At FreedomCare, we understand that navigating Medicaid benefits can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re focused on caring for yourself or someone you love. That’s why we’ve created this detailed guide to help you understand the benefits available to Medicaid recipients in Nevada.

Whether you live in Northern or Southern Nevada, your Medicaid plan offers a broad array of services and benefits designed to support your physical, emotional, and social health. We’ve broken down the Medicaid benefits in Nevada by region to make things easier.

Who Qualifies for Medicaid Benefits in Nevada

To qualify for Medicaid benefits in Nevada, you must fulfill certain requirements. You must be a resident of the state as well as a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, a permanent resident, or a legal alien who requires healthcare and assistance with insurance.

You must be in a financial situation that would be categorized either as low income or very low income according to Nevada law. And you must also meet one of the following criteria:

You must be pregnant.
You must be blind.
You must be responsible for taking care of a child under 18 years of age.
You must be 65 years of age or older.
You must have a disability.
You must have a family member with a disability who lives with you in your household.

Annual income limits must be below certain amounts that depend on household size. In Nevada, the qualifying amount is equivalent to 138% of the federal poverty level. For 1 person households in 2020, the maximum annual income level to qualify for Medicaid is $16,753 or $34,639 for a family with four members. With each additional household member, the maximum income level goes up.

If you qualify for Medicaid benefits in Nevada, there is no limit on the enrollment period. In other words, you can enroll for this healthcare program at any time. Visit Access Nevada to find out if you’re eligible for the program and to check on the status of your case. Through this online portal you can manage your account and receive online communications.

Medicaid Medical Benefits in Nevada

Both Northern and Southern Nevada offer robust medical benefits and services under Medicaid, including:

Unlimited primary care doctor visits
Well-child visits and EPSDT screenings
Immunizations and vaccinations
Specialty care referrals
Personal care services
ABA therapy for autism
Maternity and postpartum care
Family planning
Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
Emergency and urgent care
Eye exams and prescription glasses (annually)
Dental visits
Sports physicals for children
Newborn circumcisions
Medical supplies and durable equipment
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
Home health care and private duty nursing
Mobile medical clinics
24/7 video chat with a provider through NowClinic
Nursing and social work case management
Health education, smoking cessation, and wellness programs
Diabetes and asthma management classes
Home and environmental assessments
Weight loss surgery (when medically necessary)
Chiropractic care (under age 21)
Orthotics and prosthetics
Skilled-nursing home services
Gender affirming care
Support from clinical coordinators and community health workers who help connect you to food, housing, transportation, and job resources

Medicaid Hospital Access Benefits in Nevada

Northern Nevada residents have access to 11 contracted hospitals, including:

Renown Regional Medical Center
St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center
Carson Tahoe Regional Center
Northern Nevada Medical Center
Incline Village Community Hospital
And more

Southern Nevada residents have access to 20 hospitals, including:

Sunrise Hospital and Children’s Hospital
University Medical Center
Valley Hospital Medical Center
St. Rose Dominican campuses
Desert Parkway Behavioral Hospital
And others

Southern members also gain exclusive access to Southwest Medical facilities.

Medicaid Urgent Care Benefits in Nevada

Unlimited urgent care visits are covered in both regions.

Northern Nevada locations include:

Renown Health Urgent Care (multiple locations)
Saint Mary’s Medical Group
MinuteClinic in CVS stores
Northern Nevada Urgent Care
Carson Valley Medical Center
In-home urgent care with Doctoroo and DispatchHealth
24/7 NowClinic access

Southern Nevada offers an even broader range of urgent care options:

5 Southwest Medical Urgent Care centers
UMC Quick Care locations
CareNow and Intermountain Healthcare urgent care centers
Pediatric-specific urgent care
OB urgent care via Women’s Health Associates
In-home and mobile urgent care
24/7 access via NowClinic

Pharmacy and Medications Under Medicaid Nevada

Medicaid benefits covers 100% of prescription and over-the-counter medications with a valid prescription.

Pharmacies include:

Walmart and Sam’s Club
Walgreens
CVS (including Target locations)
Raley’s, Safeway, Smith’s, Save Mart (North)
Albertson’s and Vons (South)
Independent neighborhood pharmacies

Home delivery for specialty medications is available statewide. Same-day delivery is available in the South when using NowClinic.

Nevada Mental Health Services and Benefits Under Medicaid

Medicaid members in both North and South Nevada have access to extensive behavioral health care benefits, too.

Inpatient services include:

Psychiatric hospitalization
Substance use detox and treatment
Residential treatment centers (under 21)
Crisis stabilization
Coordination of hospital-to-home care

Outpatient services include:

Psychiatric evaluations and same-day appointments
Individual, family, and group therapy
Walk-in clinics
Medication management
MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment)
Sober living homes (when eligible)
Peer support and recovery coaching
Neuropsychological testing
Basic Skills Training (BST) and Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR)
Online mental health visits through NowClinic
Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization (PHP)
Parenting and teen support groups (Southern Nevada)
Long-acting injectable medication clinics (Southern Nevada)

Southern Nevada members also benefit from services by Human Behavior Institute, including behavioral health navigation, telehealth, transportation, and case management.

