The Medicaid Income Limit is the most important criteria for deciding whether you qualify for Medicaid in your state. In this post, we are going to explain in detail the Nebraska Medicaid Income Limits for 2021.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Nebraska Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Nebraska and how it works.
Next, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, including how eligibility works for various categories, including Children, Pregnant Women, and Adults.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with a low income.
It provides free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.
How Many People are on Medicaid?
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as of November 2020, here are the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and Chip in the entire United States:
- 78,521,263 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
- 72,204,587 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid
- 6,695,834 individuals were enrolled in CHIP
Nebraska Medicaid
The Nebraska Medicaid program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.
As of 2020, the program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered 292,298 people.
This includes 177,000 children as shown by the image below.
In Nebraska, Medicaid is administered by the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) agency.
Who Can Get Medicaid in Nebraska?
You should apply for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the descriptions below:
- You think you are pregnant
- The parent or caretaker of a child and/or teenager under the age of 19.
- You are a child or teenager age 18 or under.
- An adult age 65 or older.
- You are legally blind.
- Living with a disability or disabled.
- You are in need of nursing home care.
Nebraska Medicaid Income Limit
The Nebraska Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the Nebraska Medicaid Income limits listed below.
Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.
| 2021 Federal Poverty Levels for the 48 Contiguous States & D.C. | |||
| Household Size | Poverty Guideline for 48 states & DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
| 1 | $12,880 | $16,090 | $14,820 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $21,770 | $20,040 |
| 3 | $21,960 | $27,450 | $25,260 |
| 4 | $26,500 | $33,130 | $30,480 |
| 5 | $31,040 | $38,810 | $35,700 |
| 6 | $35,580 | $44,490 | $40,920 |
| 7 | $40,120 | $50,170 | $46,140 |
| 8 | $44,660 | $55,850 | $51,360 |
| Over 8 people | add $4,540 for each additional person | $5,680 | $5,220 |
Additionally, to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot make more than the income guidelines outlined below:
- Children up to age 1 with family income up to 213 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 213 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 213 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 213 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 194 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 58 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 100% of the FPL
Nebraska Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The Nebraska Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.
For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.
Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in Nebraska who qualify for Medicaid.
Nebraska Medicaid Income Limit for Children
Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.
| Nebraska Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 213% | 213% | 213% | 213% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $27,434 | $27,434 | $27,434 | $27,434 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $37,105 | $37,105 | $37,105 | $37,105 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $46,775 | $46,775 | $46,775 | $46,775 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $56,445 | $56,445 | $56,445 | $56,445 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $66,115 | $66,115 | $66,115 | $66,115 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $75,785 | $75,785 | $75,785 | $75,785 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $85,456 | $85,456 | $85,456 | $85,456 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $95,126 | $95,126 | $95,126 | $95,126 | |
Next is the income limit for adults by category. Find the category you fall into and you will see the income limit by household size.
Nebraska has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in Nebraska.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Nebraska, see our Nebraska Expansion update below.
Nebraska Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| Nebraska Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 194% | 58% | 100% | YES | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $24,987 | $7,470 | $12,880 | N/A |
| 2 | $17,420 | $33,795 | $10,104 | $17,420 | N/A | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $42,602 | $12,737 | $21,960 | N/A | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $51,410 | $15,370 | $26,500 | N/A | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $60,218 | $18,003 | $31,040 | N/A | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $69,025 | $20,636 | $35,580 | N/A | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $77,833 | $23,270 | $40,120 | N/A | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $86,640 | $25,903 | $44,660 | N/A | |
How to Read the Nebraska Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above
You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.
Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.
For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 194% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $33,795 as shown in the chart above.
How to Apply for Nebraska Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Nebraska.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the ACCESSNebraska Portal – as shown in the image below.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your ACCESSNebraska Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at DHHS Office Near You
You can apply in person at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) office near you. Click here to locate a DHHS office.
Option 3 – Download Application
You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your county DHHS office or submit it in person.
Additionally, you can call one of the numbers below to apply over the phone or to request a paper Medicaid application.
The phone lines are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
1-(855) 632-7633
In Lincoln: (402) 473-7000
In Omaha: (402) 595-1178
Nebraska Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the Nebraska Medicaid Agency:
Call one of the numbers below to apply over the phone or to request a paper application. Phone lines are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
1-(855) 632-7633
In Lincoln: (402) 473-7000
In Omaha: (402) 595-1178
Nebraska Medicaid Expansion Update
A ballot initiative to expand Medicaid coverage under the ACA passed in November 2018.
Medicaid expansion enrollment in Nebraska began on August 1, 2020.
Coverage takes effect October 1, 2020.
Nebraska’s plan to expand Medicaid includes the following:
-
- Two tiers of coverage, with various requirements
- Work requirements starting in year two in order to receive enhanced benefits.
Nebraska’s Medicaid current managed care system, Heritage Health, took effect in January 2017.
The state of Nebraska initially expected roughly 90,000 people to become newly eligible for Medicaid coverage in Nebraska under the expanded eligibility guidelines.
However, a recent Families USA analysis indicates that an additional 33,000 people could be eligible due to the job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nebraska Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on Nebraska Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Nebraska, you can ask us in the comments section below.
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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.
Income limits for Florida Medicaid
Nevada Medicaid Income limits Charts