Nevada Health Link
The Nevada Health Link is the state’s health insurance exchange. Here you can apply for a subsidized health insurance plan directly on their website. This means that based on your income, the government can pay for a portion of your premium. Your income will heavily affect how much of a subsidy you will receive and is based on your modified adjusted gross income. You will need to calculate this amount prior to completing your application so you can get an accurate estimate of how much your subsidy will be. You will also want to be sure to report any sort of change in your income during the year.
Health Plans
There are currently three carriers operating on the Nevada Health Link which is Anthem, Health Plan of Nevada, and Ambetter. All of the plans that are offered here are HMOs. If you are unfamiliar with the difference, HMO plans have fewer doctors in-network. They also require you to have a referral before you see a specialist. In exchange, HMO plans are less expensive than the counterpart which is a PPO plan. You will want to research the doctor list for each carrier to see which has the most providers in your area. You will also want to check and see how each carrier covers any prescriptions you might take.
What If You Don’t Qualify
The cutoff amounts for a subsidy change every year and vary based on the number of people claimed on your tax returns. There is a minimum and maximum amount that you can earn to be eligible. If you make less than the minimum amount, then you are eligible for Medicaid. If you earn more than the maximum, then you should also consider private health plans. In the private market, you may have more choices for doctors and plans. There are also PPO plan options that give you larger doctor lists and fewer restrictions. As a health insurance broker, we can help you enroll in these plans for no extra costs or fees.
