"insurance"

A new law generally forbids insurers from passing along bills from doctors and hospitals that are not covered under a patient’s plan — such bills have often left patients to pay hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars in outstanding fees. Instead, the No Surprises Act requires health care providers and insurers to work out a deal between themselves.

Alaska governor Bill Walker vetoed legislation last year that would have allowed insurers to use credit scores to determine personal insurance rates. Last year’s bill, he said, did not adequately protect consumers, but he supports this year’s version.

Rep. Matt Claman is picking up where he left off last year with legislation that would require public and private insurers to cover 12-month prescriptions for birth control. He’s pitching it as a way for the state to save money by reducing unintended pregnancies.

There are some exceptions; generally, a captain won’t be held liable if the crew member exhibits “willful misbehavior” – drinking heavily, for example – or if the worker conceals a pre-existing condition, like a back injury from a previous job. But one Dillingham attorney says there have been many odd cases that may strike fear in boat owners.

The case, heard last week, tests the religious liberty claims against the Obamacare mandate for birth control in all health insurance plans.

Companies are clamoring for coverage against losses due to hackers. But insurance firms are being selective: The risk involved isn’t well understood — and the crimes themselves are evolving rapidly.