How to check an insurance agent's license in Alaska

Look the agent up in Alaska

1. 1

   Ask for their full name and NPN

   Every licensed agent has a National Producer Number. A real agent will give it to you without hesitation.
2. 2

   Open the Alaska Division of Insurance's license lookup

   Alaska agent license lookup. Alaska uses the national lookup run by NAIC, the association of state insurance regulators. Choose Alaska as the jurisdiction, "Licensee" as the search type and "Individual" as the entity type, then accept the terms and search.

3. 3

   Check four things

   The status is active, the license is for Alaska (resident or nonresident), it includes a health line of authority (in Alaska it's listed as "Accident and Health or Sickness"), and it hasn't expired.

What the results mean

Active

The license is current. This is what you want to see.

Inactive, expired or lapsed

The agent can't legally sell insurance in the state right now. Don't enroll through them.

Resident or nonresident

Resident means their home office is in Alaska. Nonresident means they're based in another state and licensed to work here. Both are fine.

Line of authority

The kinds of insurance they can sell. For Medicare plans, look for Accident and Health or Sickness. Life-only isn't enough.

Regulatory or disciplinary actions

Some lookups list fines or other actions. One old, small action may not mean much; several, or a revoked license, is a reason to look elsewhere.

Extra steps for Medicare plans

A state license is the first check. For Medicare plans, two more things apply:

• Appointment: the agent must be appointed by the insurance company whose plan you're choosing. Ask which companies they represent in Alaska.
• Yearly certification: agents who sell Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans must complete each plan's training and testing every year.

Agents who sell for more than one company must also tell you, before discussing any plan's benefits, how many companies and plans they represent in your area. None of them works for Medicare.

Medigap if you're under 65 in Alaska

Not required. Alaska does not give people under 65 with Medicare (disability or ESRD) a Medigap open enrollment until they turn 65; insurers can turn them down, though the state high-risk pool ACHIA may offer coverage to people under 65 on Medicare.

If you have Part B when you turn 65, you get a new 6-month Medigap open enrollment then. See every state's rule for people under 65.

If something looks wrong

• License not found or inactive: don't share your Medicare or Social Security number, and contact the Alaska Division of Insurance at 907-269-7900. You can also file a complaint online.
• Someone claiming to be from Medicare: hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048).
• A listing on this site looks wrong: report it and we'll look into it.

Free, unbiased help in Alaska: Medicare Information Office

Every state has a free Medicare counseling program. In Alaska it's the Alaska Medicare Information Office (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Its counselors are trained, don't sell anything, and can help you compare your options or check what an agent told you, for free.

Common questions

Keep reading

• How to choose a local Medicare agentQuestions to ask, warning signs, and the dates to know.
• Medicare agent vs. broker: what's the difference?Agent, broker, producer: what the words mean, the one difference that really matters (how many companies they work with), and how to tell before you meet.