HOW TO ENROLL IN THE ACA HEALTH EXCHANGE
The Affordable Care Act, aka “Obamacare,” remains the law of the land, and with the American Rescue Plan signed by President Joe Biden on
March 11,
Nevada Health Link is offering more money to help consumers pay for their coverage. Nevadans making up over 400% of the federal poverty level are eligible to receive subsidies. ¶ Exchange plans — which in Nevada are offered through
Nevada Health Link — must provide comprehensive benefits and limit out-of-pocket costs for consumers. Meanwhile, insurers who offer those plans can’t turn down enrollees or charge them more if they have preexisting conditions. ¶ To aid Nevada Health Link in its outreach and advertising campaign, the Sun is publishing this special page through the end of the enrollment period to help Nevada residents sign up for ACA coverage through the state exchange. ¶ The deadline for enrollment is Jan. 15. For Nevada residents who are in need of health care coverage, we hope this page is helpful.
“Obamacare” is a colloquial term for the Affordable Care Act. Both names refer to the same legislation that passed in 2010.
In broad terms, determine what kind of health care you and your family will need. Are you healthy but just need coverage in case of an injury or major illness? Do you have a pre-existing condition for which you’ll need surgery or multiple visits to a doctor? Do you have children, and do they have any special needs? Answers to questions like these will help determine what type of policy you’ll need. From there, you’ll pick a plan best suited to your needs.
The seven insurance carriers that will offer ACA policies in Nevada in 2022 — Health Plan of Nevada, Anthem, Silver Summit, Friday Health Plans, Selecthealth, Aetna and Hometown Health — all offer three levels of coverage. Sample plans may look like this:
Gold: Lower premiums, higher copays — 30% after meeting the deductible.
Silver: Lower premiums still, but copays edge up to 40%.
Catastrophic: Lowest premiums and least coverage, with policyholder paying more than 40% of costs after meeting the deductible.
All of the plans are comprehensive and cover the 10 essential health benefits:
Ambulatory Services and care
Emergency service
Hospitalization
Maternity and newborn care
Mental health and substance abuse
Prescription drugs
Rehabilitation or habilitation services and devices
Lab services
Preventive or wellness services and chronic disease support
Pediatric services, including dental and vision