Nevada Health Insurance Laws

No one wants to be left uninsured when the unexpected hits. And Nevada insurance laws do their best to ensure that those who participate in state-sanctioned healthcare policies won't have to. Though there are certain policies, such as the exclusion period, that favor the insurance companies, many state regulations protect individuals from being left with large medical bills and a lack of coverage.

Coverage

• One of the most worrisome issues surrounding health insurance is whether or not an individual will be covered should an unexpected illness or mysterious condition develop. Under Nevada state law, all health insurance companies must cover clinical trials for chronic fatigue or cancer, contraceptives, prenatal care and screenings for different forms of cancer, including breast, prostate, cervical and colorectal.

Small Group Health Insurance

• Small businesses, which is defined as 2 to 50 employees, that offer health insurance must offer it on a guaranteed basis, meaning that its employees/healthcare participants cannot be denied coverage because of any previous or current medical condition. Exclusionary periods can apply for 12 months after the employee's health insurance begins, however, if the employee received treatment for any pre-existing condition.

Exclusion Period

• Nevada health insurance companies are not required by law to pay for any treatments or medications that relate to any pre-existing conditions that a new policy holder may have. This policy significantly favors the insurance companies, as they are able to use it to their discretion as long as they can prove that a pre-existing condition had been treated in the past. In order to avoid large medical bills associated with pre-existing, ongoing and often long-term conditions, an individual should speak to the customer services representatives for any insurance companies he is considering. This will allow him to determine whether the monthly fee and premiums will be reasonable, given his past medical history.

Conversion Policy

• If a Nevada resident loses his job or if his insurance was under a spouse's plan, Nevada law allows for that individual to convert to a similar policy in terms of premium costs and benefits. This conversion policy applies for a limited period of time, affording that individual the time to look for a new job or a new, comparable insurance policy.

Renewing Insurance

• In Nevada, there is a Guaranteed Renewability Provision, which allows a health insurance participant to continue renewing his health insurance yearly, regardless of whether the state of his health has declined. This is an important benefit, as many participants with overall good health can be dropped from their policies or have their rates greatly increased if they are diagnosed with a new condition or illness, such as cancer.