Insurance and Alternative Resources

If you need information about Medicaid, help filling out insurance forms, or just have questions about medical insurance, call our Alternative Resource Specialist at (907) 886-4741.

It is important to understand that the Annette Island Service Unit is a service provider, not an insurance program.

If you are eligible for medical benefits such as private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Denali KidCare, Veterans Administration benefits, or other health care coverage that will help pay for services from the Annette Island Service Unit, it is your responsibility to apply for those medical benefits. Payments made to the Annette Island Service Unit from these other sources make it possible for the Annette Island Service Unit to provide more services to its beneficiaries. If you are eligible for other coverage but refuse to apply for it, the Annette Island Service Unit may deny you the use of CHS funds.

Contract Health Services

Contract Health Services (CHS) can be confusing! In general, CHS pays doctors and other facilities for medical services that the Annette Island Service Unit is unable to provide. The amount of money funded each year for CHS is limited. CHS is not able to pay for all the services our patients want or need, simply because there is not enough money after we pay for the most important services. The Contract Health Committee, with support from the Health, Education, and Welfare Committee, decides which types of problems have priority for CHS funding, such as emergencies sent to Ketchikan, emergencies for patients traveling or attending school outside of Alaska, specialists providing clinics in Metlakatla, mammograms, emergency medical evacuations, necessary surgeries, and cancer treatment.

Remember, the Annette Island Service Unit is NOT an insurance agency. Funding is limited.

Federal regulations require that all payment sources for which patients are eligible must be applied for and used before IHS and CHS can pay for care. The most common other payment sources are health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Administration benefits. The Annette Island Service Unit is the payer of last resort.

In order for CHS to pay for non-IHS services, the patient must be referred by an Annette Island Service Unit provider. Authorization from an Annette Island Service Unit provider is also required before CHS can pay for any follow-up visits with private doctors or follow-up procedures.

If you are referred to a private doctor (such as a specialist), to a private hospital (such as Ketchikan General Hospital), or to another service outside of the Indian Health Service, you will be given written instructions with the date, time, place, and reason for the referral. You must bring this referral with you to your appointment. If you receive a bill from the hospital or doctor, do not ignore the bill. Immediately bring it to the Annette Island Service Unit administration office to avoid getting a bad credit rating against your name.