Nevada Medicaid Income Limits 2026

Nevada Medicaid covers approximately 900,000 Silver State residents, roughly one in three Nevadans. Nevada adopted the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion effective January 1, 2014, extending Medicaid to adults ages 19 to 64 regardless of whether they have children. The result is a broad safety-net program anchored at 138% of the Federal Poverty Level for adults, with higher thresholds for pregnant women (200% FPL as of July 2025) and children (138% FPL for Medicaid, up to 200% FPL through Nevada Check Up, the state's CHIP program). The 2026 Federal Poverty Level, $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states, sets the income baseline for every threshold on this page.

Nevada Medicaid eligibility is split across two state agencies. The Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (DHCFP) within the Department of Health and Human Services manages the Medicaid benefit programs, contracted managed care plans, and overall program policy. The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS), also called the Division of Social Services (DSS), handles eligibility determinations, applications, and renewals for most residents. Applications flow through Access Nevada (accessnevada.nv.gov), the state's combined benefits portal that also handles SNAP, cash assistance, and Nevada Check Up CHIP in a single intake. Starting January 1, 2026, Nevada expanded managed care to all 17 counties, bringing roughly 75,000 rural Nevadans into coordinated care for the first time and meaning nearly all Medicaid enrollees now receive benefits through a managed care organization rather than fee-for-service billing.

The household-size table below shows 2026 Nevada Medicaid income limits across three covered populations: adults (138% FPL), children (138% FPL for Medicaid), and pregnant women (200% FPL). If your household income falls between the Medicaid limit and 400% FPL, you will likely qualify for ACA marketplace subsidies through Nevada Health Link (nevadahealthlink.com). If your child's family income exceeds the 138% FPL Medicaid threshold, check Nevada Check Up, which covers children up to 200% FPL. If you are 65 or older with limited income, read the Medicare Savings Programs section below, as Nevada Medicaid administers the QMB, SLMB, and QI tiers that pay Medicare premiums and cost-sharing for low-income Medicare beneficiaries.

Nevada Medicaid income limits by household size (2026)

The 2026 Nevada Medicaid income guidelines below are based on the 2026 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 contiguous states. Adult column = expansion-group Nevada Medicaid (138% FPL, covers adults ages 19-64 with or without dependent children). Children column = standard children's Nevada Medicaid (138% FPL); Nevada Check Up (CHIP) extends children's coverage up to 200% FPL. Pregnancy column = 200% FPL Nevada Medicaid for Pregnant Women, with 12 months of postpartum coverage (effective July 1, 2025 per SPA NV-25-0006). Add roughly $5,680 of annual income per additional household member.

Nevada Medicaid eligibility requirements (non-income)

Beyond income, Nevada Medicaid applicants must meet the following non-income requirements. These apply across the major Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) categories that cover the vast majority of applicants: adults under 65, children, and pregnant women. The aged, blind, and disabled population (MAABD) and long-term care applicants face additional SSI-based resource rules described below.

• Nevada residency: the applicant must currently live in Nevada with the intent to remain. There is no minimum length-of-residence requirement. Individuals experiencing homelessness may use a shelter address or a statement of residency.
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (after the federal 5-year bar in most cases), refugees, asylees, and certain other lawfully present immigrants qualify. Pregnant women and children under 21 are exempt from the 5-year bar under federal CHIPRA rules. Undocumented adults do not qualify for full Nevada Medicaid but may receive emergency-only Medicaid for life-threatening conditions and labor and delivery services.
• Social Security Number: required for the applicant and all household members applying for coverage. Individuals who do not have or are not eligible for an SSN due to immigration status may apply for emergency services without an SSN.
• Household composition: determined under MAGI rules (a tax-filing unit: the tax filer plus any dependents claimed on their federal return, plus the filer's spouse if living in the same household). MAGI rules apply for all non-elderly non-disabled applicants, including parents, childless adults, and pregnant women.
• Asset test: NOT applied for MAGI Nevada Medicaid populations (adults, parents, children, pregnant women). The asset test IS applied for the aged, blind, and disabled (MAABD) population under SSI rules, generally $2,000 in countable resources for an individual and $3,000 for a couple, with the primary home, one vehicle, and certain burial accounts excluded.
• Other health coverage: Nevada Medicaid does not require the applicant to be uninsured. Medicaid functions as the payer of last resort and can coordinate with employer coverage or Medicare. Enrollees who also have Medicare coverage may qualify for Nevada Medicaid as wraparound coverage or through a Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP).
• Age: Nevada Medicaid's expansion group covers adults ages 19 to 64. Children from birth through age 18 qualify under the children's Medicaid category. Individuals age 65 or older qualify under the aged, blind, and disabled (MAABD) rules if they meet the SSI income and asset standards, or through the Medicare Savings Programs.

