Many Alaskans lost health care insurance along with their jobs in 2020. That only intensified their sense of panic.
How will I pay for my insulin? My spouse was just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and we’ve lost insurance. What do we do? The surge in inquiries coincided with the shock of layoffs and a swamped state unemployment application process.
“People were happy to get a live person to talk to during a very frustrating time.”
– Becky Hallstrom, Healthcare Navigator
That’s where United Way of Anchorage’s Healthcare Navigators stepped in, enrolling 1,411 people in either Affordable Care Act policies or Medicaid. Further, by phone or online, and with the help of Alaska 2-1-1, Navigators answered questions and provided clarity about health care coverage for over 3,500 Alaskans and guide them to the help they needed.
United Way’s decision to offer virtual assistance with health care navigation in the 2019 open enrollment period paid off when the pandemic created high demand during “hunker down” in 2020. Zoom sessions were nothing new for savvy navigators who calmly connected with worried applicants, solving problems and helping to enroll 13.6% more people in health insurance or Medicaid over the 2019 total.
In addition to the help and hope provided by our Healthcare Navigators, more than 146,000 people in our community received health education, and 6,512 received logistical or financial assistance in accessing health care in FY20 thanks to our dedicated partners.
Our Funded Health Partners
- Alaska Health Fair
- Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association
- Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center
- Anchorage Project Access
- Anchorage School Based Health Clinics
- Hospice of Anchorage
- YWCA Alaska
