The proposed bill, known as the Alaska Health Care Consumer's Right to Shop Act, aims to establish a health care insurance policy incentive program in Alaska. It mandates that health care insurers provide comprehensive price comparison tools for consumers, allowing them to compare cost-sharing amounts for specific services across different providers. Additionally, the bill requires insurers to develop incentive programs that reward covered individuals for choosing lower-cost providers, with specific percentages of savings being shared with the insured and their employers. The bill also includes provisions for reporting requirements and the applicability of these regulations to various health care policies.

Key amendments to existing law include the introduction of new sections that outline the requirements for health care insurers regarding price transparency and incentive programs. The bill specifies that insurers must file descriptions of their incentive programs with the director of insurance and provides guidelines for the calculation of incentive payments. Furthermore, it reserves the authority to regulate the disclosure of health care service prices to the state, preventing municipalities from enacting conflicting ordinances. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, with certain sections becoming effective immediately.

Statutes affected:
SB0004A, AM SB 4, introduced 01/10/2025: 21.06.110, 21.39.120, 21.36.495, 21.96.070, 21.96.260, 21.36.100, 21.96.220, 21.96.230, 21.96.240, 21.96.210, 21.96.300, 21.96.250, 21.96.270, 21.54.160, 21.12.050, 21.54.500, 18.23.400, 21.97.900, 29.10.200, 29.35.142, 39.30.090, 39.30.091