Centene to Fill Coverage Gaps in Nevada, Restoring ACA

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval recently announced that health insurer Centene would step in and offer plans in the 14 counties that were poised to have no ACA coverage options in 2018.

“Access to quality, affordable health care should not be dependent on your zip code or county line,” Gov Sandoval said during a press conference. “Today’s announcement will ensure that more than 8000 Nevadans will have the ability to exercise their option to utilize Nevada’s online marketplace and secure coverage for their families. This is a fantastic time to welcome [Centene] to our health care market and express the state’s sincere gratitude for stepping up, partnering with Nevada’s own Hometown Health, and providing an insurance option for thousands of Nevadans.”

Centene plans will cover the 14 counties under a subsidiary brand, known as SilverSummit Healthplan. These plans will close coverage gaps in the counties of: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, and White Pine. Plans will be sold on Nevada’s state exchange, the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange.

The move to offer coverage in Nevada will almost fully restore the ACA. According to a county-level map by the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are now only two counties in the country that still lack coverage options for 2017: Menominee County, Wisconsin, and Paulding County, Ohio. Both of these counties are non-metro, rural areas, which represent a combined total of 381 potential ACA 2018 enrollees. Ohio Governor John Kasich has announced that he is currently working on finding a coverage solution for Paulding County—making it likely that all counties in the United States will have at least one coverage option in 2018.

“SilverSummit is pleased to serve its current Medicaid members in Nevada, and it looks forward to expanding its product offerings to the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2018,” Garrett Leaf, president and CEO of SilverSummit Healthplan, said. “We strive to be a responsible partner with the state and are committed to working closely with regulators and policymakers to be able to offer affordable coverage options for Nevada residents.”

—David Costill