ABOUT:
Alaska Health Assurance Advocacy Team (AHAAT: pronounced “a hat”) is a coalition of organizations and businesses working toward the expansion of affordable health insurance coverage for Alaskans.   With members rich in experience and knowledge of the need for health care access and health coverage, AHAAT is the foremost expert in Alaska advocating for policy that will achieve coverage expansions based on shared responsibilities between individuals and the private and public sectors.

AHAAT recognizes that lack of health insurance coverage results in higher health risks because the uninsured receive less preventive care; illnesses are diagnosed at later stages; and the uninsured have a greater likelihood of developing chronic conditions that are difficult and expensive to treat.1  Often, the uninsured are hospitalized for avoidable conditions which can become acute and very costly when left untreated.

Expanding insurance to cover those who are uninsured will increase access to health care services for the 114,000 Alaskans who lack health insurance.2  Because 52% of the uninsured in Alaska are employed3 and 84% of the uninsured in Alaska are from working families,4  AHAAT understands the importance of health insurance to working families and recognizes the importance of expanding access to affordable insurance to maintain a healthy and productive citizenry.

1 Legislative Health Care Initiatives Presentation to the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, August 27, 2007.
2 State of Alaska, DHSS, Health Planning & Systems Development, State Planning Grant Power Point Presentation: Alaskans’ Health Insurance Coverage, July 17, 2007: Local and Regional Perspectives.
3State of Alaska, DHSS, Health Planning & Systems Development, State Planning Grant Power Point Presentation: Alaskans’ Health Insurance Coverage, July 17, 2007: Local and Regional Perspectives.
4 Email Communication by Alice Rarig, Ph.D., State of Alaska, DHSS, Health Planning & Systems Development to Shelley Hughes, Alaska Primary Care Association, Oct. 16, 2007.

AHAAT MEMBER ORGINIZATIONS:
• AARP-Alaska
• Alaska Association of Health Underwriters
• All Alaska Pediatric Partnership
• Alaska Behavioral Health Association
• Alaska Center for Public Policy
• Alaska Health Care Roundtable
• Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
• Alaska Native Health Board
• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
• Alaska Primary Care Association
• Alaska State Chamber of Commerce
• Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home
• American Cancer Society-Alaska
• American Heart Association-Alaska