Medicare in Alaska runs on the same federal rules as everywhere else, but Alaska's higher Federal Poverty Level lifts the Medicare Savings Program income limits above the lower-48 standard. So a household that would be turned away in another state can qualify here for help paying premiums, and free one-on-one counseling through the Alaska Medicare Information Office can walk you through it.

In This Guide

About these numbers: The premiums and deductibles below come from CMS for calendar year 2026, effective January 1. Medicare costs change every year. For the most current figures, contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE) or the Alaska Medicare Information Office at 1-800-478-6065.

What Do Parts A and B Cost in Alaska?

Original Medicare is run directly by the federal government and comes in two parts. The costs and mechanics are identical in Alaska and every other state.

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, limited skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.

Cost Amount
Monthly premium $0 for most people (40+ quarters of work history)
Hospital deductible $1,736 per benefit period
Hospital coinsurance, days 61-90 $434 per day
Lifetime reserve days $868 per day
SNF coinsurance, days 21-100 $217 per day

The hospital deductible rose $60 from 2025. A benefit period starts the day you're admitted and ends 60 days after you leave. Get readmitted after that, and the deductible applies again.

Part B (Medical Insurance)

Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, durable medical equipment, and mental health care. It doesn't cover routine dental, vision, or hearing.

  • Monthly premium: $202.90 (higher if your 2024 income was above $109,000 single or $218,000 married, under the income-related adjustment)
  • Annual deductible: $283
  • After the deductible: you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services

Part B is technically optional, but nearly everyone signs up. Delay past your enrollment window without other creditable coverage and you'll owe a late penalty of 10% for every 12 months you could have had it, for as long as you keep Part B.

Medicare Advantage in Alaska (Part C)

Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare, sold by private insurers. They cover everything Parts A and B do, except hospice, which Original Medicare keeps covering. Most bundle in Part D drug coverage along with extras like dental, vision, and hearing.

Alaska's Medicare Advantage market is shaped by the state's geography. Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau have some plan choices available. Rural Alaska, which covers most of the state's land mass, has very few Medicare Advantage plans and many areas have none at all. If you live outside a major hub, Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy may be your only practical option. Plan availability changes every year, so check what's actually available at your address using the Medicare Plan Finder.

How These Plans Work

Use the Medicare Plan Finder to compare plans by ZIP code. If you want help reading the results, the Alaska Medicare Information Office will go through them with you for free.

How Does Medicare Part D Work in Alaska?

Part D covers outpatient prescription drugs. You can get it as a standalone plan paired with Original Medicare, or built into a Medicare Advantage plan.

The Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the old coverage gap, the donut hole, so that higher-cost middle stage is gone. Part D now moves through three phases:

  1. Deductible: you pay full price until you meet your plan's deductible (up to $615 in 2026).
  2. Initial coverage: you pay copays or coinsurance while your plan and drug makers cover the rest.
  3. Catastrophic: once your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,100, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.

That $2,100 cap is the number that matters most in Part D. It was $2,000 in 2025 and rises with drug-spending growth. Every plan also has to offer the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread your out-of-pocket drug costs into capped monthly payments across the year rather than paying in full at the pharmacy. People who qualify for Extra Help often pay much less, sometimes nothing.

Not sure which Part D plan fits your prescriptions? Chat with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.

Should You Buy Medigap in Alaska?

Medigap policies are sold by private insurers to fill the gaps in Original Medicare: the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. They work only with Original Medicare, never with Medicare Advantage. In Alaska, these policies are regulated by the Alaska Division of Insurance within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.

Alaska offers the federally standardized plans, labeled A through N. Plans C and F are closed to anyone who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020. Plan G is the popular choice for people newly eligible: it covers the Part A deductible, Part A and Part B coinsurance, and skilled nursing coinsurance, leaving only the $283 Part B deductible on you.,

Given the limited Medicare Advantage market in much of Alaska, Medigap may be particularly worth considering for Alaskans outside the major metro areas. Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy gives you access to any provider who accepts Medicare, which matters when your nearest specialist may be in a different city.

Your One Guaranteed Window

Your strongest opening is the federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period, the six months that begin when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. During that window an insurer must sell you any plan it offers at the standard rate, regardless of your health.

