Nevada Medicaid, run by the Nevada Health Authority (formerly the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy), covers hundreds of thousands of Nevadans, including adults who qualified after the state expanded Medicaid in January 2014. Losing Nevada Medicaid can happen for several reasons: income rose above the 138% Federal Poverty Level line for 2026, an annual renewal packet went unreturned, a notice went to an old address, or household size changed. Whatever the cause, losing Medicaid is a qualifying life event that opens a 60-day Marketplace Special Enrollment Period (SEP) on Nevada Health Link, the state-based exchange at nevadahealthlink.com. That 60-day window is the number to remember. Nevada Health Link lets you choose a plan up to 60 days before your Medicaid ends, so coverage can begin the day after Medicaid stops. HealthCare.gov separately lists a 90-day window for Medicaid or CHIP loss, but the state exchange publishes 60-day guidance, so plan around Day 60. The ACA subsidy cliff returned for 2026 after enhanced premium tax credits expired on January 1, 2026, which means households above 400% FPL get no subsidy. Most people who just lost Medicaid sit well below that line and still qualify for meaningful help.
Nevada is one of the 40 states plus DC that expanded Medicaid under the ACA, so adults age 19 to 64 qualify when household income is at or below 138% FPL, which is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of four in 2026, per HHS ASPE. Nevada Check Up, the state's CHIP program, covers children from birth through age 18 in households up to 200% FPL in 2026, with a quarterly premium and no copays or deductibles. Nevada Health Link is also the only place where Nevadans can get federal premium tax credits, and since 2026 it carries the Battle Born State Plans public option. This guide walks through the order that protects you best: confirm whether the termination was a mistake, check whether you still qualify for Nevada Medicaid, move children to Nevada Check Up when needed, and then choose a Marketplace plan before Day 60. Use the Medicaid income limits and ACA income limits pages linked below to confirm your pathway before you apply.
7 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
The costliest mistakes Nevadans make after losing Nevada Medicaid in 2026:
- Waiting past Day 60. The Marketplace SEP on Nevada Health Link is 60 days from your Medicaid end date, and the next chance is Open Enrollment starting November 1, 2026. Apply in the first two weeks, or before coverage ends.
- Skipping the fair hearing for a procedural termination. A Nevada Medicaid fair hearing request is due within 90 days of the notice date, and filing before the termination date lets you ask to continue benefits. Gather renewal proof before you file.
- Reporting last year's income. Nevada Health Link calculates 2026 premium tax credits from projected 2026 income, so using 2025 income can overstate or understate your subsidy and trigger a repayment at tax time.
- Forgetting Nevada Check Up for children. Children from birth through age 18 in households up to 200% FPL in 2026 can enroll year-round, even when parents move to a Marketplace plan.
- Choosing COBRA by default. COBRA applies only to job-based coverage and costs 102% of the full premium in 2026, so a subsidized Nevada Health Link plan is usually cheaper for people who just left Medicaid.
- Enrolling in a subsidized plan, then regaining Medicaid. Nevada Health Link warns that people newly eligible for Medicaid may owe full price for Marketplace coverage and may repay subsidies, so cancel the Marketplace plan when Medicaid restarts.
Nevada Medicaid vs Nevada Health Link vs COBRA: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Nevada Medicaid is the right first move for any Nevada adult whose projected 2026 household income is at or below 138% FPL ($22,025 for one person, $45,540 for four, per HHS ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines at aspe.hhs.gov). Nevada Medicaid costs nothing, and reapplying at accessnevada.nv.gov works year-round, so waiting costs only time. Nevada Health Link is the right move for adults above 138% FPL and below 400% FPL in 2026, because premium tax credits shrink monthly premiums and Silver plans with cost-sharing reductions lower deductibles for incomes up to 250% FPL. Battle Born State Plans, the public option on Nevada Health Link since 2026, must meet premium reduction targets that other plans do not, so compare them with private carriers. COBRA matters only when job-based coverage also ended, and at 102% of the full premium in 2026 it usually costs far more than a subsidized plan. The decision order: Nevada Medicaid first, Nevada Check Up for children, Nevada Health Link with subsidies next, COBRA last, as a bridge for a treating specialist or a deductible you already met.
