Health exchange chief to exit
Korbulic also served as unemployment agency’s interim head
CARSON CITY — Heather Korbulic, executive director of Nevada’s health insurance exchange since
2016, will leave her post Dec. 3, the governor’s office announced Monday.
Korbulic, who served briefly in
2020 as interim head of the state’s unemployment division during the height of pandemic-triggered job losses, leaves after 13 years in state government agencies. She previously worked for eight years in the Aging and Disability Services Division before being named to head the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, the agency where eligible uninsured Nevadans can shop for and buy affordable health insurance.
In a statement, Gov. Steve Sisolak thanked Korbulic for her “relentless advocacy, unwavering support and commitment to the people of Nevada,” crediting her with building the exchange “into a well-oiled machine” for the state’s uninsured.
“She has always stepped up to the plate to help Nevadans, during some of our darkest days, even at immense personal cost, and I am incredibly proud of the work we were able to do together,” he said. “Under her leadership, the exchange has built up into a well-oiled machine without ever losing focus on Nevadans.”
Korbulic in a statement said leaving the post was “not an easy decision,” adding that she had “poured my heart into this work for over six years, and now is the right time to pursue opportunities which will allow me to grow professionally.” She did not announce her next steps.
“I am grateful to Governor Sisolak for his leadership, his trust and support, and his commitment to ensuring that all Nevadans can receive quality health insurance,” Korbulic said in her statement.
Korbulic was tapped by Sisolak in April 2020 to head Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation when the agency was inundated processing unemployment claims from job losses from the pandemic. Nevada’s unemployment rate reached an all-time high above 25 percent in May, at the height of the pandemic’s first phase.
As head of the overwhelmed agency, Korbulic oversaw implementation of new pandemic-related benefits programs but became the focal point for attacks from claimants frustrated and angry over processing delays.
She left the unemployment division in June, citing threats to her personal safety and returned to the health insurance exchange.
In January, Sisolak named her to serve as his temporary policy director through the 2021 legislative session.
Contact Capital Bureau reporter Bill Dentzer at bdentzer@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Dentzernews on Twitter.