• COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends May 11, 2023
• Getting to Know Your Benefits:  Defined Contribution Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) Account
• Alaskans Can Join Free Programs for Better Health
• Regulations of the Department of Administration, Division of
  Retirement and Benefits
• You Can Access Your Form 1095-B Online
• We Want to Hear from You – Retiree Town Hall Events
• We Value Your Feedback!
• Health Benefit Contact Information

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Ends May 11, 2023

The federal government announced it will end the COVID-19 public health emergency and national emergency declarations on May 11, 2023. Here at AlaskaCare, we made temporary changes, permanent changes, and limited benefit expansions to your health plan during the public health COVID-19 response to assist you in accessing the care you needed. While the national public health emergency is set to end, your health benefits will continue to be there when you need them.

Here is what you need to know:

COVID-19 Vaccines

Remains Covered. Your AlaskaCare health plan covers preventive vaccines under both the medical and pharmacy plans. AlaskaCare members receive preventive vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, at no cost when received at a network pharmacy or from a network provider. Standard cost-sharing provisions apply for non-preventive vaccines. 

COVID-19 Treatment

Remains Covered. Your AlaskaCare health plan covers your medically necessary treatment when diagnosed with COVID-19, the same as other covered medical expenses. You must first meet the annual deductible of $150 per person. After you meet the annual deductible, the medical plan pays 80% or more for covered expenses, up to the annual individual out-of-pocket limit of $800. When your deductible is satisfied and your out-of-pocket maximum is reached, the medical plan pays 100% of most covered medical expenses for the rest of the benefit year.

COVID-19 Laboratory Testing

Remains Covered. Your AlaskaCare health plan covers laboratory testing for COVID-19, the same as other covered diagnostic testing expenses. Standard cost sharing provisions apply for COVID-19 laboratory tests (Polymerase Chain Reaction or “PCR” and antigen tests) that are deemed medically necessary under the terms of the plan.

Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Testing

Temporary coverage expires on June 30, 2023. Your AlaskaCare health plan pharmacy benefit will continue to cover at-home, over-the-counter, FDA-authorized COVID-19 tests, 8 per month per covered person through June 30, 2023. Beginning July 1, 2023, the temporary coverage for over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits will no longer be in effect. COVID-19 laboratory testing (PCR and antigen tests) will continue to be covered per the plan provisions. 

Telemedicine Services

Remains Covered. Your AlaskaCare plan covered telemedicine before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency and will continue to cover telemedicine services delivered by your regular providers per the plan provisions. If you or your provider are unsure which telehealth services are eligible for coverage, please contact the Aetna health concierge at (855) 784-8646 for more information.

Getting to Know Your Benefits:
Defined Contribution Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) Account

The Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is an employer-funded medical expense reimbursement account that members of the Defined Contribution Plan may use to pay eligible medical expenses. With a Defined Contribution HRA, funds are deposited while you are still actively working, growing over time, and becoming available for use upon retirement.

Eligible medical expenses are health, dental, and vision expenses as defined under 26 U.S.C. Section 213(d) that are not otherwise reimbursable by the health plan or any other health plan. Eligible medical expenses must be expenses incurred by you, your spouse, or your dependent children. A complete list of eligible medical expenses is available in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 502.

You do not have to participate in the health plan in order to participate in your HRA. A member is eligible for reimbursement under the HRA if they

• have at least 25 years of membership service as a peace officer or firefighter;
• for any other employee, have at least 30 years of membership service; or
• have at least 10 years of membership service and reach Medicare age.

You may request reimbursement from the HRA account for eligible medical expenses you have incurred. You will be reimbursed up to the amount of your balance in the HRA or the amount of the claim, whichever is less.

Carryover of Unused Amounts in the HRA

The HRA is yours to use until the balance is exhausted. If you have a balance remaining in your HRA at the end of the benefit year, the remaining balance will be carried over to the following benefit year.

