As a commercial fisherman, I am hopeful for a strong season. I am hopeful for safe waters, full holds, and a good price when the season ends. Fishing is not just a job, it is the backbone of many coastal communities and a major part of Alaska’s economy, generating over $5 billion each year.
But it is a tough business, and the people doing the work feel that the most. The conditions are dangerous, the hours are long, and the job takes a real toll. Most of us do not get health benefits. We work on boats, in processing plants, and on the docks, often in seasonal or contract jobs that do not come with insurance. Still, we show up and do the work without asking for special treatment.
What we do need is access to basic health care. When you get hurt, a broken wrist or a torn knee, you cannot just push through it. That is why DenaliCare, Alaska’s version of Medicaid, matters. It helps people like me and thousands of other Alaskans get the care they need when buying private insurance just is not possible.
Right now, that care is at risk. The so-called Big Beautiful Bill in Washington includes massive cuts to Medicaid, totaling $800 billion over the next decade. More than 230,000 Alaskans could be affected, many of them in fishing, food service, tourism, and other jobs that do not offer benefits.
The bill also adds work reporting requirements that simply do not reflect the reality of life on the water. On the boat, there is no consistent internet. You are not working a regular schedule. You sleep and eat when you can and may be off the grid for days. These rules would not support workers. They would kick people off coverage just because the paperwork is impossible to keep up with.
If these cuts go through, people will still get hurt, still get sick, but now they will not get care. Many will delay treatment or avoid it altogether. Others will end up in the hospital with bills they cannot pay, and our local clinics and hospitals will be overwhelmed.
We are not fishing for favors. We are asking our elected officials to value the work we do and oppose this bill that puts our health and livelihoods in danger. DenaliCare is not a luxury. It is a basic protection that helps keep Alaska’s workforce strong and our economy moving forward.
Jonathan Flora is a lifelong commercial fisherman and dockworker from Homer.
