June 9, 2022
AlaskaCare Retiree Health Plan Settlement Agreement
The Division of Retirement and Benefits (the Division) is
pleased to announce a settlement agreement with the Retired
Public Employees of Alaska, Inc. (RPEA) in two lawsuits
involving the AlaskaCare Retiree Medical and Dental, Vision,
and Audio (DVA) plans. Nothing in the settlement agreement
impacts the constitutional protections against diminishment of
retiree benefits afforded by the Alaska State Constitution. The
terms of the settlement are agreeable to the State, and both
parties agree that the terms are more favorable to retirees than
the likely outcome had either case continued to trial. Some of
the settlement terms fall outside the scope of what RPEA could
have achieved at trial, enhance the process the Division uses to
consider changes to the health plan, and provide retirees with
additional, meaningful opportunities to engage with the
Division.
Background Information
In 2014, after a competitive procurement process, the State of
Alaska selected Aetna to serve as the AlaskaCare medical
third-party administrator and selected Delta Dental of Alaska
(Moda) to serve as the dental third-party administrator. Also in
2014, the Division adopted a plan amendment intended to
eliminate areas of ambiguity in the plan, provide clarity to
members, confirm prior practices, and align with best industry
practices while maintaining affordable, valuable, and
sustainable benefits for retirees. The 2014 planamendment and
changes applied to both the AlaskaCare Retiree Health Plan and
the AlaskaCare Retiree Dental-Vision-Audio (DVA) Plan.
AlaskaCare Retiree DVA Plan Suit
In 2016, RPEA filed suit against the Division, alleging the
optional retiree DVA plan was diminished through changes
made to the plan in 2014. A trial was held in 2018 and the
Alaska Superior Court ruled in RPEA’s favor. The Division
appealed the decision to the Alaska Supreme Court. In January
2022, the Supreme Court ruled that the option to buy dental
insurance is an accrued protected benefit for retiree members.
However, the Supreme Court found that the trial court erred by
failing to consider the reduction in premiums paid by retirees
when evaluating the impact of the 2014 changes. Therefore, the
Supreme Court vacated the judgment and sent the case back to
the superior court for a new diminishment analysis using the
correct legal standard.
AlaskaCare Retiree Medical Plan Suit
In 2018, RPEA filed a second lawsuit against the Division
alleging the AlaskaCare retiree defined benefit medical plan was
diminished as a result of the 2014 plan amendment. The trial
was set to begin at the end of January 2022. However, rather
than incur the significant expense of a trial, continued motion
practice, and a likely appeal to the Supreme Court, the parties
agreed to explore the possibility of settling the claims remaining
in the case through mediation.
Mediation
The parties mediated the outstanding issues in both the DVA
and medical plan cases on February 11, 2022, and a final
agreement was signed on February 28, 2022.
DVA-Specific Settlement Terms
Continued Access to the Legacy DVA Plan:
The Division has agreed to continue to offer retirees the option
to participate in the Legacy DVA plan (the plan in place prior to
2014) so long as the Legacy plan remains financially viable for
the retirees who fully fund it through their monthly premiums.
DVA Plan Premium Development:
Premiums for each DVA plan offered by the Division will be
determined based on the cost of each plan. The Division will
continue to share publicly the process used to determine
premiums for each plan and will provide members with
advance notice if premiums increase (or decrease), and an
opportunity to elect their plan of choice during an open
enrollment period.
Medical-Specific Settlement Terms
Plan Amendment to Clarify Medical Necessity Terms:
The Division proposed a Plan Amendment to clarify certain
terms, detail the Plan’s procedures for determining whether
services are medically necessary, and to affirm the Plan
Administrator’s (Commissioner of Administration) ultimate
authority to make medical necessity determinations. The
amendment included a 60 day public comment period prior to
the June 1, 2022 effective date.
Rehabilitative Care Coverage Clarification:
The Division issued a benefit clarification to specify that when
treatment is being provided for musculoskeletal disorders, a
medical necessity review will be performed after 25 visits in a
year for a specific episode of care. If the review determines the
course of treatment is necessary for maintenance care, 10
additional visits will be allowed in that year for that episode of
care.
