Healthy Communities are Strong Communities
When people are healthy they are more likely to succeed in school and work and to have a better quality of life. Your support through United Way helps to build a stronger community by fighting for every person to have access to the physical and mental health care they need to live healthier lives.
Access to Health Care
Health care access should not be a privilege. It is critical to overall well-being and the ability to participate in our community. We support partnerships that connect people with the health care they need.
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Open Enrollment Period is closed for coverage in 2022. However, you can enroll or change a health plan outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period if you qualify for a Special Enrollment.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) does allow you and your family to sign up for health insurance outside of Open Enrollment if you experience certain qualifying life events such as getting married, having a baby, losing health coverage, and other major happenings or qualify for Medicaid or Denali KidCare.
United Way healthcare navigators provide free and confidential telephone and virtual enrollment assistance with ACA health insurance or Medicaid/Denali KidCare, including:
• Finding the right ACA healthcare plan for you and your family
• Applying for coverage at HealthCare.gov, including applying for discounts (premium tax credits)
• Renewing or updating your current ACA plan
• Medicaid and Denali KidCare enrollment
Connect with a United Way Healthcare Navigator to schedule an appointment or learn more by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221 or TEXT GetCoveredAK to 898-211.
Accessibility and Nondiscrimination
United Way of Anchorage doesn’t exclude, deny assistance to, or otherwise discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or veteran status. To help ensure people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to access Navigator services, United Way, with its partner the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), provides communications in accessible formats like Braille or relay services. Anyone accessing navigator assistance may request services in a language other than English.
A Denali KidCare Partnership
Every child in Alaska deserves to have the best start in life, but Alaska consistently ranks in the top five states with the most uninsured children. Kids who are uninsured are more likely to have unmet health needs which can lead to lifelong challenges, and we want to turn this around. That’s why Alaska Children’s Trust partnered with Alaska 2-1-1 to launch the Denali KidCare help text line.
If a child in your care is currently uninsured, text KIDCARE to 898-211 to see if they are eligible to receive FREE health care and receive free, confidential support from a United Way Healthcare Navigator to enroll in the program.
Helping Families Save on Prescriptions
One of the biggest barriers to health can be the affordability of prescription drugs. United Way is working with the SingleCare Community Service Partnership to help people get their much-needed prescription medications they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.
The SingleCare Prescription Discount Card provides discounts of up to 45%, is available for free to everyone, and requires no paperwork. Get yours today.
Recover Alaska
Alcohol overuse is the top health issue for Alaskans. United Way is partnering with this coalition working to reduce the harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption in Alaska through systemic change. The focus is on long-term improvements that will increase understanding about the effects of excessive alcohol use, change social norms, and improve access to information about treatment.
