022

Form 1095-B is a tax form that reports the type of health insurance coverage you have, any dependents covered by your insurance policy, and the period of coverage for the prior year. The Division has provided this form to members under age 65 to verify on your tax return that you and your dependents have at least minimum essential health insurance coverage. If you are over age 65, Medicare will provide this form for you.

In 2022, for the 2021 tax year, this information is automatically provided to the IRS, and it is no longer necessary to have a printed copy of Form 1095-B in order to file your taxes. The Division will provide members under age 65 access to an electronic version of Form 1095-B online starting in April 2022. Members age 65 or older can contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to obtain a copy of their Form 1095-B.

If you are under age 65 you can access your Form 1095-B in your MyRNB account under myDocuments.

If you would like to request a printed copy of your 2020 Form 1095-B be mailed to you, please contact the Division toll-free at (800) 821-2251, or in Juneau at (907) 465-4460.

Future AlaskaCare Town Hall Events

Town Hall Events are group calls hosted by the Alaska Department of Administration, Division of Retirement and Benefits for all interested AlaskaCare retirees and families to ask questions about the AlaskaCare health plans. You can join the call to learn more about your health plan and ask Division staff any questions you have about your benefits. This format gives retirees a chance to connect directly with Division staff to hear the latest news on all things AlaskaCare, raise questions, share comments, and learn more about the health plans. Pre-register now online.

Please join us for a Town Hall event on:

• Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 10 a.m. Alaska Time
• Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 10 a.m. Alaska Time

We Value Your Feedback!

As a State of Alaska retiree, your input is valued and important. Below, please see a list of ways to contact us with your feedback. Also, a full list of AlaskaCare health plan and partner contact information can be found on our website.

AlaskaCare – Plan Administrator

• Toll Free: (800) 821-2251
• In Juneau: (907) 465-4460
• TDD: (907) 465-2805
• Fax: (907) 465-3086
• Email: doa.drb.mscc@alaska.gov

Health Benefit Contact Information

Division of Retirement and Benefits
Member Service Center: (907) 465-4460 |Toll Free: (800) 821-2251

Medical Benefits: Aetna
Member Services: (855) 784-8646

Long Term Care Benefits: CHCS Services, Inc.
Member Services: (888) 287-7116

Dental Benefits: Moda/Delta Dental
Member Services: (855) 718-1768

Pharmacy Benefits: OptumRx
Member Services: (855) 409-6999