Healthcare Costs Are Crushing Nevadan Families

The Challenge: Nevada's healthcare system is under strain, with severe shortages of providers, high out-of-pocket costs, limited rural access, and many families forced to travel out of state to receive care. What do Nevadans think? Contributors described major gaps in access to healthcare, from fragmented systems to limited local services. A nurse wrote: "Most doctors' offices are independent and there is no sharing of electronic medical records. It's very much set up for a tourist and not a local." Another put it simply: "Healthcare is the biggest issue for me." Others pointed to shortages in specialized care and inequities across populations. One contributor shared: "The pediatric healthcare is insufficient to meet the basic needs of Nevadans. Healthcare beyond standard visits to pediatricians' offices is repeatedly referred out of state." A parent of a child with disabilities described the strain: "My child was born with rare and severe Congenital Heart Disease and at 2 years old diagnosed with Autism. We don't qualify for Medicaid regardless of his conditions. It's hard, especially with current living costs." Across responses, participants highlighted a system that is fragmented, under-resourced, and difficult to access, especially for those with complex or specialized needs.