Nevada Obstetrical Provider Access and Pregnancy Support Benefits Under Medicaid

Pregnancy benefits are available to members statewide and include:

Direct access to OB providers
$30 gift cards for prenatal and postpartum visits
$75 baby essentials gift card for completing UHC HPN pregnancy and baby class
Free electric breast pump
Pregnancy education and lactation support
Tummy2Family app
Count the Kicks app to monitor fetal movement
Diapers for moms who quit smoking via cessation programs
Coordination with nurse case managers and social workers

Southern Nevada also offers:

OB services through Southwest Medical
OB-specific urgent care at Women’s Health Associates of Southern Nevada
Doula and birthing programs

Medicaid Waiver Programs in Nevada

Medicaid in Nevada also includes several waiver programs that provide additional support to individuals who would otherwise require care in a nursing home or institution. These Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers help people live independently at home or in their community while receiving critical services.

Waiver services may include:

Personal care assistance
Homemaker services
Adult day health care
Respite care for family caregivers
Home-delivered meals
Case management
Habilitation services for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities
Emergency response systems
Transitional housing and supported living services

To qualify for a Medicaid waiver, you must meet both financial and medical eligibility requirements. A needs assessment is typically required to determine the level of care you need.

If you believe you or a loved one may qualify for a waiver program, visit Access Nevada or contact the Nevada Division of Health Care Financing and Policy for more information.

FreedomCare can also help guide you through this process and determine if you or your family member may qualify for home-based care through a Medicaid waiver.

Value-Added Benefits for Medicaid Recipients in Nevada

Both Northern and Southern Nevada Medicaid plans offer extra support to help you thrive beyond basic medical care.

Shared benefits include:

Free Sam’s Club™ membership
Free gym memberships (Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness, YMCA, EOS, Club Pilates, virtual classes)
Free cell phone with unlimited talk, text, and data
Free WeightWatchers® membership
Free healthy food card ($25) after completing a health survey
Free diabetic meal delivery
Discounted haircuts
Free bus passes and rides to medical/social service appointments
Free home internet navigation and devices (South only)
Free gift cards for health and mental wellness milestones
Free access to On My Way life skills program
Free help with Nevada IDs and birth certificates
Free high school test prep programs

Special benefits for families include:

Gift cards for children’s well-visits and immunizations
Free infant flu shots
Free Boys & Girls Club membership
Additional rewards for healthy pregnancies
Free diapers with cessation participation

Housing assistance for qualifying members includes:

Housing navigation
Transitional and long-term supportive housing
Medical respite beds
Closed-loop social referrals

Comparing North vs. South Nevada Medicaid Benefits

Services Not Covered by Nevada Medicaid

While Nevada Medicaid offers a broad range of benefits, certain services are not eligible for coverage. These exclusions ensure that Medicaid resources are focused on medically necessary and approved care.

The following services are not covered:

Any service not included in the recipient’s approved care plan
Services must be medically authorized and documented within the individual’s plan of care to qualify for coverage.
Duplicate services
Medicaid does not cover repeated or overlapping services that serve the same purpose.
Tasks that the recipient or a responsible adult can perform
Services that can reasonably be completed by the individual, a legally responsible adult (such as a parent or guardian), or a willing caregiver are not covered.
Household support for others
Services must be solely for the Medicaid recipient. For example, grocery shopping is only allowed for the recipient’s needs—not for the entire household.
Administrative or oversight tasks
Activities such as supervision, scheduling, chart audits, internal reviews, and survey preparation are not reimbursable.
Heavy chore services
Tasks such as deep cleaning (e.g., windows, walls), carpet shampooing, moving heavy furniture, home repairs, and yard work are not covered.
Companion or supervision services
Medicaid does not pay for babysitting, non-medical supervision, social visits, or pet care (unless the animal is a certified service animal).
Exercise programs
Physical activity or exercise services not prescribed and supervised as part of a medical plan are not covered.
Respite care
Temporary relief for caregivers or family members is not included under standard Medicaid services.
Skilled medical services (outside approved scope)
Services that must be performed by a licensed or certified healthcare professional are not covered unless they fall under approved self-directed skilled care programs.
Travel time
Time spent traveling to or from a location to provide services is not reimbursed.
Routine or non-medical supplies
Items such as non-sterile gloves or general household supplies are not eligible for reimbursement.

Final Thoughts

Medicaid in Nevada goes far beyond basic health coverage. It’s designed to support the whole person—and, just as importantly, the whole family. Whether you’re navigating a chronic condition, supporting a child’s health, managing a pregnancy, or caring for a loved one, these benefits are here to help.

At FreedomCare, we help families access the services they need—especially those caring for loved ones at home. If you’re looking for information on how to become a paid family caregiver in Nevada or need help navigating your Medicaid options, we’re here for you.

Reach out to FreedomCare to learn more about your options and how we can support you every step of the way.

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