Nevada Health Link Open Enrollment 2027: Premiums, Subsidies, and How to Enroll

Nevada Health Link, the state's official health insurance marketplace, opens enrollment for 2027 coverage on November 1, 2026 and closes it on January 15, 2027. The headline for this window: average approved premiums for 2027 plans are rising about 17 percent, the second consecutive year of double-digit increases in Nevada, while premium tax credits still cover most buyers, with roughly 82 percent of 2026 enrollees receiving credits averaging about $516 a month. Here is what is changing, what it means for your budget, and how to enroll.

When Open Enrollment Runs

The 2027 open enrollment period on Nevada Health Link runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, matching the standard federal marketplace schedule. The dates matter for when coverage starts:

• Pick a plan by December 31, 2026 and coverage begins January 1, 2027.
• Pick a plan January 1 through 15, 2027 and coverage begins February 1, 2027.

You do not have to wait until November 1 to look. Nevada Health Link opened window shopping in early October 2026, so you can already browse 2027 plans, compare premiums, and check which local providers are in each network before enrollment officially opens.

What's Changing for 2027: The Premium Increase

For 2027, the Nevada Division of Insurance approved an average rate increase of about 17 percent for individual-market plans sold through the exchange, the second straight year of double-digit hikes in the state after 2026 rose about 26 percent. Regulators and carriers point to rising medical costs, prescription drug prices, higher utilization, and the health profile of the enrolled population as the drivers.

That still leaves plenty of choice. The Division of Insurance approved 12 companies offering 165 plans on and off the exchange for 2027, with roughly nine carriers selling on-exchange through NevadaHealthLink.com. Among the names are Anthem (through its HMO Nevada and Community Care Health Plan of Nevada affiliates), Health Plan of Nevada, Hometown Health, SilverSummit, Molina, SelectHealth, and Imperial, plus Nevada's Battle Born State Plans public option, which about one in ten marketplace enrollees use.

Subsidies Still Cover Most Buyers

The sticker price is not what most people pay. In the 2026 open enrollment period, Nevada Health Link enrolled 104,286 people, and about 82 percent of them received premium tax credits averaging about $516 a month. After those credits, the average net monthly premium for 2026 coverage was about $234, and about $148 a month for the subsidy recipients themselves.

One important change for 2027: the enhanced federal premium tax credits first expanded under the American Rescue Plan and later extended by the Inflation Reduction Act expired at the end of 2025. Under current law for 2027, that means the subsidy cliff at 400 percent of the federal poverty level is back in effect, so a household just above the threshold does not qualify for premium tax credits and generally pays full price.

For 2027 coverage, using the current federal poverty guidelines, 400 percent of the federal poverty level works out to about $86,560 for a family of two and about $132,000 for a family of four. This is an area where federal legislation can shift quickly, so it is worth checking the current rules on NevadaHealthLink.com before you rely on a specific subsidy number.

What the Benchmark Plan Costs

To anchor the numbers, the average monthly benchmark premium, meaning the second-lowest-cost Silver plan used to calculate subsidies, was $497 for 2026 coverage in Nevada, up from $414 in 2025. That is a useful planning figure: it tells you what a mid-range Silver plan costs before any credit you qualify for, and it explains why the 17 percent increase for 2027 is a meaningful line item in a household budget.

For context on how this folds into the rest of the move, the cost-of-living comparison runs healthcare alongside housing, utilities, gas, and taxes when it stacks Northern Nevada against California cities.

If You Just Moved or Are Moving Soon

If you moved to Nevada in 2026, you likely did not need to wait for this window at all. A change of residence is a qualifying life event under the Affordable Care Act, which opens a special enrollment period through Nevada Health Link, typically giving you about 60 days from the move to enroll. The full explanation of that path, including Nevada Medicaid income limits and COBRA, is in the health insurance after moving from California guide.

If you are moving in the next few months, the open enrollment calendar matters even more. A plan chosen by December 31 starts January 1, so a family relocating in November or December can land in Nevada with coverage in place on day one. That timing pairs naturally with the new-resident to-dos in the first 30 days in Nevada checklist and the moving checklist, which keeps the driver's license, vehicle registration, and utility deadlines in the same order.

One practical note for transplants: a California plan generally does not cover non-emergency care inside Nevada networks, so enrolling in a Nevada plan is about more than the price. The Northern Nevada healthcare guide walks through the local hospital and clinic systems, from Carson Tahoe Health in Carson City to the larger Reno systems, so you can check that your chosen plan includes the providers you will actually use.

How to Enroll, Step by Step

• Create an account at NevadaHealthLink.com. Window shopping works without one, but an account is required to apply, compare subsidy-eligible plans, and enroll.
• Estimate your household income. Premium tax credits are based on projected income for the coverage year, and they apply only through the exchange, not through plans bought directly from carriers.
• Compare plans on network and total cost. Look past the premium to the deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether Carson Tahoe or Renown providers are in-network for where you live.
• Enroll by the dates above. December 31 for a January 1 start, or January 15 at the latest for a February 1 start.
• Pay your first premium on time. Coverage begins once the carrier receives it, so leave room in the calendar for the payment to process.

If you are near or past retirement age, Medicare is federal and follows you across state lines without a marketplace application. The retiring to Nevada guide lays out the healthcare timeline alongside the tax and housing picture, and the FAQ answers the common questions transplants ask about the move.

The Takeaway

Even with the 17 percent average increase, marketplace coverage in Nevada remains heavily subsidized for most households, and the open enrollment window is the moment to lock in a plan with local providers. Mark November 1 on the calendar, run your income through NevadaHealthLink.com, and compare plans by total cost and network, not just the monthly premium.

Healthcare is one piece of the relocation budget, sitting right beside the housing, tax, and moving costs that make Northern Nevada work for California transplants. If you are weighing the move, book a free relocation consultation, and when you are ready to see what your budget buys, browse homes across Carson City, Dayton, the Valley, Reno, Sparks, and the Tahoe area.