Best Cheap Health Insurance in Alaska (2026)

Best and cheapest health insurance plans in Alaska

Cheapest health insurance companies in Alaska

Affordable health insurance plans in Alaska

---

Best health insurance companies in Alaska

Premera BCBS has a perfect 5 out of 5 member experience star rating from HealthCare.gov. That means Premera customers have an easy time scheduling appointments, and they're happy with the quality of medical care.

Best-rated health insurance companies in Alaska

As part of Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Premera gives you access to a large network of doctors and hospitals. This makes it easier to find covered medical care, even if you're in a rural area. And Premera has excellent customer service, with far fewer complaints than expected.

How much does health insurance cost in Alaska?

Health insurance discount changes in Alaska for 2026

For people who can get subsidies, rates will increase from about $269 in 2025 to $474 in 2026. Higher discounts called "expanded subsidies" have been available on HealthCare.gov and state marketplaces since 2021. But Congress voted not to extend them into 2026. While you could still get some discounts based on your income, they won't be as good.

Health insurance rates in Alaska after subsidies (2025 vs. 2026)

---

Cheap Alaska health insurance plans by city

If you live in the more rural areas of Alaska, Premera is also probably cheaper.

Cheapest health insurance by AK borough

Best health insurance by level of coverage

To find the best health insurance in Alaska, think about your monthly budget and how much medical care you need.

For most people, it makes sense to buy a Gold plan because it gives you the highest level of coverage and usually has cheaper quotes than a Silver plan. However, if you're young and healthy, a Bronze plan could be a good choice.

Gold plans: Best for most people

Gold plans are the highest plan tier offered in Alaska, which means they pay the highest portion of your medical bills. This lets you pay less when you go to the doctor. Because Gold plans usually have more affordable quotes than Silver plans in Alaska, they're a good option for most people with moderate to high medical care needs.

Silver plans: Best if you have a lower income

Silver plans typically aren't the best deal in Alaska, even though they're a good option in most states. If you buy a Silver plan in AK, you'll likely pay more than you would for a Gold plan, which gives you more coverage.

However, if you make between $19,550 and $48,875 per year as an individual, a Silver plan may be a more affordable option because you can get an extra discount, on top of rate subsidies, that makes the amount you have to pay for medical care cheaper.

Bronze plans: Best if you are young and healthy

Bronze plans have the cheapest quotes, but they also pay the least toward your medical bills. That means if you have a Bronze plan, you will pay more when you get health care. If you are young and healthy, these plans can be a good idea as long as you have money in the bank to pay for your share of medical bills. But if you need medical care often, they're not the best fit.

Cheap or free health insurance in Alaska if you have a low income

If you can't afford health insurance, you might be able to get Medicaid, which is free. If you can't get Medicaid, consider a Silver plan with rate subsidies and another discount that makes your medical care more affordable.

Medicaid in Alaska

Medicaid is free or very low-cost health insurance from the government for low-income households.

To get Medicaid in AK, you have to make about $27,000 or less per year for individuals or less than about $55,400 per year as a family of four. These limits are higher than they are in other states, which means you can make more in Alaska and still get Medicaid.

Alaska has programs for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, seniors and those who are blind or disabled.

Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care

If you can't get Medicaid, buying a Silver medical insurance plan might be a good option. If you make between $19,550 and $48,875 as a single person or $40,190 and $100,475 as a family of four, you could get extra discounts that let you pay less when you go to the doctor. These are called cost-sharing reductions, and they're only available for Silver plans. If you qualify, your Silver plan might pay for more of your medical bills than a Gold plan.

---

Are health insurance rates going up in AK?

Why is health insurance expensive in Alaska in 2026?

In 2026, the average cost of health care plans in Alaska stayed the same or decreased. But in 2025, all the plan tiers — Bronze, Silver and Gold — went up by about 15%. The same is true for the year before.

How to save on Alaska medical insurance in 2026

Average cost of health insurance by family size in Alaska

A couple with two young children pays $2,986 per month, on average, for a Gold plan in Alaska. Children ages 14 and under are charged a fixed rate of $559 per month. Once a child turns 15, their rate begins to increase every year.

---

Short-term health insurance plans in Alaska

At the start of 2025, the current administration rolled back a rule that would limit the length of a short-term medical insurance policy to three months. Although there isn't a timeline for when this change will happen, you may be able to find short-term health plans in Alaska that last for up to 364 days sometime in the coming year.

Pros of short-term health insurance plans in Alaska

Cons of short-term health insurance plans in Alaska

Frequently asked questions

---

Methodology

Rates after subsidies are estimates for a 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan and are based on how subsidies were structured before 2021. Prices are calculated using KFF's rates for full-price Benchmark plans, federal poverty levels (FPLs), IRS rules about premium tax credits and Congressional reports about expanded tax credits. The total cost in the state uses rates calculated by income, which are weighted using CMS data on the incomes of those who purchased plans during last year's open enrollment. The median was used for each income range. Unknown incomes were excluded from the calculations. Incomes of 100% of the federal poverty line and 500% of the federal poverty line were assumed for enrollees who earn less than 100% FPL and more than 500% FPL, respectively. Information about state subsidies, when available, was sourced from state marketplaces.

Ratings

ValuePenguin's experts rank companies based on cost, coverage options, customer satisfaction and unique value. Ratings are out of 100 possible points. ACA ratings show how the company performs in Alaska for medical care, member experience and plan administration. This 2026 plan quality data from CMS is based on data from last year. Ratings are not available for new plans or plans with low enrollment.

More sources

Enrollment trends, including plan selections by tier and enrollment by income, are from CMS data for the 2025 open enrollment period.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and S&P Global Capital IQ also provided data for this report. Cost increase projections came from KFF and the Alaska Division of Insurance.