In January 2026, Premera began negotiations with HCA Healthcare (HCA), the hospital system that owns Alaska Regional Hospital (ARH). We entered these negotiations with the intent of reaching an agreement that compensates providers fairly while supporting the long-term affordability of healthcare for employers and families in Alaska.

Premera issued a contract termination notice on June 3, 2026, and despite our best efforts to move discussions forward, we have only recently received a proposal from HCA, which has limited the progress made in negotiations.

If we are unable to reach an agreement with HCA, ARH will leave the Premera network as of October 1, 2026. We are committed to continuing discussions with HCA and hope to reach a fair and sustainable agreement before that date. We will update this blog as we have more information on these negotiations to share with members.

In keeping with relevant requirements, notices containing further detail will be mailed to Premera members who may be impacted on September 1. If you currently receive care at ARH and have questions, please contact the phone number on the back of your Premera health plan ID card and our customer service team will be happy to support you.

Please watch this space for further updates.