Electronic Medical Records Could Hold the Key to Reducing Healthcare and Medical Insurance Costs.

With a population as diverse as its wilderness, Alaska is a State that has worked very hard to give individuals and small businesses as many options as they could for cost effective health insurance coverage.

Alaska the "Last Frontier" has made pioneering efforts in access to health insurance and medical coverage. For one, state law requires that any small business, defined as any business with 2-50 employees be offered all the business health insurance options available, regardless of any pre-existing conditions or general health of any employees of the business.  The law however does not require that the business purchase medical coverage for their employees, just that if the employer is looking to purchase affordable business health insurance for their employees, no eligible employee can be denied coverage. Alaska State Law does make some concessions to make obtaining and maintaining business health insurance easier for small businesses, for example they have mandated a ceiling on annual rate increases to small group policyholders of 15%.

In addition to insisting that large and small companies offering business health insurance to their employees cannot deny coverage based on health conditions, medical history or genetic background, Alaska Law also requires that business health insurance policies must be renewable, with the exception of cancellation for non-payment, and has initiated and adheres to a Patient Bills of Rights.  The Patient Bill of Rights offers many protections of consumers as regards to health insurance and medical coverage. For example, it stipulates that a healthcare provider cannot be penalized or insurance coverage terminated because that healthcare provider acts as an advocate for the patient. Further, insurance companies cannot deny a claim retroactively under any circumstance once that insurer has already authorized the procedure based on the patient’s medical need. Other protections include: Only a doctor or other healthcare provider employed by the insurance company can determine "medical necessity, and all Emergency Room treatments must be covered if the patients policy provides for coverage of any ER treatment."

Alaska is also one of the 30 some-odd States that does provide Risk Pool health insurance coverage for those that cannot otherwise obtain insurance. Since 1992 Alaska has had legislation in place that provides coverage for people who have been turned down for individual health insurance policies by at least two insurers. Those who qualify may purchase individual health insurance through the Comprehensive Health Insurance Association (CHIA). Those who qualify can receive health insurance through the CHIA without a waiting period. While such policies in Alaska as they are in other States are not cheap - here CHIA polices can be as much as 145% higher then the more affordable health insurance options in the state - for many it means the difference between coverage and no coverage at all.