General Settlement Terms
- Expansion and Continuation of RHPAB:
The Division recommended:
- The Retiree Health Plan Advisory Board (RHPAB, or
the Board) be expanded to include an additional seat
for an RPEA member, to be selected from a list of
candidates proposed by RPEA
- The continuation of the Board and the removal of the
current sunset clause
- The membership of the Retiree Health Plan
Modernization Subcommittee be expanded to include a
member of RPEA. This subcommittee is the working
group where potential changes to the Retiree Health
Plan are discussed and analyzed in detail
- The Board establish a Regulations Subcommittee to
review proposed updates to regulations impacting the
retiree health plan and that the Board include a
member of RPEA on this newly created subcommittee
- Regulations Related to Plan Changes:
The Division will draft administrative regulations to
formalize the process currently employed to review
proposed changes to the retiree health plans. These
regulations will be reviewed with the appropriate RHPAB
subcommittee, and the public will have at least 60 days to
comment on any resulting proposed regulations.
Retiree FAQs: RPEA Settlement Agreement
Will my DVA benefit options change as a result of
the settlement agreement?
- No. The Division will continue to offer eligible retirees a choice
between the Standard and Legacy DVA plans for as long as the
Legacy DVA plan remains financially viable.
Will my medical benefits change as a result of the
settlement agreement?
- Some retirees seeking care for musculoskeletal conditions may
receive coverage for additional visits if their individual medical
circumstances allow. Otherwise, your medical benefits will not
change as a result of the settlement agreement.
The Retiree Health Plan Advisory Board
The Retiree Health Plan Advisory Board (RHPAB) was created
through Administrative Order No. 288/319 on September 29,
2017 to facilitate engagement and coordination between the
State of Alaska’s retirement systems’ members, the Alaska
Retirement Management Board, and the Commissioner of
Administration regarding the administration of the retiree
health plan.
The seven-member board is a group of individuals that
represent you, the retirees. It consists of PERS, JRS, and TRS
retired and/or active members, a public member, an Alaska
Retirement Management Board trustee, and an HR Official or
Financial Officer employed by an entity that participates in the
State’s retirement systems. The board members are appointed by
the Governor.
The RHPAB provides valuable input and has been instrumental
in evaluating new proposals that would help modernize the
retiree health plan while sustaining the benefit level. The
modernization effort undertaken between RHPAB and the
Division is intended to help align the plan with the current
healthcare environment. An example of a recent change is the
board voted in favor of implementing EGWP effective January
1st, 2019, and coverage of preventive care effective January 1,
2022.
We invite you to attend or listen to any or all the meetings,
members are always welcome. The meeting dates are posted to
Online Public Notices and to AlaskaCare.gov. If you would like to offer public comment for the board to review, send an email
to .
COVID-19 and Your AlaskaCare Health Plan
The COVID-19 outbreak has caused us all to make adjustments and changes to our daily routines. Here at AlaskaCare, we made temporary changes and limited benefit expansions to your health plan to support the public health COVID-19 response, reduce the strain on the medical system, and to assist you in accessing the care you need. You can find up to date information about the temporary changes to your benefits at AlaskaCare.gov.
| The following benefit is temporarily available to all AlaskaCare retiree plan members: |
The following benefits are permanently available to all AlaskaCare retiree plan members: |
Over the Counter COVID-19 Testing:
Effective January 15, 2022 and through the end of the
COVID-19 national public health emergency, your
AlaskaCare health plan’s pharmacy benefit will cover
at-home, over-the-counter (OTC), FDA-authorized
COVID-19 tests. AlaskaCare will cover up to eight tests per
month per covered person. Depending on where you obtain
them, you can either get your tests without having to pay
anything up front, or you will be reimbursed up to $12 per
test. Though the AlaskaCare Retiree plan is exempted from
federal OTC test kit coverage requirements, the Division is
temporarily covering OTC test kits to support Retiree plan
members during the national public health emergency. |
COVID-19 Testing:
If you receive laboratory tests to diagnose or treat COVID-19,
AlaskaCare is waiving your deductible and coinsurance. To
qualify, your laboratory tests must be deemed medically
necessary under the terms of the plan, and they must be
FDA-approved.
