Alaska Bulletin State News
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March 2008
Cover all – The health care debate is heating up in Alaska, fueled by the introduction of legislation that aims to provide universal coverage through free market forces. Under the proposed law, individuals would use vouchers to purchase coverage from insurers that would have to compete for business. In a state where it’s not uncommon for someone to work for three different employers during the year, there has to be a single plan, says state Sen. Hollis French, D, who introduced the bill (SB 160). “We have 100,000 people here who are uninsured,” he says. “When they get sick, the cost of caring for them is passed on to the rest of us.” Alaskans with health insurance currently pay 13.6 percent more on premiums just to offset the cost of health care for the uninsured, according to the nonprofit Families USA in Washington. To learn more, go to www.aarp.org/ak.
December 2007
Avoiding foreclosure – AARP Alaska is spreading the word that Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Alaska can help homeowners facing foreclosure understand their options. While Alaska's foreclosure rate is slightly lower than the national average, a single foreclosure can cost a community about $40,000 in lost tax revenue and increased demand for social services. To seek help from a certified housing counselor, call 1-800-478-6501. For more information and tools to assess your risk, go to http://www.housinghelpnow.org.
November 2007
Safer cigarettes – Alaskan smokers will be able to buy only self-extinguishing cigarettes beginning in August 2008. Gov. Sarah Palin, R, signed the measure in July, making Alaska one of 22 states that have adopted similar laws. Penalties for businesses that don’t comply will start at $10,000. Cigarettes dropped on bedding, furniture, carpets and rugs are the leading source of home fires, says state Sen. Donald C. Olson, D, who sponsored the legislation. Moreover, the risk of dying in a home fire caused by smoking increases with age; 38 percent of fatalities resulting from such fires are victims age 65 or older. “AARP Alaska supported this measure because of the potential it holds to save lives and property,” says Ann Secrest, AARP associate state director for communications.
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