Nevada Health Link premiums are rising 17% for 2027 plans, and officials share tips for lowering costs during open enrollment

What happened

Nevadans who buy their own health insurance will see average premiums on Nevada Health Link, the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace, rise 17% for 2027 plans, Las Vegas Weekly reported. It is the second straight year of double-digit increases. The rates are approved each year by the Nevada Division of Insurance.

Open enrollment runs November 1 to January 15. Ahead of it, Nevada Health Link executive officer Janel Davis and Cherie Hughes, a certified navigator with the Asian Community Resource Center, offered advice on how applicants can keep their costs down.

Why premiums are climbing

According to the report, the increases follow a national trend tied to rising medical care and prescription costs, inflation and the end of pandemic-era federal subsidies and programs. When healthier people drop coverage because of price, insurers are left with a sicker and more costly pool of customers, which keeps the cycle going.

Nevada's coverage gap

Nevada had the fourth-highest uninsured rate in the nation in 2024, at 11.4%, based on data from the nonprofit KFF, Las Vegas Weekly reported. A State Health Access Data Assistance Center analysis found 16.7% of Nevada adults skipped medical care due to cost, compared with 12.4% nationally, the second-highest share. For uninsured residents, cost is already the largest obstacle.

How to lower what you pay

Get free help and check for subsidies

Nevada Health Link is the only place Nevadans can get federal subsidies that reduce their premiums, and more than 80% of 2026 enrollees qualified. About 70% of people who signed up for 2026 coverage used free help from a certified broker or navigator. Brokers are paid commissions by insurers, while navigators do the same work through grant-funded nonprofits.

Clark County residents can compare 90 plans on NevadaHealthLink.com, along with 11 lower-cost Battle Born State Plans. Applicants should estimate their 2027 household income, which helps set their subsidy, and must prove Nevada residency. They may also be asked to verify their income.

Shop before auto-renewing

Davis recommends reviewing options before letting an existing plan renew automatically. Four in 10 enrollees in 2026 did not actively shop, but those who compared and switched plans saved an average of $287 a month, according to the report.

Bronze versus silver

Many enrollees are weighing cheaper bronze plans against silver plans. Bronze plans carry lower monthly premiums but higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, which can mean paying more when care is needed. Lower-income enrollees who move down from silver give up deductible and copay discounts that are only available with silver plans.

Hughes suggests comparing copays for doctor visits, lab work and prescriptions, not just the monthly bill. Davis advises thinking about how often you see a doctor, what prescriptions you take and whether you could cover the deductible if something unexpected happens. "The key is making that choice with the full picture of what they'll pay," Davis told Las Vegas Weekly.

Changes for immigrant families

Starting in 2027, under the federal budget law President Donald Trump signed in 2025, many lawfully present immigrants without green cards will no longer qualify for subsidies, and undocumented immigrants cannot buy marketplace plans. Hughes said local clinics can offer a limited lifeline for them and for anyone who is uninsured, noting that many charge on a sliding scale based on income.

Undocumented parents can still apply for coverage for children born in the U.S., who may qualify through Nevada Health Link, Medicaid or Nevada Check Up. Hughes said parents are not asked about their own Social Security number or documentation, only their children's.

Why coverage matters

Every marketplace plan covers the same 10 essential health benefits, from hospital stays to prescriptions. Davis and Hughes urged residents not to go without insurance if they can avoid it. "In the long run, it's an investment, and you're protecting yourself from potential bankruptcy or financial ruin," Davis said.

Free help is available at NevadaHealthLink.com or by calling 1-800-547-2927.

What to watch next

• Open enrollment on Nevada Health Link begins November 1 and ends January 15.
• Existing plans may auto-renew unless enrollees shop; four in 10 enrollees in 2026 did not actively compare plans.
• Starting in 2027, many lawfully present immigrants without green cards lose subsidy eligibility under the 2025 federal budget law.