Pahrump, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after Centene announced its plan to enter the rural Nevada health insurance market:
“Nevadans should have access to quality, affordable health care regardless of whether they live in Las Vegas or Tuscarora. Centene, which operates as Silver Summit Health Plan in Nevada, announced today that it will provide health insurance plans through the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange to our rural counties, ensuring that each Nevada county has at least one health insurance provider. Michael Neidorff, CEO of Centene, and Garret Leaf, President and CEO of Silver Summit Health Plan, have demonstrated a strong commitment to Nevada’s rural communities by bringing back quality health insurance options to families, seniors and disabled Nevadan’s across our state.
“I applaud Centene for its willingness to put Nevadan families first despite the Trump administration’s threats and continued sabotage of the ACA’s health insurance marketplaces. With Centene’s decision to provide coverage in rural Nevada, approximately 8,000 hardworking Nevadan’s will once again have access to health insurance that would have been denied to them. Centene’s actions show that for some insurance companies, it is truly the health and wellbeing of the people it covers that is most important.
“Today’s announcement and the hard work of Governor Sandoval demonstrate what can be achieved when politicians on both sides of the aisle come together to fix and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. I hope when Congress returns from August recess, Republicans will see these lessons, work with Democrats and put the lives and health care access of Americans first.”
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