Thinking About Fairbanks (Anchorage, Barrow, North Pole: crime, how much, transfer)

[Homwtown]

Originally Posted by AlaskaErik

Never heard of Bluegrass/Blueshield of Alaska, but the state is self-insured and has Aetna as its administrator. The plan is known as AlaskaCare.

I've heard of Blue cross / Blue shield because that's a heathcare provider option out there. However, I have Kaiser and that was a bad decision. Considering that Fairbanks is a small town you probably couldn't fathom having to wait about a bit over a month to see your primary care doctor. Yup, that's how over populated this place have become.

[jdhpa]

You might enjoy this video on Fairbanks (hot coffee freezing in the air):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtbH68tobwc

[Parnassia]

I'm so looking forward to experiencing different weather patterns that what feels to me like 6 months of summer and 6 months of fall, each with little rain.


Fairbanks is dry too. Summers can be hot and dry, more so than Long Beach, winter cold and nostril-burningly dry. Not that much precip.

Now that I think about it, I will have to sign up for drivers lessons to learn how to drive in both snow and ice conditions.


No necessarily. What you will want is a big empty parking lot, an experienced friend, good tires, no lead foot, and practice. You also may want to get a block heater installed on your car.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by AlaskaErik

Never heard of Bluegrass/Blueshield of Alaska, but the state is self-insured and has Aetna as its administrator. The plan is known as AlaskaCare.

Opps! Please allow me to correct: at least in Fairbanks, the largest healthcare coverage for University/State employees is Premera Bluecross Blueshield of Alaska.

https://premera.softheon.com/Marketp...vicesHome.aspx

https://www.premera.com/ak/visitor/a...ra/fact-sheet/

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Opps! Please allow me to correct: at least in Fairbanks, the largest healthcare coverage for University/State employees is Premera Bluecross Blueshield of Alaska.

https://premera.softheon.com/Marketp...vicesHome.aspx

https://www.premera.com/ak/visitor/a...ra/fact-sheet/

I don't know about the university, but all regular state workers are covered under AlaskaCare, which is administered by Aetna. That would include state employees living in Fairbanks. I should know, I'm a retired state worker and the retiree health plan is pretty much the same, except I don't have to pay for it.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by AlaskaErik

I don't know about the university, but all regular state workers are covered under AlaskaCare, which is administered by Aetna. That would include state employees living in Fairbanks. I should know, I'm a retired state worker and the retiree health plan is pretty much the same, except I don't have to pay for it.

University employees are covered by Premera Bluecross Blueshield of Alaska, at least in Fairbanks. Several years ago I was in AlaskaCare, then the health insurance was changed to Premera.

[6.7traveler]

$60k is plenty of money for a single person to live on in Fairbanks. You might not be buying new airplanes and jet boats every year, but it's certainly doable and you won't have to eat ramen noodles to do it either. Many people in Fairbanks earn much less than that.

There's some people that think $100k is the minimum amount you need just to survive in AK, but the reality is most people don't pull in that kind of salary and do just fine, even save and thrive.

T-Mobile might work ok IN Fairbanks, but anywhere outside of town and you'll want At&t, Verizon or GCI.

Good luck.

[riceme]

Originally Posted by Homwtown

Hello everyone,

.../...I'd like to experience the four seasons,.../...

I almost stopped right here. We don't really have four seasons. We have two distinct seasons: winter and summer, or winter and construction season, as we often call it. Spring and fall are extremely abbreviated, although I suppose they are also pretty distinct in their own ways.

Originally Posted by Homwtown

learn how to oil paint and photography, learn how to snow board, and be able to go back to school all while escaping the city life.
I have some questions in regards to Fairbanks and or Alaska in general.

1. Is there rent control in Fairbanks? If not, what is the annual rent increase percent?

2. What is the average price for a 2 bed 2 bath home in Fairbanks? Also, are the homes HOA's?

3. Are there many lakes, streams, hills and mountains within a 10 to 20 minute commute of Fairbanks?

2. What car and health insurance options are available for Fairbanks and Alaska in general?

3. Do the University of Alaska FB allow students to pursue a second bachelors degree?

4. How is traffic in terms of congestion?

5. How is the airport in term of being busy?

6. Is Fairbanks an overcrowded city?

7. Please fill free to include any additional information about Fairbanks or general that I should or need to know in order to make an wise decision in making this move.

1/ No
2/ This has a lot of variables and is pretty difficult to answer for another person. You need to dial-up ye olde Google and find some Fairbanks MLS sites and filter down to what you're looking for
3/ Tons of outdoorsy stuff to do within 30-40 minutes of town
2/ Premera, Aetna, State Farm, GEICO,...
3/ uhh, I would imagine... ??
4/ If I am ever forced to drive with all the other humans at 8AM or 5PM I nearly have a stroke, but other people tell me it's not really that bad.
5/ Not busy
6/ See item 4 above.

[Homwtown]

Originally Posted by jdhpa

You might enjoy this video on Fairbanks (hot coffee freezing in the air):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtbH68tobwc

I so want to do this and the polar plunge. You know, having lived in SoCal all my life a lot of me is looking for a new journey and experience.

[Homwtown]

Originally Posted by Parnassia

I'm so looking forward to experiencing different weather patterns that what feels to me like 6 months of summer and 6 months of fall, each with little rain.


Fairbanks is dry too. Summers can be hot and dry, more so than Long Beach, winter cold and nostril-burningly dry. Not that much precip.

This is good to know. A while back, I was considering the East Coast but when I heard about the summer weather conditions I was somewhat let down.

Now that I think about it, I will have to sign up for drivers lessons to learn how to drive in both snow and ice conditions.


No necessarily. What you will want is a big empty parking lot, an experienced friend, good tires, no lead foot, and practice. You also may want to get a block heater installed on your car.

This is good to know. There are a lot of fine details about relocating that one do not know and don't want to know the hard way. Much appreciated because I thought a car would be good to go in just about any weather conditions except extreme cases.