For AlaskaCare Employee and Retiree plan members and their dependents.

Our member’s health and safety is our top priority. Out of concern for the safety and well-being of the AlaskaCare members, event staff, volunteers, and the community, the 2021 health fair events have been cancelled. AlaskaCare typically partners with the Pacific Health Coalition in the fall to hold health fairs for AlaskaCare members. Due to uncertainty around COVID-19 the health fairs will not be held in 2021.

Employee Plan Members: For those of you that were planning to participate in the 2021 health fair events, remember that the vaccines and preventive screenings offered at the health fairs are covered benefits through your AlaskaCare employee health plan coverage. Contact your regular health care provider or visit your local pharmacy to ask about what vaccines or screenings you may need this year.

Retiree Plan Members: For those of you that receive an annual flu shot at the health fair events, remember that during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the AlaskaCare Retiree plans are temporarily covering the Trivalent and Quadrivalent flu vaccines, along with the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine through December 31, 2021.

• If you get your flu or pneumonia vaccine at a network pharmacy, AlaskaCare will cover 100% of the cost. Call OptumRx at (855) 409-6999 if you need help locating a network pharmacy.
• If you get your flu or pneumonia vaccine at an out-of-network pharmacy, you will need to pay for the vaccine up front and submit a claim to OptumRx to be reimbursed for the cost, up to the recognized charge.
• If you get your flu or pneumonia vaccine at your doctor’s office, the standard deductible and coinsurance will apply.

There are no Fair Locations at this time.

1. All AlaskaCare Employee and Retiree plan members and their spouses and dependent children must present an AlaskaCare Health Plan insurance card with their name on it to the AlaskaCare registration table to access services at the health fair.
   The AlaskaCare health plan insurance card has “AlaskaCare” printed above the logo at top right with “Health Plan” beneath the logo. This is the only way registration staff at the health fair will have to verify a member’s eligibility. It’s helpful if members have their cards out and ready as they approach the registration table.


2. This year, the comprehensive lab tests being provided are:
   • Chemistry/Hematology Profile (includes A1C): This screens the kidney function, liver enzymes, electrolyte (salt) imbalance, diabetes, tissue disease or damage, coronary heart disease and more.
     Note: We recommend that you fast for 12 hours before this test. This means you should have no food or drink (including coffee) except water. Please drink plenty of water. Dehydration is the main cause of difficulties with blood draws. People with diabetes should NOT fast. In all cases, prescription medication should be taken.
   • Thyroid Screen: The Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) screening tests thyroid function. The thyroid gland regulates the way the body uses energy.
   • Prostate Disease Screen (PSA): The PSA is a blood test primarily used to screen for prostate cancer. This test is offered to men 40 years of age and older.
   • Vitamin D Screening: Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of heart disease, and is also linked to high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
   There are no charges for lab services provided at the health fairs.


3. Flu shots will be available. Quadrivalent flu shots are available for health plan participants age 9 and older.
   Note: The high dose flu vaccine is not available.


4. The pre-registration website is scheduled to open for participant pre-registration beginning August 7, 2019. Pre-registration can be completed online only. Health fair services are limited to members who successfully use the online tool to complete pre-registration and receive an appointment. Space, time, staff and supplies are limited at the health fairs. Once maximum capacity is reached for each day, there are no excess resources to accommodate additional members or to accept walk-ins.
   Note: Please register using the name on your AlaskaCare health insurance card (legal name).


5. The health fairs will open daily at 8 a.m. and close promptly at 12 p.m. (noon), except in Juneau. The Juneau health fair will close promptly at 10:45 a.m.
   Note: We urge members to arrive 15-20 minutes before their scheduled appointment time.


6. AlaskaCare is participating only on the health fair dates listed above. AlaskaCare members will not be able to participate on any alternate health fair dates that the Coalition offers. Those dates are reserved for other plans.


7. Pre-registration is scheduled to close no later than the Sunday before each health fair and will close early if a date reaches maximum capacity. There is a maximum capacity for each day based on:
   • the number of blood draws that can be accomplished per hour during each four-hour health fair morning; and
   • the number of people that the space can hold. Once capacity is reached for any day, registration closes for that day.
8. Pre-registration is essential because it reduces participant waiting time by:
   • allowing organizers to prepare members’ flu shot forms, lab forms, and barcode labels for their lab specimens before the morning of the fair;
   • helping organizers ensure the correct amount of supplies are carried in for each day; and
   • enabling organizers to provide each member with an appointment.
   Note: Pre-registration is also the opportunity to tell the organizers where to send your lab results.


9. When members arrive at the health fair, they should proceed to the AlaskaCare registration table designated to service them alphabetically by the first letter of their last name. (If you have family members with different last names, please have them go to the appropriate line that corresponds to the first letter of their last name.) The registration table staff will verify each member’s eligibility from their AlaskaCare Health Plan insurance card (which must have the name of the person registering). Once verified as plan members, participants will be given their lab and flu forms and specimen barcodes to proceed to the lab and flu shot lines.


10. Please note that health fair resources are limited. Occasionally members will contact us when they are unable to obtain an appointment because the fair in their city has reached capacity. Unfortunately, additional members cannot be accommodated once the day’s schedule is full. This is to ensure that specimens can be handled timely, enough medical supplies are on hand for each day, and to avoid exceeding fire code maximum occupancy for the venue.