Based on a report, more than 135,000 children in Nevada currently have no health coverage. Now that the government’s COBRA subsidy program just expired, expect that this figure will continue to increase everyday.

“I’m a mom and these are my kids and I think the one thing all parents fear most is not being able to take care of them the way they need to be taken care of,” said Hope Vivas, resident of Nevada State.

When her husband lost his job, Hope says that the COBRA subsidy program provided a critical lifeline for her family. “It allowed us to continue to have insurance,” she said.

Unfortunately, the program just expired and that means the Vivas’ COBRA premium will now triple. “It’s going up to more than $1,600 a month,” she said.

As an alternative though, Nancy Whitman, the executive director of Nevada Covering Kids and Families, informs us that these families can get assistance from public health programs. “They probably meet the income guidelines for their children to qualify to have health care coverage,” she said.

“The highest their premiums would ever be is $80 every three months and then all health care visits are free, whether it’s to the doctor, dentist, or even the emergency room”.