Cheapest Alaska Health Insurance (2023 Plans)

Aside from Silver plans, different metal tiers with varying premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are available in Alaska.

For the average Alaskan, the cheapest health insurance is Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver from Moda Assurance Company at $739 per month.

Metal tiers affect the cost of health insurance. The more valuable metal tiers tend to offer comprehensive coverage in exchange for higher premiums. In Alaska, the most affordable health plans by metal tier are:

• Bronze: Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Bronze from Moda Assurance Company ($452 per month)
• Expanded Bronze: Moda Pioneer Bronze 6500 from Moda Assurance Company ($487 per month)
• Silver: Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver from Moda Assurance Company ($739 per month)
• Gold: Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Gold from Moda Assurance Company ($670 per month)

Although more valuable metal tiers (like Gold or Silver) have higher monthly premiums, the trade-off is often lower out-of-pocket maximums.

With an average premium of $739 per month, Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver is the most affordable Silver plan in Alaska. The top three cheapest plans in this tier are:

• Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver from Moda Assurance Company: $739 per month
• Moda Pioneer Silver 4500 from Moda Assurance Company: $760 per month
• Premera Blue Cross Standard Silver from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $842 per month

Because Silver plans provide a balance between affordability and coverage, they are a popular choice for health insurance. Buyers may also qualify for cost-sharing reductions, which lower deductibles, copayments and co-insurance.

For Gold plans, Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Gold is the cheapest health insurance in Alaska at approximately $670 per month. The three least expensive Gold plans are:

• Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Gold from Moda Assurance Company: $670 per month
• Moda Pioneer Gold 1500 from Moda Assurance Company: $674 per month
• Premera Blue Cross Standard Gold from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $728 per month

Although Gold plans have higher monthly premiums, they tend to have lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums — ideal if you expect to need frequent medical care.

Moda Assurance Company offers the most affordable Bronze plan in Alaska. The average cost of a Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Bronze is $452 per month. Bronze plans with the lowest rates are:

• Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Bronze from Moda Assurance Company: $452 per month
• Premera Blue Cross Standard Bronze from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $530 per month

Bronze plans have the lowest monthly premiums, but the trade-off is higher deductibles, meaning you’ll be paying more out of pocket for health care costs.

Moda Assurance Company’s Moda Pioneer Bronze 6500 is the most affordable Expanded Bronze plan in Alaska, costing about $487 per month. For this tier, the top three least expensive plans are:

• Moda Pioneer Bronze 6500 from Moda Assurance Company: $487 per month
• Moda Pioneer Bronze HDHP 5500 from Moda Assurance Company: $492 per month
• Premera Blue Cross Alaska One Bronze from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $555 per month

Expanded Bronze plans provide more health care coverage than Bronze plans. Although premiums for this tier are higher, they are still relatively lower than premiums for Silver and Gold plans.

Alaskans with incomes below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are eligible for cost-sharing reductions. This means you will pay less out of pocket for health care services.

The cheapest low-income health insurance plan in Alaska is Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver from Moda Assurance Company, with the following maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) cost adjustments based on income:

• Income lower than $25,485 per year (less than 150% of FPL): Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver ($1,700 MOOP)
• Income from $25,486 to $33,980 per year (151% to 200% of FPL): Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver ($3,000 MOOP)
• Income from $33,981 to $59,465 per year (201% to 250% of FPL): Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver ($7,200 MOOP)

Cost-sharing reductions only apply to Silver plans. Income numbers are only for an individual and vary depending on your household size.

The most common plan type in Alaska is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan. Our study discovered that the least expensive Silver health insurance policy for this plan type is:

• PPO: Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver from Moda Assurance Company ($739 per month)

PPOs are ideal if you’re looking for a wider provider network. However, they tend to be more expensive than other plan types.

Not all health insurance plans will be widely available in your state. Thus, the cheapest plan in one county may not be the same in another.

In Alaska’s case, however, the most affordable Silver plan remains the same for the ZIP codes included in our comparison group. For instance:

• ZIP code starting with 996: Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver ($756 per month)
• ZIP code starting with 995: Moda Pioneer Alaska Standard Silver ($719 per month)

Use the table below to browse Silver plan options available in your location.

How much you pay monthly for health insurance can vary based on the metal tier. For our sample 40-year-old buyer in Alaska, the following metal tiers have an average premium of:

• Bronze: $491 per month
• Expanded Bronze: $531 per month
• Silver: $798 per month
• Gold: $710 per month

Your health insurance costs also increase as you age. For example, a Silver plan in Alaska costs roughly $570 per month for teenagers and $1,694 per month for seniors.

We will note that, in most states, Silver plans are less expensive than Gold plans. However, that is not the case in Alaska, as indicated by the table above.

We collected and analyzed data from private health insurance plans to find the cheapest health insurance in Alaska. Buyers can shop for coverage during the open enrollment period and choose the plan that suits their health care needs.

Alaskans with limited income or resources may qualify for Medicaid, while seniors and those who have a disability may be eligible for Medicare.

The open enrollment for private health insurance plans starts on November 1 and lasts until January 15. During this period, interested buyers can purchase or change their ACA health insurance plans.

Your health insurance coverage will kick in on January 1 if you enroll in a health plan by December 15.

In Alaska, health insurance plans are divided into different metal tiers: Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold. The less valuable metals tend to have cheaper monthly premiums and higher deductibles than the more valuable ones. However, as we noted earlier, Gold plans actually often have lower premiums than Silver plans in Alaska.

• Bronze: Bronze plans have the lowest monthly premiums, but the trade-off is higher out-of-pocket costs. They may be ideal for buyers who don’t need much medical attention.
• Expanded Bronze: Expanded Bronze plans offer more coverage than Bronze plans, so you pay less out of pocket for health care services.
• Silver: Silver plans balance affordable premiums and adequate coverage. Depending on your income, you may also qualify for cost-sharing reductions to lower your deductibles, copays and co-insurance.
• Gold: Gold plans usually have the most expensive premiums among the metal tiers available, although this isn’t always true in Alaska. However, they have lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums than Bronze or Silver plans.

As always, weigh the cost of a plan’s monthly premiums versus how much coverage it offers to find out which metal tier is best suited for your health care needs.

Medicaid may be the cheapest option for health insurance in Alaska. If your income is below 138% of the FPL, you are automatically qualified for this government-sponsored health care program.

Another federal program that’s cheaper than ACA plans is Medicare, which subsidizes health care services for eligible individuals. It is available to Alaskans aged 65 and older or those with a qualifying disability.

Medicare has three parts, each covering the following services:

• Part A: Inpatient hospital stays, some home health care, nursing facilities and hospice care.
• Part B: Outpatient care like doctor’s visits and preventive services.
• Part C: Prescription drugs, vaccines and other shots.

We rounded up the best Medicare Supplement plans in Alaska.

When looking for health insurance in Alaska, you may be wondering about the cost and availability of different plan options. We answered some frequently asked questions below.