Alaska
Contraceptive Access Laws
Private plans are not required to cover an extended supply of contraception.
Alaska does not require private plans to cover a 6-month supply (or more) of contraception at one time.
- Most private insurers traditionally cover one to three months of contraception at a time. While private plans aren’t required to cover a 6-month or 12-month supply at once, it’s still worth writing the prescription for the longest duration appropriate as extended provision of contraception may be available.
- For more information on the states that have enacted policies requiring Medicaid and/or private health insurers to cover an extended supply of contraception, visit Power to Decide’s map.
Medicaid is not required to cover an extended supply of contraception.
Alaska does not require Medicaid to cover a 6-month supply (or more) of contraception at one time.
- Medicaid traditionally covers one to three months of contraception at a time. While Medicaid isn’t required to cover a 6-month or 12-month supply at once, it’s still worth writing the prescription for the longest duration appropriate as extended provision of contraception may be available.
- For more information on the states that have enacted policies requiring Medicaid and/or private health insurers to cover an extended supply of contraception, visit Power to Decide’s map.
Private plans are not required to offer additional coverage beyond the federal ACA contraceptive coverage requirement.
Under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) contraceptive coverage mandate, most private plans are required to cover at least one contraceptive in each of the FDA-approved contraceptive method categories for women, as prescribed, without copays or deductibles.
Alaska does not reinforce the federal requirement or offer additional contraceptive coverage protections.
- If your patient is having an issue with their contraceptive coverage, you can direct them to the National Women’s Law Center CoverHer resource so they can find out if their insurance company is incorrectly charging them and how to get these services covered.
- Governor Dunleavy vetoed a bill on September 3, 2024, that would have required private health insurers to cover the full range of contraceptive methods, without additional cost-sharing. For more information on this legislation and the states that have enacted similar laws, visit Power to Decide’s map.
- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) maintains a comprehensive list of sexual and reproductive health services and contraceptive methods that insurance plans are required to cover without copays or deductibles.
Private plans are not required to cover over-the-counter (OTC) contraception without a prescription.
- Write prescriptions for OTC contraceptive methods so that patients can utilize health insurance benefits whenever possible.
- For more information on the states that require private plans to cover some OTC methods, visit Power to Decide’s map.
Medicaid is not required to cover over-the-counter (OTC) contraception without a prescription.
- Write prescriptions for OTC contraceptive methods so that patients can utilize Medicaid benefits whenever possible.
- For more information on the states where Medicaid is required to cover some OTC contraceptive methods, see KFF’s State Tracker.
Pharmacists cannot prescribe contraception.
Alaska does not allow pharmacists to prescribe or furnish contraception without a prescription from a physician.
Abortion Access Laws
Abortion is permitted.
Abortion is permitted in Alaska throughout pregnancy.
- For a list of abortion providers in Alaska, visit AbortionFinder.org.
A waiting period is not required for abortion.
Parental involvement is not required for abortion.
Hybrid telehealth is permitted for medication abortion.
- Alaska requires an ultrasound or has an in-person visitation requirement, so only hybrid telehealth is permitted for the provision of medication abortion.
Medicaid is required to cover abortion beyond federal requirements.
Alaska Medicaid covers abortion beyond the federal Hyde requirement of cases involving life endangerment, rape, and incest.
- Medicaid can help pay for abortion services. Patients do not need to meet the federal requirements.
- The National Network of Abortion Funds has more information to help patients who are interested in applying for Medicaid.
Shield Laws
Health care provision is not protected by shield laws.
Alaska does not have shield laws protecting providers from potential out-of-state investigations and prosecutions, professional discipline from licensing or board entities, civil liability, professional liability insurance, or sharing of medical information/data related to reproductive or gender-affirming care.
- For more information on states with shield laws that protect reproductive and gender-affirming health care, visit UCLA’s State Shield Law Tracker.
