Prospective Member FAQs

How am I eligible to apply for ODS Alaska individual medical and Delta Dental Premier plans?

In order to be eligible for any ODS Alaska individual medical and dental plan, you and any dependents applying for coverage must be Alaska residents. Eligible members include you, your legal spouse and any unmarried children up to age 23. Individuals must be younger than age 65 and not eligible for Medicare.

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Do you offer a dental plan?

Delta Dental offers one individual dental plan. In order to be eligible to enroll in an individual dental plan, you need to enroll when you first apply for an ODS Alaska individual medical plan.

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What payment methods do you offer?

We offer monthly electronic deduction from your checking account, monthly billing statements and quarterly payments. For details on sending payment to ODS Alaska, please see the ODS Alaska Application for Individual Insurance. Premium payment must accompany your application.

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Can my employer sponsor my individual coverage?

ODS Alaska Individual plans cannot be employer-sponsored plans. You are responsible for directly paying ODS Alaska your monthly premium. ODS Alaska does not accept employer checks.

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Can you describe the application process?

You may download an application. Applications must be received by the 20th for the next month's effective date. Once the application is complete and mailed to ODS Alaska, each applicant must be approved by Individual Underwriting. Each applicant is required to complete the health statement included in the application. This section requires that all those applying include all medical symptoms, diagnosis, treatment or advice received within the past 10 years. This includes all doctor visits for an illness or injury as well as visits to specialists, hospitals and emergency rooms, prescription drugs, etc. Each medical condition or treatment is evaluated according to established underwriting standards in order to determine whether you will be approved or declined for coverage. You will be notified if you are approved or declined for coverage.

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Is there a waiting period for pre-existing conditions?

ODS Alaska does not pay toward a pre-existing condition, even if the pre-existing condition worsens or recurs during the first 12 months you and your dependent(s) are insured under the policy. However, creditable coverage can reduce the 12-month period if an individual's most recent period of creditable coverage is still in effect on the date of enrollment or ended within 90 days of the effective date of coverage. Creditable coverage followed by a significant break in coverage cannot be used to reduce the exclusion period. Each day of creditable coverage will reduce the 12-month period by one day.

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When do your rates change?

ODS Alaska renews all individual plans on July 1 each year, including benefit and rate adjustments. Rates also change when the primary applicant moves into the next age band; new rates are effective the following month.

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Is there a minimum age a child can enroll?

For a new applicant, the minimum primary applicant age is a newborn child who has been released from a doctor's care. This usually occurs at the six-week post-birth check-up. To acquire coverage for a newborn, the signing parent or legal guardian must be at least 19 years of age. Your unmarried children are eligible until their 23rd birthday.

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Does ODS Alaska quote for multiple children on one application (with no adults)?

Yes, if the older child is a legal guardian of the younger child and can produce proof of legal guardianship. If not, a separate policy is issued for each child upon approval of separate applications.

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Can I switch to a different plan at any time?

You may switch to another ODS Alaska Individual plan at any time. If you would like to switch to a plan with lower benefits, a letter must be sent to ODS Alaska. The letter will need to include the plan you would like to switch to with a dated signature from the primary applicant. If you would like to switch to a plan with higher benefits, you will need to submit a new application. The application will be health underwritten, and you could be approved or declined for the new plan.

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