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Nevadans Won't Experience Immediate Changes to Obamacare

Nevada Health Link

Since the results of election came in, the future of the Affordable Care Act—also known as Obamacare—has been up in the air. Reno Public Radio’s Anh Gray explores what this could mean for Nevadans.

Last year, nearly 90 thousand Nevadans enrolled in the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, where people can purchase coverage at federally subsidized rates. Janel Davis is with the agency.

“It’s far too early to predict it,” Davis explains. “I think what’s important for Nevada residents to understand is that the Affordable Care Act is still a law; it’s still in place, and penalties still exist for not having coverage.”

Davis says some uninsured Nevadans were able to get coverage because of the Affordable Care Act.  

“During that 2016 enrollment period, Nevada saw the greatest decline in the number of uninsured children in the nation,” Davis says, “and the greatest progress of any state in reducing the number of uninsured Hispanic and Latino children.”

Davis points out that last year, premiums in Nevada went up almost 12 percent, compared to the national average of about 25 percent. Any potential changes to the law could take time to go into effect and a transition period could take a few years.

In Nevada, open enrollment for 2017 started at the beginning of this month and will continue through January 31st. 

Anh Gray is a former contributing editor at KUNR Public Radio.
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