COVID-19 Vaccines:
The AlaskaCare health plan covers the cost for FDA approved
COVID-19 vaccines, subject to recognized charge, under
both the medical and pharmacy plans, at any authorized site
of care. AlaskaCare members receive the vaccine at no cost. |
In response to the COVID-19 national public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020 and the State of Alaska public health disaster emergency declared on March 11, 2020 by Governor Mike Dunleavy, the Division of Retirement and Benefits has implemented temporary plan changes and suspensions in the AlaskaCare health plans. Please note, these temporary changes are the result of Federal and State health mandates, suspension orders, and other guidance. The Division’s compliance with these various requirements is temporary in nature and does not create a vested benefit in relation to these changes. All temporary administrative changes will be automatically rescinded upon the expiration of relevant enabling documents.
What You Need to Know About IRMAA Reimbursement
Certain high-income retirees who are Medicare-eligible and enrolled in the AlaskaCare enhanced Employer Group Waiver Program (EGWP) pharmacy plan are required to pay a premium surcharge associated with Medicare Part D plans, known as an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA. This is required by Medicare and is the same type of surcharge that high-income enrollees already pay for a Medicare Part B plan. If you are an individual earning more than $88,000 per year or a married couple who earns more than $176,000 per year, you will be required to pay the IRMAA; retirees enrolled in EGWP and whose household income is below this threshold will not be assessed an IRMAA premium surcharge.
If you are assessed a Medicare Part D IRMAA surcharge, you can be reimbursed. The Division of Retirement and Benefits will cover the full cost of your IRMAA surcharge through a tax-advantaged Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) account.
The Division of Retirement and Benefits has partnered with Optum Rx and Optum Bank to create a more efficient way for members to receive reimbursement for the Part D IRMAA
surcharge.
What do you need to know?
- If you are assessed an IRMAA surcharge, the Social
Security Administration will notify you annually that
you are required to pay an IRMAA and at what amount.
- You need to set up an HRA account to receive your
reimbursement every year, since IRMAA surcharges are
based on your annual income and your income may change
from year to year.
- If you are not assessed a 2021 IRMAA surcharge this does
not apply to you this year.
- The deadline for submitting your 2020 IRMAA for
reimbursement is December 31, 2021.
How do I establish a HRA account or Setup Direct Deposit?
Optum Rx will handle all your IRMAA needs. Follow these steps to establish your Part D IRMAA reimbursement account online:
- Register and/or log in to your Optum Rx.com account
either online or through the mobile app.
- Navigate to forms by clicking on the “Information Center”
tab on the Navigation bar at the top, select “Programs and
Forms”, then click on “IRMAA HRA Enrollment Form”.
- Complete the online IRMAA HRA Enrollment Form.
- Upload a copy or image of your letter from Social Security
or a Medicare Bill that shows what your 2021 Part D
IRMAA surcharge will be.
- Optum Rx will confirm your eligibility and set up your
Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) with Optum Bank
within 5 to 7 business days of receipt.
- Once your HRA has been set up with Optum Bank, they
will send you a Welcome Packet within 5 to 7 business
days, which will include information on signing up for
Direct Deposit.
- Once you receive your Welcome Packet, log in to
optumbank.com to view your HRA account status/
balance or to sign up for Direct Deposit. Direct Deposits
require micro-deposit verification. Please contact
Optum Rx for additional information.
Note: Your banking information with Inspira Financial cannot be transferred to Optum Bank.
If you have any questions on how to submit your 2021 IRMAA documents online or if you do not have internet access and would like to submit paper documentation,
please contact Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999 or email
.
AlaskaCare Opioid Guidelines
State and federal guidelines were developed to address the opioid epidemic in the United States and Alaska. New safety guidelines were adopted for the AlaskaCare plans on January 1, 2018 and were further enhanced on January 1, 2020. The guidelines limit the dispensing of opioids as follows:
For patients that don’t normally use opioids
- The plan limits the maximum dosage per day to
50 mme and only allows up to a 7-day supply
every 91-days.
