Nevada Health Link open enrollment deadline approaches

Makayla Lavender, assistant professor of economics at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, who studies how policies impact health insurance demand and other related consumer decisions, said people should not panic because subsidies are still in place for most low-income families on the Health Link plans.

“Nevadans should go onto the Nevada Health Link website so that they can get quotes for insurance that represent their personal situations,” Lavender recommended. “Because for those people who do qualify for subsidies, it is going to keep it more affordable.”

However, premiums are expected to double or more for Health Link plans for middle-income families, those who make more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is about $130,000 a year for a family of four. Experts said middle-income individuals on Health Link plans who make more than about $62,000 a year and are nearing retirement age may see even higher costs.

Lavender pointed out people may be able to find more affordable premiums for lower-tier plans.

“If the premiums seem high, people might want to consider getting a bronze plan; that would keep their premiums a little lower,” Lavender advised. “It means that they’ll probably have a higher deductible or copay to benefit from the insurance, but that still protects them from the worst-case scenarios.”

She added people who make just over the income limits may be able to keep their subsidies by choosing a plan with a Health Savings Account, because money added into the account effectively reduces their income.

Related: More than $133 million in medical debt eliminated for 128,000 Nevadans