Nevada Health Link offers individuals an affordable way to access affordable coverage outside the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Subsidies help make affordable private plans available through Nevada Health Link more obtainable for people who do not meet qualification standards for affordable coverage outside this exchange.
Heller may have studied the Affordable Care Act’s legislative language closely, but hearing what Nevadans have to say might have greater sway on his decision making process.
What is Obamacare?
The Affordable Care Act, more commonly referred to as Obamacare, is a set of health insurance and healthcare reforms enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The goal of Obamacare was to make health insurance coverage easier for Americans while reducing healthcare costs through regulations, taxes, incentives, mandates and subsidies.
The Affordable Care Act also outlawed insurance companies’ discriminatory denial of coverage due to preexisting conditions and established an online marketplace where customers could compare options and prices. It rolled back Medicare Part D premiums and deductibles; expanded Medicaid eligibility; and provided premium tax credits to lower the costs of plans offered under ACA for individuals with low incomes.
The Affordable Care Act mandates that all health plans provide minimum essential coverage, which includes doctor visits, hospitalizations, mental health and preventative services, maternity coverage, prescription drugs, emergency services and lab tests. It also has an employer mandate – employers with 50 or more full-time employees must offer health insurance or pay a penalty fee.
How can I get ACA health insurance in Nevada?
The Silver State Health Insurance Exchange (Obamacare Marketplace) is an intuitive healthcare website designed to assist Nevadans in selecting the plan best suited to their individual needs, with features like out of pocket cost calculators, primary care provider availability search functions and hospital network filters to narrow their options down.
Nevada residents can access individual ACA health insurance through the exchange during open enrollment from November 1 to December 15 each year, or during special enrollment periods due to certain life events such as marriage, having a baby, changing jobs or moving.
Nevada residents can purchase guaranteed issue individual major medical plans or short term health insurance policies outside the exchange. While these plans don’t meet minimum essential coverage requirements or cover preexisting conditions, they tend to be more affordable than ACA-approved plans. Use our interactive comparison tool to view Nevada ACA health plans side-by-side.
What are my options?
The Affordable Care Act has divided plans into four metal levels that vary by premium and deductible costs, so selecting an optimal plan depends on factors like income level, family size and healthcare needs.
Benefits may change each year, so people should regularly review their options during open enrollment periods. Certified enrollment counselors and licensed insurance agents can assist you with finding a plan tailored specifically to your situation.
People who qualify can shop for plans through Nevada Health Link and are eligible to receive government assistance with their monthly premiums (subsidies) based on their Modified Adjusted Gross Income. People experiencing qualifying life events outside of the regular open enrollment period (Nov 1st to Jan 15th) can also enroll outside this period; additionally, some insurers offer short-term plans which provide emergency coverage at reduced costs; these policies do not need to cover preexisting conditions or meet other ACA criteria though.
Can I get help with Marketplace premiums?
Under Obamacare, consumers with limited incomes may qualify for premium assistance in the form of cost-sharing reductions and advance premium tax credits that reduce the amounts you owe for deductibles, copayments and coinsurance – and their monthly premium will also be reduced accordingly.
The Affordable Care Act makes open enrollment available each year from November 1 through December 15 for families and individuals to enroll in an Affordable Care Act-compliant health plan covering 10 essential benefits.
Individuals can select a bronze, silver, gold or platinum plan, with platinum typically offering lower medical care costs when necessary. Plan costs depend on factors like income, family size and location; preexisting conditions and gender discrimination no longer play a factor when calculating costs; however tobacco use, age and family size still impact costs significantly.