Alaska has no annual birthday rule or other recurring window to change Medigap plans without health screening. Once your six-month window closes, an insurer can use medical underwriting, meaning it can charge more or decline you based on your health, unless a federal guaranteed-issue right applies.

Medigap or Medicare Advantage?

You can't hold both. Choose Medigap and you stay on Original Medicare with the freedom to see any provider who accepts Medicare nationwide. Choose Medicare Advantage and you trade some of that flexibility for a network, which in rural Alaska may be thin or nonexistent. For a full comparison, see our guide to Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage.

Help Paying for Medicare in Alaska

If you're on a fixed income, two programs can cut your Medicare costs sharply. Alaska's version of these programs reaches more residents than in most states.

Alaska's Medicare Savings Programs

Alaska runs its Medicare Savings Programs through the Alaska Medicare Information Office at the Alaska Department of Health. They pay some or all of your Medicare premiums and cost-sharing based on income and assets.

Alaska's income limits are higher than the lower-48 standard because Alaska's Federal Poverty Level is set above the national baseline. Effective April 1, 2026, Alaska publishes a Medicare Savings Program income limit of about $2,265 a month for an individual and $3,064 a month for a couple, and the calculation includes a $20 monthly income disregard. Confirm current limits with the Alaska Medicare Information Office before applying.

The program has three benefit tiers set at ascending income bands. QMB (the lowest band) is the most generous; SLMB and QI sit at higher income limits and pay less. The state does not publish the exact tier cut-offs, so confirm which tier you fall into with the Division of Public Assistance.

Program What it pays
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) Part A and B premiums, plus deductibles, coinsurance, and copays (providers can't balance-bill)
SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) Part B premium only
QI (Qualifying Individual) Part B premium only

For comparison, the standard lower-48 QMB income limit is about $1,350 a month for an individual, so Alaska's higher Federal Poverty Level lifts the cut-off well above the national standard, and Alaskans who might miss the lower-48 threshold may qualify here.,

QMB is the most generous program. It pays your Part A and Part B premiums plus deductibles and coinsurance, and federal law bars providers from billing you for Medicare's share. The 2026 resource (asset) limit is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple at the federal standard, which applies in Alaska as well. Income limits are tied to the Federal Poverty Level and update annually. Confirm current figures with the Alaska Medicare Information Office at 1-800-478-6065 before applying. Enrolling in any of these programs automatically qualifies you for Extra Help with Part D.

How to Apply for Alaska's Medicare Savings Programs

You apply through the Alaska Department of Health, and free help is one phone call away if you'd rather not do it alone.

1
Step 1

Gather your paperwork

Have your Medicare card and recent proof of income and assets ready, such as a Social Security award letter, pension or wage statements, and current bank balances.

2
Step 2

Apply through the Division of Public Assistance

File your Medicare Savings Program application with the Alaska Division of Public Assistance, which processes applications statewide within the Alaska Department of Health.

3
Step 3

Or let a counselor do it with you

Call the Alaska Medicare Information Office at 1-800-478-6065 and a SHIP counselor will help you complete the application and weigh your income against Alaska's higher limits, at no cost.

4
Step 4

Confirm this year's limits first

Because the income thresholds rise every year with the Federal Poverty Level, verify the current figures with the office before you file so you know whether you qualify.

Extra Help for Part D

Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy, pays Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays for people with limited income and resources. Since 2024, the partial-subsidy tier is gone, so everyone who qualifies now gets the full subsidy.

  • Income limit (2026): up to about $1,995 a month for an individual, $2,705 for a couple (national standard; Alaska FPL adjustments may raise this slightly)
  • Resource limits: $16,590 for an individual, $33,100 for a married couple
  • If you qualify for QMB, SLMB, or QI, you're enrolled in Extra Help automatically

Apply through Social Security at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.

Medicare Enrollment Periods

Miss a deadline and you can face coverage gaps or permanent penalties. These dates are federal and the same in Alaska as everywhere else.

