Health coverage for Native Americans / Alaska Natives

If you are a Native American or an Alaskan native, you may have new benefits and medical service protections in the Insurance Marketplace.

Some benefits are available to members of federally recognized tribes or shareholders of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). See the list of federally recognized tribes
Others are available to people of indigenous origin or who are eligible for services of the Indigenous Health Service (also known as indigenous hospital or Public Health Service (PHS)), a tribal program, or an urban health program for indigenous people.

For your information

Members of the tribes recognized by the federal government and the shareholders of the ANCSA corporation can enroll in market health insurance at any time of the year. You can change the plans up to once a month.

Protections and special benefits of the Insurance Market for Native Americans and Alaska

The Health Insurance Marketplace benefits Native Americans and Alaska Natives (AI / AN) by providing them with health coverage opportunities accessible through the Marketplace, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans.

Marketplace health insurance plans

While you’re not exempt from paying monthly premiums for an insurance plan you buy through the Marketplace, like all Americans you may qualify for tax credits that lower your premiums based on your income.

If you buy a Marketplace plan and your income is between 100% and 300% of the federal poverty level, you can enroll in a "zero cost sharing" plan. This means you won’t have to pay any out-of-pocket costs -- like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance -- when you get care.
If you get services from an Indian Health Care Provider, you won’t have any out-of-pocket costs like copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles, regardless of your income. (This benefit also applies to Purchased and Referred Care.)
You can enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan any time, not just during the yearly Open Enrollment Period. You can change plans as often as once a month.

Medicaid & CHIP benefits for Tribal members and Alaska natives

Indian tribe members and ANCSA shareholders also have special protections and benefits under Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
These benefits include paying no premiums or out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid coverage if you qualify.
Learn about protections for American Indians and Alaska Natives under Medicaid and CHIP.

American Indians, Alaska Natives, and others eligible for services from the Indian Health Service, tribal program, or urban Indian health program

You may qualify for Medicaid and CHIP more easily. You have special cost and eligibility rules for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that make it easier to qualify for these programs.
You don’t pay out-of-pocket costs for Indian health programs. Regardless of income, you won’t have any out-of-pocket costs for items or services provided by the Indian Health Service, tribal programs, or urban Indian programs (known as I/T/Us), including Purchased/Referred Care.

Indian Health Services and Marketplace insurance

If you enroll in a private health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace:

You can get (or keep getting) services from the Indian Health Service, tribal health programs (also known as tribal 638 programs or tribal health clinics), or urban Indian health programs.
You can also get services from any providers on the Marketplace plan.

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