Health insurance rates in Nevada are projected to rise sharply in 2026, with some plans increasing by 34% or more—and certain premiums potentially more than doubling.
The forecast comes from a recent report by Value Penguin, a subsidiary of Lending Tree, which highlights Nevada as one of the states facing the steepest rate hikes. Low-income residents are expected to be hit hardest.
The report attributes the surge primarily to the expiration of COVID-era health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These enhanced subsidies, in place between 2021 and 2025, had helped lower premiums for many Americans.
“That would be the primary driver, and it’s kind of a double whammy here,” said Talon Abernathy, a senior writer at Value Penguin, in an interview with The Center Square.
Abernathy explained that while ACA tax credits will remain, they will be significantly smaller, leaving many insured individuals facing higher costs.
The rate increase is compounded by healthier individuals leaving the marketplace, prompting insurers to raise prices to cover the remaining, higher-risk pool. “It creates a cycle where rates rise because healthier people leave, and the remaining population is sicker,” Abernathy said.
For a 40-year-old Nevadan, the average monthly premium for a Silver plan is expected to jump 34%, reaching $792 in 2026. By comparison, rates fell 3% between 2023 and 2024 and increased just 5% this year.
Nevadans eligible for subsidies face even steeper hikes. For example, premiums could climb 104%, from $99 to $202 per month. A 40-year-old earning $30,000 on a Silver plan may see rates surge 216%. Residents earning below $22,000 remain eligible for Medicaid.
“It’s shocking, but not completely unexpected,” Abernathy said. “When the subsidies went away, the largest increases naturally hit those individuals.”
Across the U.S., health insurance prices are expected to rise in 2026, with Nevada ranking sixth in projected increases. Arkansas faces the steepest hike at 67%, while Alaska is the only state expecting a decrease, at 5%.
States like California are mitigating increases with local subsidies, limiting the impact to around 11%. Nevada, without such measures, is experiencing high rates due to a large uninsured population and the end of pandemic-era Medicaid protections, known as “Medicaid unwinding.”
“During the pandemic, states weren’t allowed to remove people from Medicaid,” Abernathy said. “Now, as individuals exit Medicaid, many turn to the marketplace, adding strain. Nevada, in particular, is seeing a sicker population, which drives higher utilization—a perfect storm for rising premiums.”
Open enrollment for 2026 plans ends Monday. Value Penguin offers a county-level guide to Nevada’s most affordable and suitable health insurance options.
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