Alaska’s problems have little to do with the ACA but instead are due to the high cost of healthcare in our state and the small patient pools over which those costs are spread. Health costs are 2-3 times higher here than the lower 48. Spreading those costs over 20,000 people has inevitably led to high health insurance premium. This is especially evident to those purchasing insurance on their own, but also faced by employers.

Rep. Olson's bill is helpful but will do nothing to reduce the high cost of healthcare in our state.  Healthcare costs are driven down when patient groups unite to increase their bargaining power. This is why nations with single payer plans have better healthcare systems than in the US.  One way to work towards that goal here in Alaska would be to combine patient pools, for example to allow those of us who now are buying insurance on our own to instead allow us to enroll in one of the many government sponsored plans here in the state.