What income counts for Nevada Medicaid

Nevada Medicaid uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules to calculate income for adults under 65, parents, children, and pregnant women. MAGI is based on a household's projected annual income as it would appear on a federal income tax return, with a few specific inclusions and exclusions mandated by federal Medicaid law. For aged, blind, and disabled applicants (MAABD), Nevada instead uses SSI countable-income rules, which differ significantly from MAGI. The lists below cover the MAGI categories that handle the vast majority of Nevada Medicaid applications.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, tips, and overtime pay (gross, before payroll-tax deductions)
• Net self-employment earnings, 1099 contract income, and gig-economy income (after allowable business expenses are deducted)
• Social Security retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, but NOT Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments
• Unemployment compensation (state and federal, including pandemic unemployment extensions if still applicable)
• Pensions, annuities, and most retirement-account distributions (401(k) and IRA withdrawals)
• Alimony received under divorce decrees finalized before January 1, 2019 (under the pre-TCJA tax treatment)
• Rental income, interest, dividends, and capital gains
• Foreign earned income excluded for federal tax purposes is still counted for Medicaid MAGI purposes

Income sources excluded

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments (not the same as SSDI)
• Child support received (excluded under federal MAGI rules effective January 2014)
• Veterans Affairs disability compensation, GI Bill housing and education allowances, and most VA pension payments
• Federal and state income tax refunds, including refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit
• SNAP (food-stamp) benefits and TANF cash-assistance payments
• Workers' compensation payments and certain injury-related settlements
• Loans, gifts, and one-time inheritances (not counted as income under MAGI rules, though inheritances may affect the asset test for MAABD categories)

How to apply for Nevada Medicaid in Nevada

Nevada Medicaid applications go through Access Nevada (accessnevada.nv.gov), the state's combined benefits portal operated by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS). The same application covers Nevada Medicaid, Nevada Check Up (CHIP), SNAP food assistance, and cash assistance in one submission. Applicants can also apply by phone at 1-800-992-0900, in person at any local DWSS office, or through a certified enrollment assister or Navigator at Nevada Health Link (nevadahealthlink.com).

1. 1. Gather your documents: photo ID for the head of household, Social Security cards or numbers for all household members, proof of Nevada residency, proof of citizenship or immigration status, and recent income documentation such as pay stubs or employer letters.
2. 2. Create an account at accessnevada.nv.gov or call 1-800-992-0900 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time) to start an application by phone. The online portal includes a pre-screening tool that helps identify which programs you may qualify for before you complete the full application.
3. 3. Complete the application by listing every household member, reporting all income sources for the past 30 days (or 12 months for self-employment), and noting any special circumstances such as pregnancy or disability.
4. 4. Upload or mail your supporting documents. The portal allows electronic document upload; if applying by phone or mail, include copies of required documents with your application.
5. 5. Sign the application electronically (or by hand if applying by mail or in person). DWSS will send a confirmation with your case number; save this for follow-up and document upload.
6. 6. Respond promptly to any DWSS requests for additional information within the stated deadline. Failure to respond to an information request within the deadline is the most common reason Nevada Medicaid applications are denied or delayed.
7. 7. Wait for the eligibility determination notice. Standard Nevada Medicaid applications are decided within 45 days; applications based on disability (MAABD) can take up to 90 days. Pregnancy applications receive priority processing, typically within 10 days, and presumptive eligibility can start prenatal coverage immediately while the full application is being processed.

