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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB29

Health Insurance Options for School and University Employees

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This bill allows school employers in Alaska to choose whether to join a state-run health insurance plan that covers their employees.

What it does

  • Creates a new law chapter about group health insurance for schools and universities.
  • Allows school employers to elect participation in an insurance policy selected by the commissioner of administration.
  • Requires participating schools to pay employer and employee contribution rates set by the state.
  • Mandates that schools reimburse the Department of Administration for excess loss insurance costs if a self-insurance plan is used.
  • Reimburses the cost of paying claims during the first four months if a self-insurance plan is used.

Who it affects

  • Regional school boards and district employees
  • University of Alaska employees (mentioned in title)
  • The Department of Administration

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill text provided does not list a specific effective date.
  • School employers may choose to participate, but they are not forced to join the plan.
  • Repayment for initial self-insurance claims can be spread over up to ten years.

Plain language

Terms to know

Group insurance
A single health coverage plan that protects many people at once, such as all workers in a school district.
Self-insurance
When an organization pays for its own medical claims instead of buying a standard insurance policy from a company.
Excess loss insurance
Extra coverage that protects the state or schools if total claim costs become very high.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSUR An Act relating to group insurance coverage and self-insurance coverage for school district employees, employees of the University of Alaska, and employees of other governmental units in the state; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) REFERRED TO EDUCATION961
  2. (H) EDC, L&C961
  3. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS961
  4. (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED961
  5. (H) COSPONSOR(S): COSTELLO705
  6. (H) EDC, L&C38
  7. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS38
  8. (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/2538