Period Dates What you can do
Initial Enrollment 7 months around your 65th birthday Sign up for Parts A, B, and D; pick MA or Medigap
Annual Open Enrollment Oct 15 - Dec 7 Switch MA plans, move between MA and Original Medicare, change Part D
MA Open Enrollment Jan 1 - Mar 31 Switch MA plans or drop MA for Original Medicare (if already in MA)
General Enrollment Jan 1 - Mar 31 Sign up for Part B if you missed your initial window
Medigap Open Enrollment 6 months from age 65 + Part B Buy any Medigap plan at the standard rate, no health screening

Changes you make during Annual Open Enrollment take effect January 1. If you're already receiving Social Security before 65, you're enrolled in Parts A and B automatically; if not, you sign up through Social Security.

Free Medicare Help: Alaska Medicare Information Office

You don't have to work through this alone, and you don't need to pay a broker. The Alaska Medicare Information Office at the Alaska Department of Health operates the state's SHIP program, along with the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and MIPPA outreach. Counselors provide free, one-on-one, unbiased Medicare guidance and don't sell insurance.

The Alaska Medicare Information Office can help you:

  • Understand your Medicare options and what each part covers
  • Compare Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap plans side by side
  • Apply for Alaska's Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help
  • Sort out billing problems, denials, and appeals
  • Spot and report Medicare fraud through the Senior Medicare Patrol

Call 1-800-478-6065 (statewide) or 907-269-3680 (Anchorage) to reach a counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Alaska's Medicare Savings Program income limits higher than other states?

Alaska's income limits are higher because the Federal Poverty Level in Alaska is set above the national standard to reflect the state's higher cost of living. Effective April 1, 2026, Alaska publishes a Medicare Savings Program income limit of about $2,265 a month for an individual and $3,064 for a couple, well above the lower-48 standard of roughly $1,350 for a single applicant. The QMB, SLMB, and QI tiers fall in ascending income bands within that range; the state does not publish the exact cut-offs, so confirm current limits with the Alaska Medicare Information Office at 1-800-478-6065 before applying.

Does Medicare Advantage work the same way in rural Alaska as it does in cities?

No, not in practice. Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau have some Medicare Advantage plan options, but rural Alaska has very few or none at all. Medicare Advantage plans require provider networks, and in remote areas of Alaska, those networks may not exist. If you live outside a major hub, Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy typically gives you broader access to providers. Use the Medicare Plan Finder (medicare.gov/plan-compare) to see exactly what's available at your address.

What does Medicare cost in Alaska in 2026?

Most people pay $0 for Part A. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month with a $283 annual deductible. Part D premiums vary by plan (deductible up to $615, out-of-pocket capped at $2,100 for the year), and many Medicare Advantage plans charge no extra premium., Your total depends on the plan you choose and the care you use.

How do I apply for Alaska's Medicare Savings Program?

Contact the Alaska Medicare Information Office at 1-800-478-6065 or apply through the Alaska Division of Public Assistance. Income limits are approximate and update annually with the Federal Poverty Level, so confirm current figures before applying. Enrolling automatically qualifies you for Extra Help with Part D costs.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare Plans by State: What Varies and What Doesn'tOriginal Medicare is the same in all 50 states. Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap rules are not. See what changes by state, then open your state guide. MedicareMedicare: The National GuideWhat is Medicare? A plain guide to Parts A, B, C, and D, who qualifies, 2026 costs, when to enroll, and what it doesn't cover, with help-paying options. MedicareOriginal Medicare vs. Medicare AdvantageCompare original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage on cost, networks, the $9,250 cap, and switching back. A neutral 2026 side-by-side to help you choose. MedicareHow Medigap WorksMedigap (Medicare Supplement) explained: how the standardized A-N plans work, Plan G vs Plan N, closed C and F plans, and the 6-month guaranteed-issue window. MedicareMedicare Part D Drug CoverageMedicare Part D in 2026: a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap, no donut hole, three benefit phases, the $615 deductible, premiums, the late penalty, and Extra Help. MedicareMedicare Enrollment PeriodsWhen to sign up for Medicare without a lifelong penalty: the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, working past 65, the GEP, and what each late penalty costs.

Find personalized help with Medicare in Alaska at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.