- A pre-authorization is required to obtain more
than a 7-day supply within any 91-day period.
For patients that regularly use opioids
- The plan limits the maximum dose per day to 90
mme and only allows up to a 30-day supply.
- A pre-authorization is required periodically.
For patients age 19 or under
- A pre-authorization is required for cough
medications that contain opioids, and the
prescription is limited to a 3-day supply
Members are encouraged to discuss the effect of the AlaskaCare opioid dispensing policy with their providers and to contact Optum Rx at (855) 409-6999 for support.
Opioids are a type of narcotic pain medication. They can have serious side effects used incorrectly. For people who have an opioid addiction, their problem often started with a prescription.
Opioid Drugs Include:
- Codeine (only available in generic form)
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo)
- Meperidine (Demerol)
- Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
- Morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Morphabond)
- Fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Abstral)
- Oxycodone (OxyContin, Oxaydo)
- Oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet, Roxicet)
- Oxycodone and naloxone
- Hydrocodone (Hysingla, Zohydro ER)
- Hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Lorcet, Lortab,
Norco, Vicodin)
Recommendations that influenced the AlaskaCare opioid dispensing policies:
- Alaska Opioid Policy Task Force (AOPTF):
- Center for Disease Control (CDC) updated their Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain on 8/29/17:
- The FDA released an action plan to help address the opioid
crisis:
- Optum Rx: Current AlaskaCare Pharmacy Benefit Manager complies with the CDC and FDA guidelines:
Alaska Quit Line
Smoking Cessation Programs
Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. The good news is that once you stop, your body starts healing right away. Carbon monoxide levels normalize in just 12 hours, and your risk for heart disease can drop significantly after just 12 months as a non-smoker.
Why wait when you can make a clean start today? 1-800-QUIT-NOW
Coordination of Benefits Explained
Coordination of Benefits (COB) is a method of ensuring that people covered by more than one medical plan will receive the benefits they are entitled to but not more than 100% of their covered expenses. The AlaskaCare health plans coordinate benefits with other group health care plans to which you or your covered dependents belong. Coordination of benefits can be very confusing, even for people who work at a physician’s office. With COB, if you are covered by more than one health care plan, the plans work together to provide benefits. One plan is considered “primary” and pays your covered expenses first. The other plan is “secondary” and pays any remaining covered expenses up to 100%. In some cases, there may be a third or fourth plan, as well. It is important to remember that not all expenses are covered expenses.
Who sets COB rules?
Most COB rules are set by the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners (NAIC). Rules for coordinating with Medicare
and Medicaid are set by federal and state law. Most plans follow
the NAIC rules, but there is no requirement that they do so. The
AlaskaCare health plans follow standard NAIC rules to ensure
ease of coordination with other plans.
What are the rules?
Examples of common COB situations and rules:
| If You Are Covered Under... |
How the Plans Pay |
| Active employee plan and retiree plan |
Primary: Active employee plan
Secondary: Retiree plan |
| Retiree plan and as dependent under another person’s plan
through active employment |
Primary: Retiree plan
Secondary: Other person’s plan |
| Retiree plan and Medicare
eligible |
Primary: Medicare
Secondary: Retiree plan |
| Two AlaskaCare retiree plans |
Primary: Plan in force the longest
Secondary: Other plan |
| Retiree plan, as dependent
under another person’s plan
through active employment,
and Medicare-eligible |
Primary: Other person’s plan
Secondary: Medicare
Pays third: Retiree plan |
| Active employee plan, retiree
plan, as dependent under
another person’s plan through
active employment, and
Medicare-eligible |
Primary: Active employee plan
Secondary: Other person’s plan
Pays third: Medicare
Pays fourth: Retiree plan |
If your dependent children are covered under more than one plan, in most cases, the plan of the parent whose birthday falls earlier in the year (not the oldest) is primary. If both parents have the same birthday, the plan that has covered the children longer is primary. If the parents are separated or divorced, here is how the plans pay:
- Primary: The plan of the parent whom the court has
established as financially responsible for the child’s health care
(the claims administrator must be informed of the court decree)
- Secondary: The plan of the parent with custody of the child
- Pays third: The plan of the spouse of the parent with
custody of the child
- Pays fourth: The plan of the parent who does not have
custody of the child
What if none of the rules describe my situation?