Official portal: accessnevada.nv.gov

Documents needed

• Photo ID for the head of household (Nevada driver's license, state ID, tribal ID, or passport)
• Social Security Numbers or cards for every household member applying for coverage
• Proof of Nevada residency (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or letter from shelter if experiencing homelessness)
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status (birth certificate, U.S. passport, permanent-resident card, asylee letter, or refugee documentation)
• Last 30 days of pay stubs or employer letters (or 12 months of records for self-employment or 1099 contract income)
• Most recent federal income tax return, or a signed statement that no return was filed (used to verify prior-year income and household size)
• Medical verification of pregnancy from a licensed provider (clinic, hospital, or obstetrician letter), if applying for Nevada Medicaid for Pregnant Women
• For aged, blind, and disabled (MAABD) applicants: bank statements, vehicle titles or values, life insurance policies, and any existing disability determination documentation (SSI award letter, SSDI notice, or physician statement)

Processing timeline: Standard Nevada Medicaid applications are decided within 45 days of submission. Applications for the aged, blind, and disabled (MAABD) category can take up to 90 days because they require a medical determination. Pregnancy applications receive expedited processing and are generally decided within 10 days; presumptive eligibility allows prenatal coverage to begin immediately while the full determination is pending. Newborns whose mothers were enrolled in Nevada Medicaid at the time of birth are automatically deemed eligible for their first year of life.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Income above the population-specific threshold: the most common single reason. For expansion adults, this means MAGI income above 138% FPL after any applicable disregards; for pregnant women, above 200% FPL.
• Failure to respond to a DWSS information request within the stated deadline (missing pay stubs, missing immigration documents, missing proof of residency, or missing pregnancy verification).
• Federal 5-year bar for newly-arrived lawful permanent residents. Certain categories are exempt: pregnant women, children under 21, refugees, and asylees. Contact DWSS if you believe an exemption applies to you.
• Asset test failure for MAABD or long-term care applicants (countable resources above $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple after the standard exclusions for the primary home and one vehicle).
• Failure to verify Nevada residency (no utility bill, lease agreement, or other documentation showing the applicant's current address in Nevada).

If your child's family income is over the Nevada Medicaid limit, Nevada Check Up (CHIP)

Nevada Check Up is Nevada's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), administered by DHCFP. Nevada Check Up covers children from birth through age 18 in households earning up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, which in 2026 equals approximately $43,280 per year for a family of two or $66,000 per year for a family of four. Nevada Check Up provides comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage. Unlike Nevada Medicaid, Nevada Check Up charges quarterly premiums ranging from $25 to $80 based on family income, but there are no copayments or deductibles for covered services. Apply through the same Access Nevada portal at accessnevada.nv.gov; the system routes the application to Nevada Check Up automatically when family income exceeds the Medicaid limit but falls below 200% FPL.

Compare CHIP and Medicaid income limits across all 50 states

If you are 65 or older with limited income, Medicare Savings Programs in Nevada

Nevada Medicaid administers three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) covers adults with income up to 100% FPL ($1,350 per month for a single person in 2026) and pays Medicare Parts A and B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance in full. Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) covers adults up to 120% FPL ($1,616 per month) and pays Part B premiums only. Qualifying Individual (QI) covers adults up to 135% FPL ($1,816 per month) and also pays Part B premiums, funded through a federal block grant. All three MSPs have an asset test of approximately $9,950 for a single person and $14,910 for a couple in 2026. Enrolling in any MSP automatically qualifies you for Extra Help, the federal Low-Income Subsidy that reduces Medicare Part D drug costs. Nevada Medicaid also covers long-term nursing home and home-and-community-based care for eligible dual-eligible residents through its Aged and Disabled Waiver programs. Contact DWSS at 1-800-992-0900 or visit a local office to apply for an MSP alongside your Nevada Medicaid application.

Read the Medicare eligibility guide

Frequently Asked Questions