Eligible Medical Expenses

Eligible medical expenses are health, dental and vision expenses as defined under 26 U.S.C. Section 213(d) that are not otherwise reimbursable by the plan or any other health plan. In addition, expenses reimbursed out of your HRA must be expenses incurred by you, your spouse, and your dependent children. The HRA claims administrator will make the final determination as to whether an expense may be reimbursed from the HRA.

A complete list of qualified medical expenses is available in IRS Publication No. 502. You will find it online at irs.gov/publications.

Examples of eligible medical expenses include:

• your monthly health plan premiums
• your monthly Medicare premiums
• custodial care expenses
• hearing aids
• deductibles
• copayments
• coinsurance
• amounts in excess of the maximums allowed by the medical plan, dental plan, or vision plan
• insulin (whether or not prescribed)
•  prescription drugs
• over-the-counter drugs, but only if you have a prescription

Examples of expenses that cannot be reimbursed include, but are not limited to:

• certain cosmetic surgery and procedures
• travel expenses
• fees for health club
• vitamins
• qualified long-term care services

Submitting Claims for Reimbursement

To be reimbursed for unpaid eligible medical expenses, claims for reimbursement to the HRA may be submitted in one of the following ways:

• Direct claims submission: You submit your claims to the HRA claims administrator on the Request for Reimbursement form after receiving your Explanation of Benefits
  (EOB) from the plan or any other health plan in which you participate. This form is available at AlaskaCare.gov. If you have more than one health plan, you must submit the claim with copies of the EOB from all plans.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) claims submission: You must submit each claim with itemized statements or receipts, an EOB from your health plan, and a prescription.

Reimbursements are issued daily. Checks are payable to you, not to your provider. Your claim will be accepted if you file as soon as possible, but not later than 12 months after the date you incurred the expenses.

You can also submit for reimbursement of premium payments, including the medical plan, DVA plan, Medicare, or other plans, such as a Medicare Supplement plan. You can submit to the HRA claims administrator to have your monthly premium reimbursed to you from your HRA or paid from the HRA directly to the entity from which you are purchasing coverage on a recurring basis (if allowed). You can submit for reimbursement of future premium payments for the full plan year, when funds exist in the HRA, and sufficient proof is provided showing the applicable health insurance premiums were paid.

Additional information on this option is available at AlaskaCare.gov.

Alaskans Can Join Free Programs
for Better Health

Ready for a change? The Alaska Department of Health has a new campaign called Fresh Start. The campaign connects Alaska adults with free programs that can help participants make changes at any time in their lives to feel better. These programs help Alaskans meet many health goals: lose weight, lower blood sugar to prevent or manage diabetes, lower blood pressure, or stop smoking or vaping.

• All of these programs are free.
• Many match you with a coach so you don't have to do it alone.
• Many can be completed online, over the phone and at your pace — wherever you are.

All of these free programs are found on one website that’s easy to use: freshstart.alaska.gov. Thousands of Alaskans have joined these programs. They’ve lost more than 4,600 pounds in total through the online Fresh Start program focused on weight loss. They’ve worked with coaches through Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line to stop smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco.

Visit freshstart.alaska.gov to find a free health program that’s right for you or someone you know. Contact doh.freshstart@alaska.gov with questions or to request printed materials.

Regulations of the Department of Administration, Division of
Retirement and Benefits

The 90-day public comment period regarding proposed changes to regulations in Title 2 of the Alaska Administrative Code, pertaining to the AlaskaCare Retiree Major Medical (medical) and Dental-Vision-Audio (DVA) insurance plans is now closed. Thank you to those members that provided feedback!

You Can Access Your Form 1095-B Online

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 provides 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. Since this information is already provided to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by Medicare, it is no longer necessary to have a printed copy of form 1095-B in order to file your taxes. The Division provides members under age 65 access to an electronic version of their 2022 Form 1095-B online. 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 2022 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

Retiree 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.

Town hall events occur on the third Thursday of each month and you can pre-register now online. We want to hear from you!

Please join us for a Town Hall event on:

• Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 10 a.m. Alaska Time
• Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 10 a.m. Alaska Time

We Value Your Feedback!

Your input is valued and important. Below, please find 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
DRB Call 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