An I-Team Investigation

Alaska's population is pretty small, and yet 114,000 residents don't have health insurance. The I-Team has been investigating what some say is a healthcare crisis in Alaska. We found it's a problem we're all paying for.

If you work for KLEBS heating in Anchorage, you can rest assured you'll have health insurance. Most of your premium will be paid for by the company. Of all the overhead costs at KLEBS, the company spends 10 percent on health and dental insurance alone. It's an expense the company just absorbs.

"So does it limit investment in, growth, you know things that we might want to grow or develop? Absolutely. You know, there's no easy answer to it. Every year it's a challenge. It's what's the hit going to be? And how do we work with our people to ease the pain?" said KLEBS General Manager Eden Larson.

In just the last two years, KLEBS' premiums shot-up 40 percent. That's why many companies don't offer insurance. They can't afford it.

"And it affects everyone's pocketbook. When each of us goes for care, part of our bill is covering those that are not covered. So it does affect all of us," said Shelley Hughes of the Alaska Health Assurance Advocacy Team.

The next time you're at Providence or Alaska Regional, keep in mind the hospitals provided 89-million dollars in free care in 2006. Senator Hollis French (D), Anchorage, believes if all Alaskans had insurance, we'd all get a price break.

"We know that 15 percent of your health insurance premium goes to cover the cost of the uninsured. So there should be a 15 percent savings, should everybody acquire a health insurance policy," said Senator French.

French is trying to get the state legislature to make health insurance mandatory. Businesses that didn't offer it, would have to pay the state the equivalent of one to two-percent of their payroll. Alaska

residents who didn't sign-up for insurance would face consequences, too.

Is there a monetary fine you have in mind or?

"No, we're really not looking at fines. We're looking at things like you wouldn't be able to sign-up as an in-state tuition for UAA, for example. If you couldn't prove you have health insurance," said Senator French.

But he maintains most people would buy insurance if it were affordable. That's certainly what AARP's Ann Secrest is hearing. She knows a woman who'd love to have insurance.

"She owns her own business. She wanted to dream the American dream and have her own shop. Well, one illness put her $50,000 in debt. And she thought about filing bankruptcy," said AARP Communications Director Secrest.

Which is why, Secrest, says, AARP is trying to get leaders across the country to start coming up with a solution. The controversy is already brewing about the cost of Senator French's plan. The state's Department of Health and Social Services says it comes with a price tag of 300-million dollars a year. French disputes that figure, saying it would be about half that.

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If you have a story for the I-Team that you want me to look into, you can call the I-Team hotline number at 273-3111.