How to Appeal a Nevada Medicaid Termination in 2026
Nevada Medicaid termination notices state the reason for the decision and explain your right to a fair hearing. Nevada Medicaid must receive a fair hearing request within 90 calendar days of the notice date, using the Fair Hearing Request form published by the Nevada Health Authority at dhcfp.nv.gov. The form includes a box to continue benefits during the hearing, and federal Medicaid rules generally require a timely filing before the termination date to keep coverage in place. Benefits paid during the hearing may have to be repaid if you lose, so weigh that before checking the box. Managed care members must complete their health plan's internal appeal before requesting a state fair hearing. Documentation that helps includes proof that renewal paperwork was returned (certified mail receipt or portal confirmation), recent pay stubs or an employer letter showing income at or below 138% FPL in 2026, and proof of Nevada residency such as a lease or utility bill. Filing an appeal does not stop the 60-day Marketplace SEP, so apply on Nevada Health Link in parallel and cancel the plan if the hearing restores Nevada Medicaid. Nevada Legal Services offers free help in Las Vegas at (702) 386-0404 and in Washoe County at (775) 284-3491.
Nevada Medicaid Income Limits and Nevada Check Up for 2026
Nevada Medicaid covers adults age 19 to 64 with household income at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level in 2026, with no asset test for expansion adults. For 2026, 138% FPL equals $22,025 for a household of 1, $29,863 for 2, $37,702 for 3, and $45,540 for 4, based on HHS ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines. Nevada Check Up covers children from birth through age 18 in households with annual income up to 200% FPL in 2026, which is $54,640 for a household of 3 and $66,000 for a household of 4. Nevada is not among the 10 non-expansion states (AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, SC, TN, TX, WI, WY), so adults here do not face the coverage gap those states have. Federal law enacted in July 2025 also changes Nevada Medicaid for expansion adults: work and community engagement requirements are due to begin by January 1, 2027, and expansion adults move to six-month renewals for renewals after December 31, 2026, so keep your address current with Access Nevada. The table below shows 2026 thresholds for Nevada Medicaid and the 400% FPL subsidy ceiling.
Nevada Medicaid and ACA Subsidy Income Limits, 2026| Household size | 138% FPL (Nevada Medicaid limit) | 400% FPL (ACA subsidy ceiling) |
|---|
| 1 | $22,025 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $29,863 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $37,702 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $45,540 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $53,378 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $61,217 | $177,440 |
| 7 | $69,055 | $200,160 |
| 8 | $76,894 | $222,880 |
| Each additional person | + $7,838 | + $22,720 |
Nevada uses the 48 contiguous states FPL table for 2026. The 400% FPL subsidy cliff returned after enhanced premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026.
Source: HHS ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines; nevadahealthlink.com; medicaid.gov
Retroactive Coverage and Coverage Gaps After Losing Nevada Medicaid in 2026
Marketplace plans on Nevada Health Link are not retroactive: coverage starts on the date tied to your plan selection, so selecting a plan before your Medicaid ends is the only way to avoid a gap. When you choose a plan up to 60 days before the end date, coverage begins the day after Nevada Medicaid stops. When you choose after the end date, coverage generally begins the first day of the month after you pick a plan, which can leave days or weeks uncovered. Nevada Medicaid works differently. Federal rules let Medicaid cover medical bills from up to 3 months before the month you reapply if you were eligible in those months, which can help if you had a hospital stay during a gap in 2026. Federal law enacted in 2025 shortens that look-back for expansion adults beginning January 1, 2027. Keep every bill and the date you reapplied, and ask Nevada Medicaid to review the retroactive months when you apply. A medical bill analyzer can help you check charges from the gap period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Enrollment Period for losing Nevada Medicaid?
