Transferring Medicaid from California to Vermont
No — Medicaid does not move with you. Your California coverage ends when you stop being a California resident, and you apply again with Green Mountain Care after you arrive. There is no residency waiting period, and coverage can reach back to your application date.
Both states cover adults under expansion rules at 138% of the federal poverty level, so if you qualified on income in California, you will likely qualify in Vermont too.
Official Vermont Medicaid agency: Department of Vermont Health Access ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Gather your documents before the move
You will reapply from scratch: proof of identity, income (pay stubs or award letters), your new address, and immigration documents if applicable.
- 2
Tell California Department of Health Care Services you are leaving
Report your move to your county Medi-Cal office within 10 days; ask for your case to be closed effective the end of the month you leave.
California Department of Health Care Services ↗
Moving week
- 3
Time the closure to the end of your move month
Keep coverage through the month you travel. Your old state's coverage generally ends the month you stop being a resident.
After you arrive
- 4
Apply with Department of Vermont Health Access as soon as you arrive
There is no waiting period based on how long you have lived there — apply immediately. Processing: up to 45 days (90 if a disability decision is needed). From January 1, 2027 (earlier in some states), most adults in the expansion group must also show 80 hours a month of work, school, job training, or community service, or an exemption, possibly for 1 to 3 months preceding the application.
Online application ↗ - 5
Ask about retroactive coverage
Most states can pay eligible medical bills from as early as the third month before the month you apply, so ask when you apply if you had care during the gap. For applications filed on or after January 1, 2027, federal law (Public Law 119-21) shortens this to the month before the month you apply for adults in the expansion group and the second month before the month you apply for everyone else.
California vs Vermont: the numbers that decide it
| California (old state) | Vermont (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Medi-Cal | Green Mountain Care |
| Agency | California Department of Health Care Services | Department of Vermont Health Access |
| ACA Medicaid expansion | Yes — adults covered on income | Yes — adults covered on income |
| Adult income limit | 138% of the federal poverty level | 138% of the federal poverty level |
Monthly income limits by household size: California vs Vermont
| Household size | California | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $1,836 | $1,836 |
| 2 people | $2,489 | $2,489 |
| 3 people | $3,142 | $3,142 |
| 4 people | $3,795 | $3,795 |
| 5 people | $4,449 | $4,449 |
| 6 people | $5,102 | $5,102 |
Limits for adults, computed from each state's published % of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines and rounded up to the dollar. Children, pregnancy, and 65+/disability rules differ; each state's own chart controls and may still show 2025 figures. Full tables: California · Vermont · 2026 poverty guidelines.
Moving with more than one benefit?
The checklist generator merges Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, unemployment, and TANF into one ordered to-do list for this exact move.
Build the full California → Vermont checklistCommon questions
Can I use my California Medicaid in Vermont while I wait?
Generally no. California Medicaid only pays providers for California residents, and out-of-state care is limited to emergencies. Once you live in Vermont, you need Vermont coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in Vermont?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on Vermont's income and category rules from the day you become a resident. The application itself takes up to 45 days (90 if a disability decision is needed).
Can I have Medicaid in two states at once?
No. You can only receive Medicaid from the state where you live. Keeping an old case open while opening a new one can create repayment problems — close the California case effective your move month.
Where do I actually apply in Vermont?
Through Department of Vermont Health Access (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Vermont to California Medicaid
- Medicaid in California: leaving or arriving
- Medicaid in Vermont: leaving or arriving
- Moving with Medicaid: every state
- California to New Hampshire Medicaid
- California to Missouri Medicaid
- California to Oregon Medicaid
- California to North Carolina Medicaid
Other benefits on the same move
- SNAP: California to Vermont
- WIC: California to Vermont
- Unemployment: California to Vermont
- TANF: California to Vermont
Terms on this page: Federal poverty level (FPL) · Medicaid expansion · Retroactive Medicaid coverage
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified .
- DHCS Medi-Cal — accessed 2026-08-08
- BenefitsCal (online application) — accessed 2026-08-08
- DVHA — members (Green Mountain Care) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Vermont Health Connect (application portal) — accessed 2026-08-08