(The Center Square) - Nevadans are expected to see their health insurance rates jump 34% or more next year, depending on the plan. Some rates could more than double.
That's according to a new report by Value Penguin, a subsidiary of Lending Tree.
The sharp rise comes after years of stagnant prices and puts Nevada among the states for the biggest hikes in insurance rates. Nevadans with the lowest income are set to lose the most, Value Penguin said.
The death of COVID-era health insurance subsidies that kickstarted the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history are to blame for the 2026 cost growth, according to Value Penguin.
The report found the likely end of COVID-era Affordable Care Act extended subsidies was the greatest cause of prices hikes in Nevada and across the U.S.
“That would be the primary driver, and it's kind of a double whammy here,” report author Talon Abernathy told The Center Square.
“So on the one hand, people who get ACA tax credits are going to see a pretty significant price hike," said Abernathy, a Value Penguin senior writer. "They'll still get some tax credits, but it's going to be a lot less than in years past, between 2021 and 2025, when these enhanced subsidies were available.”
Along with the end of COVID-era ACA tax credits, the other half of the price hike comes from more healthy people leaving the health insurance market.
“You also get prices rising across the board, even for people who don't qualify for these subsidies,” said Abernathy. “And that's because insurance companies are projecting quite a few healthier individuals will leave the marketplace once health insurance rates go up. That's going to create a bit of a doom-loop spiral where healthier people leave the marketplace, and the remaining population is sicker. Rates have to rise to accommodate for that and it furthers the cycle.”
The average price for a 40-year-old Nevadan on the middle, or Silver, health insurance plan is set to rise 34% to $792 per month in 2026. It’s an especially steep rise considering the average price fell by 3% between 2023-2024 and rose only 5% this year, Value Penguin noted.
But Nevadans who qualify for subsidies are likely to experience an even harsher rise of 104% to $202 in 2026, from $99 in 2025, according to the Value Penguin report. For a 40-year-old Nevadan on a Silver plan earning $30,000, prices are set to rise by 216%. Nevadans earning below $22,000 are eligible for free health care on Medicaid.
“It’s shocking, but it's not completely unexpected,” said Abernathy, adding later, “When the subsidies went away, it's natural that we would see the largest price hikes for those individuals."
Value Penguin predicted that health insurance prices across the country would climb in 2026, but the difference is considerable across states. Nevada was the sixth-highest, while Arkansas is expected to see the most change at 67 percent. Alaska was the only state where health insurance prices were set to reduce in 2026, by 5 percent.
Many states, such as California which is set to see a more modest 11% price change, counteracted ACA cuts with local subsidies, Abernathy said.
Without a local solution, Nevada’s 2026 rates are among the highest rates because of an above average number of uninsured individuals and post-COVID “Medicaid Unwinding," according to Value Penguin.
“During the pandemic, states weren't allowed to kick people off Medicaid essentially,” said Abernathy. “And that just came to an end in the past year or so, so as people left Medicaid, the marketplace is kind of a natural alternative. Again, putting more strain on the system. In Nevada in particular, we're seeing a sicker population, so greater utilization overall. It's kind of a perfect storm here.”
Open enrollment to sign up for health insurance, adjust your plan or cancel a plan ends Monday. Value Penguin offers a Nevada county-level guide to the cheapest and best rates here.
