New health reform law is working for Nevada

September 1, 2010

 Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement on the news that nearly 2,000 employers and unions have been accepted into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program.  The employers accepted into the program will begin receiving reimbursements for employee claims this fall, giving them the ability to use the savings to reduce health care costs and premiums for workers and their families.

“Today’s announcement is good news for early retirees in the Silver State and the latest example of how the new health reform law is already working for Nevada,” Reid said.  “In addition to helping businesses provide coverage for early retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare, we learned yesterday that one million Medicare beneficiaries who have fallen into the prescription drug doughnut hole have received their $250 rebate check to help cover the cost of their medication.”

This is just the first batch of applicants the Department of Health and Human Services has approved and they are still accepting applications.  Following is the list of Nevada companies that have been accepted into the program so far:

    * Board of Trustees IBEW Local 640
    * Cement Masons and Plasterers Health and Welfare Plan
    * City of Henderson
    * Las Vegas Firefighters Health and Welfare Trust 1285 Local
    * Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Employees Health & Welfare Trust
    * NV Energy, Inc.
    * Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 525 Health and Welfare Trust
    * School Administrators Welfare Trust
    * Southwest Gas Corporation
    * State of Nevada Self Funded Plan
    * Teamsters Local 631 Security Plan for Southern Nevada
    * Teamsters Security Fund for Southern Nevada
    * Washoe County
    * Washoe County School District