Nevada Health Insurance Conversion Policies

Conversion Policies

When you lose coverage under a fully insured group health plan in Nevada, in many cases you are guaranteed the right to buy a conversion policy. This is an individual policy sold by the insurance company that covered your former group.

Indemnity health insurance companies in Nevada are required to include conversion rights in their fully insured group health plan policies. HMOs are not required to offer conversion rights, but many do. HMO conversion plans, when available, must follow the same rules that apply to indemnity health plan conversion policies.

When Am I Eligible for Conversion Coverage?

• In Nevada, if you have had coverage through an employer's fully insured group health plan for at least 3 months and you leave that job, you are eligible to buy a conversion policy. This is an individual policy you get from the company that insured your employer's group plan. You must apply for conversion coverage and pay your first premium within 31 days after receiving notice your conversion rights. All persons seeking conversion coverage must not have or be eligible for other health coverage, including Medicare, group health insurance, or substantially similar individual insurance.
• Conversion rights are also available to a surviving spouse and children upon the death of the insured, to a child when the child reaches that age at which dependent coverage is terminated, and to a former spouse and children at divorce.
• You do not need to be HIPAA eligible to buy a conversion policy.
• You do not need to use up your COBRA or state continuation coverage first to buy a conversion policy.