Nevada CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
Nevada Check Up is the name of Nevada's State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), authorized by Title XXI of the Social Security Act. It covers children from birth through age 18 in households with income above the Nevada Medicaid threshold but at or below 200% FPL, Nevada Check Up's income limit, per the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS).
200% FPL
Nevada Check Up (CHIP) income limit for children
Nevada Check Up
Nevada's CHIP program name
1-800-992-0900
DSS Nevada Check Up phone line
Undocumented children do not qualify for Nevada Check Up
Nevada Check Up requires that a child be a U.S. citizen or meet immigration requirements — lawfully present children qualify, but undocumented children do not. Verify current limits with DSS at accessnevada.nv.gov or by calling 1-800-992-0900.
What is Nevada Check Up?
Apply through the same portal as Medicaid at accessnevada.nv.gov. One application covers both programs — the Division of Social Services determines which applies.
Who qualifies for Nevada Check Up?
Nevada Check Up is designed for children birth through age 18 whose families earn above the Nevada Medicaid income limit but at or below 200% FPL, Nevada Check Up's upper income threshold. The program also requires that the child be uninsured — CHIP is generally not available to children who have access to employer-sponsored health insurance that meets minimum standards.
- Child must be under age 19 (birth through 18)
- Family income above the Nevada Medicaid threshold and at or below 200% FPL (Nevada Check Up's income limit)
- Child must be a Nevada resident
- Child must be a U.S. citizen or meet immigration requirements (lawfully present children qualify; undocumented children do not)
- Child must be uninsured or have lost employer coverage recently
- Child must not have access to employer-sponsored health coverage at reasonable cost
What Nevada Check Up covers
Nevada Check Up provides comprehensive benefits comparable to those available under Nevada Medicaid for children. Per CMS, CHIP programs must cover a defined set of services.
- Well-child and preventive care visits
- Doctor visits and specialist referrals
- Hospital care (inpatient and outpatient)
- Prescription medications
- Emergency care
- Dental and vision services
- Mental health and behavioral health services
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy when medically necessary
- Lab tests and X-rays
Cost sharing — does Nevada Check Up cost anything?
Per the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, the only cost to a Nevada Check Up enrollee is a quarterly premium of $25, $50, or $80 based on family size and income — charged per family, not per child. Enrollees are not required to pay co-payments, deductibles, or other charges for covered services. American Indian and Alaska Native families are exempt from premiums.
Premiums are billed quarterly (due each January, April, July, and October) rather than monthly, with a 15-day grace period. Non-payment after the grace period results in a 90-day sit-out period before a child can be reinstated. For current premium amounts, contact DSS at 1-800-992-0900 or review the Nevada Check Up program page at dss.nv.gov.
How to apply for Nevada Check Up
The same application at accessnevada.nv.gov covers both Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check Up. DSS reviews income and determines which program the child qualifies for. Documents needed are the same as for Medicaid: proof of residency, income documentation, child's birth certificate, and Social Security number. There is no separate Nevada Check Up application — one application covers both.
What CHIP is
CHIP — the Children's Health Insurance Program — is a federal-state partnership that covers children in families whose income is too high for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Congress created CHIP in 1997 under Title XXI of the Social Security Act. Like Medicaid, CHIP is jointly funded by the federal government and each state, and each state administers its own program.
CHIP serves children up to age 19 (some states cover to 21 for children in foster care). It is not available to adults — CHIP is specifically designed to address the coverage gap for children in working families. Nationally, CHIP covers approximately 7 million children, according to CMS data.
Nevada Medicaid
- AccessNevada application portal: accessnevada.nv.gov
- Nevada DSS / Nevada Check Up phone line: 1-800-992-0900
- Nevada DHCFP: dhcfp.nv.gov
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