Nevada Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Nevada?

Nevada was ranked #45 in the 2009 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Prevalence of smoking – 41
• Prevalence of bing drinking – 41
• High school graduation – 50
• Violent crime – 49
• Air pollution – 15
• Lack of health insurance – 42
• Public health funding – 48
• Immunization coverage – 47
• Primary care physicians – 46
• Preventable hospitalizations – 11
• Geographic disparity – 45
• Infant mortality – 16

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Nevada.

Does Nevada have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

No, Nevada does not offer its own risk pool for its citizens who are medically uninsurable.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Nevada will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Nevada's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Nevada

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Nevada and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Nevada.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Nevada

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Nevada.

USNews health insurance rankings for Nevada

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Nevada.

Official State Goverment Sites with Nevada Health Insurance Information

Governor's Office for Consumer Health Assistance Bureau for Hospital Patients -- a single point of contact for consuemrs and injured workers to help them understand their rights and responsibilites under Nevada law.

Nevada Checkup -- strives to provide low-cost, comprehensive health care coverage to low income, uninsured children age 18 and under who are not covered by private insurance or Medicaid.

Division of Health Care Financing and Policy-- Medicaid -- works in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to assist in providing quality medical care for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and limited resources.

Medicare in Nevada -- SHIP Volunteers offer FREE one-on-one assistance-and-counseling with respect to many problems seniors encounter regarding Medicare, supplemental health insurance and long-term care options.