Medicaid Estate Recovery in Alaska: when someone dies

A 4-step process for Alaska Department of Health — Division of Public Assistance after a death in Alaska.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Medicaid Recovery

Alaska

health.alaska.gov/en/division-of-public-assistance→

Administering agency

Alaska Department of Health — Division of Public Assistance

Phone1-800-478-7778
WebsiteVisit website →

Authority

Alaska Stat. 47.07.055

Verified Jul 2026

Steps to take

  1. Determine whether the deceased received Medicaid long-term care services — nursing facility, intermediate care facility, other medical institution, or home- and community-based waiver care — at age 55 or older.
  2. Contact the Division of Public Assistance to confirm whether a recovery claim applies and request the amount.
  3. Address any valid claim as a debt of the estate before distributing assets to heirs; the claim carries preference in the probate payment order (AS 13.16.470).
  4. Ask the Division of Public Assistance for an undue-hardship waiver if recovery would work a hardship; every state must have a waiver procedure under 42 U.S.C. 1396p(b)(3).

Alaska Department of Health — Division of Public Assistance

Phone: 1-800-478-7778

Visit the agency website →

Frequently asked questions

A claim may be made only after the death of the recipient's surviving spouse, and only when there is no surviving child under age 21 and no surviving child who is blind or totally and permanently disabled.

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Sources

Data sourced from Medicaid Estate Recovery in Alaska primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.