If none of the above rules applies, the plan that has covered the patient the longest is primary.
How do the plans coordinate if my AlaskaCare plan is secondary?
When an AlaskaCare plan is secondary, the amount the plan pays after the deductible is met is figured by subtracting the benefits payable by the other plan from 100% of expenses covered by the AlaskaCare plan on that claim.
Will the coverage from two AlaskaCare plans always pay 100% of what the provider charges?
No, you may receive a balance bill if you use an out-of-network provider. In this case, the plan will pay up to the recognized charge for this service in your area. For more information on how recognized charges are calculated, see the Recognized
Charges FAQ on the AlaskaCare website.
Subscribe to the Monthly Retiree Health Plan Newsletter
Retiree newsletters are sent electronically to Health Plan members that have subscribed to receive updates. Each month we feature an article that helps you Get to Know your Benefits, provides you with updates about the Health Plan, and information about health events and resources. You can subscribe or unsubscribe at any time by managing your preferences.
To sign up:
In your internet browser, go to AlaskaCare.gov.
- Click the hamburger icon ( ☰ ) on the right side of the page to open the fly out menu.
- At the very top, enter your email address and click “submit.”
- Select “AlaskaCare Retiree News and Updates” under AlaskaCare and click “submit.”
AlaskaCare Town Hall Events
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. They are held on
the third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. Alaska Time. 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. AlaskaCare.gov/townhall
We Value Your Feedback!
As an AlaskaCare Retiree member, your input is valued and important. Below, please see 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.
Send us a letter:
State of Alaska
Division of Retirement and Benefits
P.O. Box 110203
Juneau, AK 99811-0203
Come visit us:
State Office Building
6th Floor
333 Willoughby Avenue
Juneau, AK 99801
The Division's Website Gets a New Look!
New AlaskaCare Webpage Design
The Division of Retirement and Benefits is excited to announce
that we unveiled a brand-new, completely redesigned website on
May 3, 2022. The new website has a similar look and feel as the
main State of Alaska (SOA) and most SOA department and
division websites, with a streamlined layout designed to be easy
to use and navigate.
You can find the new Division of Retirement and Benefits
website at drb.alaska.gov.
Our team has been working to bring you an improved user
experience. Some of the new features include:
- An interface designed for you, the user. You can access
the information you need based on whether you are an
employee, a retiree, or an employer.
- No hidden or buried pages. All the information on the
website is available from the drop-down menus at the top of
the home page. Quick links and helpful tools are also
available from the right-side fly-out menu. Access this menu
by clicking the hamburger icon ( ☰ ) on the upper right side
of your browser window.
- No duplicate information. The website contains the same
helpful information organized in a way that is easier to
locate, ensuring that what you read is correct and up-todate.
- ADA-accessibility. The State of Alaska and the Division is
committed to serving all Alaskans. We use the Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, Level AA as our guide to make
our website more accessible for everyone and our content
easy to use and understand.
- More responsive design for mobile devices. You should
see improved usability on your phone or tablet.
Questions? Visit the Welcome page on our website for more
help to find the information you need, or contact our toll-free at (800) 821-2251 or in Juneau at (907) 465-4460 or by email at .
Health Benefit Contact Information
Division of Retirement and Benefits
Medical Benefits: Aetna Concierge
Dental Benefits: Moda/Delta Dental
Pharmacy Benefits: Optum Rx
Long Term Care Benefits: CHCS Services, Inc.
The information provided on this page may or may not be up-to-date. If you are unsure, please contact us via the member education center.
Please click the Navigation "burger" icon in the top right corner for additional navigation tools.
Click on the "bulb" icon in the main menu at the top to take the Site Tooltip Tour.
For high-contrast version of the DRB site click on the "contrast" icon in the main menu at the top.