Does anyone know if Native Alaskans get paid health insurance from the govt? I read a reader comment

[kikiek]

from a news article that said the Palin's have govt paid health insurance because of Todd's ancestry. The writer claimed to be a Native Alaskan, and said it should be investigated. I am curious because at one point Palin said they didn't have insurance until she and Todd had good union jobs (ironic). I am also curious because Palin supports taxing us on our benefits, and wants to remove the tax incentive for companies who provide employees with health insurance. I haven't been able to find anything to support the claim that Native Alaskans receive health care coverage in this manner. I have only found articles saying that health care is very difficult and poor for Native Alaskans (unfortunately).

[Blue_In_AK]

1. Here's a link to the web page

for the Alaska area of the Indian Health Service. http://www.ihs.gov/FacilitiesServices/AreaOffices/Alaska/index.asp

I haven't spent much time looking into it, but maybe you can find something relevant there. I do know that Anchorage's old Native hospital has been recently replaced with the new Alaska Native Medical Center, and you might be able to learn something at their site, too. Their website is here http://www.anmc.org/ .

I'm not sure what Todd's status is with all of this. He is 1/8 Native, I believe I've read, but he doesn't seem to have been very involved with Native issues in the past from what I've been able determine from local Native bloggers. That's not to say that he wouldn't take advantage of their medical programs if he was entitled.

You might also spend some time at WritingRaven's blog here http://alaskareal.blogspot.com/ .

[kikiek]

2. Thank you very much.

[Ken Burch]

6. Is 1/8th enough to make "blood quantum"?

n/t.

[Steerpike]

7. I don't think so...

but I only base that on the fact that I see very few "White People" at the hospital, and I'm there pretty much 5 days a week. 1/8 quantum is like the bare minimum to be counted for most tribal affiliations.
Isn't that like your great grandmother or something...kinda laughable really.

[Steerpike]

8. he is a shareholder in a Native Corporation...

but he probably "inherited" those shares from his grandparents. Originally you had to be at least 1/4 quantum to have stock in the initial distribution. After that initial distribution you could leave your stock to any descendant.

[Steerpike]

3. Native health care is doing OK.

Not fantastic at all, but pretty good if you live in Anchorage. It's pretty close to being free (paid for with federal dollars). The old native hospital was pretty nasty...but this new one is state of the art. The doctors do their best and it's tough, but over all it's good.



here's a photo I took last year.

there is no native health insurance. if you have BIA papers(or proof of tribal affiliation) you get treated...Todd is part native and can probably go to the hospital, tho I'm not certain of his quantum, I've certainly never seen him there.

[kikiek]

4. That is a beautiful hospital and I'm happy there is good care available to some at least.

Would be interesting if they do get their family covered as this person claimed. However I read that Palin made the comment in the past that they didn't have good health insurance until they had a union job. How ironic. Now they want to tax us on it, and I heard Palin say that she wants to remove tax credits companies get for providing it. I guess there aren't enough uninsured running around for her. Thanks for you help.

[roguevalley]

5. my niece had her baby there for free. They get their care free

because they are Inuit.