Transferring Medicaid from Colorado to Nevada
Plan on a close-and-reapply. Colorado Medicaid only works while you live in Colorado; once you land in Nevada, your application goes to Nevada Health Authority (Nevada Medicaid; formerly Division of Health Care Financing and Policy). File it immediately after arriving, because processing takes time and coverage ties to the application date.
Both states cover adults under expansion rules at 138% of the federal poverty level, so if you qualified on income in Colorado, you will likely qualify in Nevada too.
Official Nevada Medicaid agency: Nevada Health Authority (Nevada Medicaid; formerly Division of Health Care Financing and Policy) ↗ (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 Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing you are leaving
Report your move and ask for your case to be closed effective the end of the month you leave. Medicaid cannot cover you in two states at once.
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing ↗
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 Nevada Health Authority (Nevada Medicaid; formerly Division of Health Care Financing and Policy) 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.
Online application ↗ - 5
Ask about retroactive coverage
Most states can cover eligible medical bills up to 3 months before your application date — ask when you apply if you had care during the gap.
Colorado vs Nevada: the numbers that decide it
| Colorado (old state) | Nevada (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Health First Colorado | Nevada Medicaid |
| Agency | Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing | Nevada Health Authority (Nevada Medicaid; formerly Division of Health Care Financing and Policy) |
| 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 |
Verified 2026-08-08 (Colorado) and 2026-08-08 (Nevada) against the official sources cited below.
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 Colorado → Nevada checklistCommon questions
Can I use my Colorado Medicaid in Nevada while I wait?
Generally no. Colorado Medicaid only pays providers for Colorado residents, and out-of-state care is limited to emergencies. Once you live in Nevada, you need Nevada coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in Nevada?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on Nevada's income and category rules from the day you become a resident. The application itself takes up to 45 days.
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 Colorado case effective your move month.
Where do I actually apply in Nevada?
Through Nevada Health Authority (Nevada Medicaid; formerly Division of Health Care Financing and Policy) (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- Health First Colorado — Apply Now — accessed 2026-08-08
- Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing — accessed 2026-08-08
- Nevada Medicaid (Nevada Health Authority) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Nevada Health Link — Medicaid information — accessed 2026-08-08