Nevada Health Link gives you a 60-day Marketplace Special Enrollment Period from the date your Nevada Medicaid ends. For example, if coverage ends October 31, 2026, the window runs November 1 through December 30, 2026. You can also select a plan up to 60 days before the end date so coverage starts the next day. HealthCare.gov separately lists 90 days for Medicaid or CHIP loss, but the state exchange publishes 60-day guidance, so act within 60 days. Apply at nevadahealthlink.com or call 1-800-547-2927. Missing the window means waiting for Open Enrollment, which begins November 1, 2026.
How do I document losing Nevada Medicaid for a Marketplace application?
Nevada Health Link asks for proof of the qualifying life event, and your Nevada Medicaid termination notice is the best document because it shows the reason and the coverage end date. Upload it with your application, along with proof of projected 2026 income such as pay stubs, Social Security numbers for everyone applying, and proof of Nevada residency like a lease or utility bill. If you cannot find the notice, log in to Access Nevada at accessnevada.nv.gov to view or request a copy, and keep screenshots of any online confirmation.
What happens if I miss the 60-day window after losing Nevada Medicaid?
Missing the 60-day Marketplace window without another qualifying life event means you wait for Open Enrollment, November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, for 2027 coverage, and you go without Marketplace coverage until then. Two doors stay open all year. Nevada Medicaid accepts applications year-round if your income is at or below 138% FPL in 2026, and Nevada Check Up accepts children year-round. Call Nevada Health Link at 1-800-547-2927 right away to ask whether any exception applies, and do not assume one does.
Can I get retroactive coverage after losing Nevada Medicaid?
Marketplace plans on Nevada Health Link are not retroactive, so coverage starts on the date tied to your plan selection. Choosing a plan before your Medicaid ends lets coverage begin the day after it stops. Nevada Medicaid is different: federal rules allow coverage of medical bills from up to 3 months before the month you reapply when you were eligible in those months, which can cover a hospital stay during a 2026 gap. Federal law enacted in 2025 shortens that look-back for expansion adults beginning January 1, 2027. Reapply quickly and keep every bill.
What is the difference between COBRA and a Nevada Health Link plan after losing Medicaid?
COBRA continues job-based group coverage at 102% of the full premium in 2026, typically $400 to $900 per month for one person, and it applies only if you lost employer coverage, not when Medicaid alone ends. Nevada Health Link plans use premium tax credits for incomes from 100% to 400% FPL in 2026, so a benchmark Silver plan can run roughly $60 to $175 per month for a single adult at 139% to 200% FPL. COBRA makes sense only to keep a specific provider or a met deductible. Compare both before electing COBRA within its 60-day election window.
What state-specific rules apply when I lose Medicaid in Nevada?
Nevada runs its own exchange, Nevada Health Link, so apply at nevadahealthlink.com rather than HealthCare.gov. Nevada Health Link publishes a 60-day loss-of-Medicaid window and lets you pick a plan up to 60 days early. Nevada Medicaid fair hearing requests are due within 90 days of the notice date. Nevada Check Up covers children up to 200% FPL in 2026. Battle Born State Plans, Nevada's public option, are available only on Nevada Health Link starting with the 2026 plan year. Federal changes from 2025 add work requirements and six-month renewals for expansion adults starting in 2027.
Do I qualify for Nevada Medicaid again after losing it?
Nevada Medicaid covers adults age 19 to 64 with household income at or below 138% FPL in 2026: $22,025 for one person, $29,863 for two, $37,702 for three, and $45,540 for four. Check the household-size table on this page and apply at accessnevada.nv.gov, where applications are open year-round. If your income dropped after the termination or the loss was procedural, you may qualify immediately. If your income is above 138% FPL, you likely qualify for Marketplace premium tax credits up to 400% FPL ($63,840 for one person in 2026) on Nevada Health Link.
What happens to my children's coverage if I lose Nevada Medicaid?
Nevada Check Up, the state's CHIP program, covers children from birth through age 18 in households up to 200% FPL in 2026, and children can qualify even when a parent no longer qualifies for Medicaid. Families pay a quarterly premium based on size and income, with no copays or deductibles. Enrollment is year-round with no SEP deadline, so apply through Access Nevada or Nevada Health Link as soon as you see the termination notice. For a household of four, 200% FPL equals $66,000 in 2026. Children above that line can join a family Marketplace plan.
