Employee COBRA Open Enrollment for 2026

Open Enrollment Overview

The AlaskaCare Employee COBRA Health Plan is providing you with an opportunity to elect or change your COBRA health benefit coverage. Open Enrollment began November 5, 2025, and ends November 26, 2025. During this open enrollment, you may make elections or changes to your health coverage effective January 1, 2026.

For general information about the Employee COBRA Health Coverage Continuation, please visit our Employee COBRA webpage.

What You Need to Do

• Review the benefits you are enrolled in, including any changes in premiums or benefits for the 2026 plan year.
  • If you are unsure of your current benefits, please contact Inspira Financial at .
  • You can find next year’s premiums here or on the back of your COBRA Health Continuation Open Enrollment FormCOBRA Health Continuation Open Enrollment form PDF .
• Decide if your choices are appropriate for you and your family for 2026.
• Complete the COBRA Health Continuation Open Enrollment FormCOBRA Health Continuation Open Enrollment form PDF to make any changes to your benefits and return it to the Division of Retirement and Benefits no later than November 26, 2025, 5 p.m. AKST.
  • Review the dependents you have covered under the health plan.
  • To add or delete dependents, you must complete the dependent section on the COBRA form even if you are not changing your coverage. Be sure to list all dependents covered under your plan and return the form to the Division. If your enrollment is not received or postmarked by the November 26 deadline, your current elections will remain in force for the coming year.

2026 Plan Changes

Effective January 1, 2026, the individual and family deductible amounts, as well as the in-network Primary Care and Specialty Care office visit copays, will change for the Economy and Standard medical plans. Please visit AlaskaCare Medical Benefits webpage for more details.

Non-Preferred Brand-Name Prescription Drugs Updates

Effective January 1, 2026, the non-preferred brand-name prescription drug cost share will increase. Non-preferred brand-name prescription drugs are medications that have an equivalent generic or preferred brand drug. These equivalent drugs are available at a lower cost for members, with copays ranging from $5 and $10 for generic drugs to $35 for preferred brand-name drugs. The current and future coinsurance amount for a 30-day supply of a non-preferred brand-name prescription drug filled at an in-network retail pharmacy is 65%.

However, the minimum and maximum amounts will increase from an $80 minimum / $150 maximum to a $150 minimum / $300 maximum per prescription. Please visit AlaskaCare Pharmacy Benefits webpage for more details.

Effective January 1, 2026, 31-90 day prescriptions for non-preferred brand-name prescription drugs filled through home delivery will change from a $100 copay per prescription, to a 35% member coinsurance with a $300 minimum / $600 maximum per prescription.

Pharmacy Out-of-Pocket Limit Updates

Effective January 1, 2026, there will be an increase to the pharmacy annual out-of-pocket limit from $1,000 individual/$2,000 family to $2,000 individual /$4,000 family.

New Weight Loss Program for GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) Utilizers

Effective January 1, 2026, the AlaskaCare Employee Health Plan is implementing a weight loss program managed by Virta Health in conjunction with Optum Rx for all members with a weight loss Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) prescription. This program will connect weight loss GLP-1 utilizers to a Virta provider for a virtual clinical consult, during which your Virta provider will determine a personalized care path to best suit your needs. Virta’s program is designed to help optimize your weight loss experience with nutritional or lifestyle therapy to complement or replace your GLP-1 prescription. Beginning in 2026, you will only be able to fill a GLP-1 prescription for weight loss that has been prescribed by a Virta Health provider.

• Who will this change affect? This change affects anyone with a GLP-1 prescription for weight loss. Members who use GLP-1 to manage diabetes or other conditions will not be affected.
• Which GLP-1 medications are included in this change? Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, and the generic GLP-1, liraglutide.
• What will I need to do if I am taking one of these medications? If you are taking one of the medications above, keep an eye out for communications from Optum Rx and Virta Health regarding this change and the next steps to ensure a smooth transition into the program.

Open Enrollment Packet

The Open Enrollment forms will be available on November 5, 2025.

The following forms will exclusively be available during the Open Enrollment period from November 5-26, 2025. You will not be able to access the forms outside of this period.

• COBRA Health Continuation Open Enrollment FormCOBRA Health Continuation Open Enrollment form PDF
  • Complete this form with your elections for the next benefit year and any dependent changes, if applicable. Return this form to the Division of Retirement and Benefits.
• Inspira Financial Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) FormInspira Financial Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Form PDF
  • Complete this form if you would like to enroll in electronic funds transfer with Inspira Financial. Return the form directly to Inspira Financial.

You can contact the Division of Retirement and Benefits webpage to request a paper copy of the forms. Your forms must be submitted by 5 p.m. Alaska Time on November 26, 2025.