Nebraska Medicaid Income Limits

Updated August 2026

Nebraska expanded Medicaid through Initiative 427, which took effect October 1, 2020. Expansion added a new eligibility category — Heritage Health Adult — for adults ages 19–64 who previously had no pathway to Medicaid coverage. Income limits differ by coverage group and are published in DHHS's "Income Levels/Federal Poverty Levels and Resources" guidance document, effective January 1, 2026.

Nebraska Medicaid income limits by coverage group (2026)

Coverage group	FPL %	Approx. monthly limit (household of 1)	Approx. monthly limit (household of 4)
Adults 19–64 (Heritage Health Adult/expansion)	138% FPL	~$1,769/mo	~$3,658/mo
Newborn to age 1	162% FPL	~$2,155/mo	~$4,455/mo
Children ages 1–5	145% FPL	~$1,929/mo	~$3,988/mo
Children ages 6–18	133% FPL	~$1,769/mo	~$3,658/mo
Kids Connection (CHIP) — children under 19 above Medicaid limit	213% FPL	~$2,833/mo	~$5,858/mo
Pregnant women	194% FPL	~$2,581/mo	~$5,335/mo
Parent/caretaker relatives	58% FPL	~$772/mo	~$1,595/mo
SSI recipients / ABD Medicaid, MSP/QMB (non-SSI)	100% FPL	~$1,330/mo	~$2,750/mo

Adults 19–64 (Heritage Health Adult/expansion)

FPL %: 138% FPL
Approx. monthly limit (household of 1): ~$1,769/mo
Approx. monthly limit (household of 4): ~$3,658/mo

Newborn to age 1

FPL %: 162% FPL
Approx. monthly limit (household of 1): ~$2,155/mo
Approx. monthly limit (household of 4): ~$4,455/mo

Children ages 1–5

FPL %: 145% FPL
Approx. monthly limit (household of 1): ~$1,929/mo
Approx. monthly limit (household of 4): ~$3,988/mo

Children ages 6–18

FPL %: 133% FPL
Approx. monthly limit (household of 1): ~$1,769/mo
Approx. monthly limit (household of 4): ~$3,658/mo

Kids Connection (CHIP) — children under 19 above Medicaid limit

FPL %: 213% FPL
Approx. monthly limit (household of 1): ~$2,833/mo
Approx. monthly limit (household of 4): ~$5,858/mo

Pregnant women

FPL %: 194% FPL
Approx. monthly limit (household of 1): ~$2,581/mo
Approx. monthly limit (household of 4): ~$5,335/mo

Parent/caretaker relatives

FPL %: 58% FPL
Approx. monthly limit (household of 1): ~$772/mo
Approx. monthly limit (household of 4): ~$1,595/mo

SSI recipients / ABD Medicaid, MSP/QMB (non-SSI)

FPL %: 100% FPL
Approx. monthly limit (household of 1): ~$1,330/mo
Approx. monthly limit (household of 4): ~$2,750/mo

No asset test for most Nebraska Medicaid categories

MAGI-based Nebraska Medicaid — covering adults under the expansion, children, and pregnant women — has no asset test. Savings accounts, vehicles, and home equity are not counted. This is the standard rule across all ACA expansion states.

Long-term care Medicaid (nursing facility and waiver programs for elderly and disabled individuals) operates under different rules. These programs use an asset limit of $4,000 for a single applicant in Nebraska. The community spouse of a nursing facility resident is subject to spousal impoverishment protections under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5), which allow retention of a portion of the couple's combined assets.

Nebraska operates an estate recovery program. The state may seek reimbursement from the estate of a Medicaid member who received long-term care services at age 55 or older. Consult a Nebraska-licensed elder law attorney before transferring assets if a family member may need long-term care Medicaid — Nebraska enforces a 60-month look-back period for asset transfers.

What counts as income for Nebraska Medicaid?

Nebraska uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for most coverage groups. MAGI includes wages, salaries, self-employment income, rental income, unemployment compensation, and Social Security income that is included in gross income — but excludes child support received, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and most veterans' benefits.

A common misconception: receiving a tax refund or a one-time payment does not make you ineligible for Medicaid. MAGI is based on projected monthly income, not account balances. If your income fluctuates — seasonal work, gig economy — you may qualify during lower-income months even if you earn more in others.

Medicare Savings Programs (QMB) in Nebraska

The table above lists "SSI recipients / ABD Medicaid, MSP/QMB (non-SSI)" at 100% FPL — that entry is the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) threshold, one of three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) Nebraska DHHS runs for residents enrolled in Medicare. The other two, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI), sit at higher income levels and aren't shown in the table above.

Program	Situation	Monthly income limit
SLMB	Individual	$1,616/mo
SLMB	Married couple	$2,184/mo
QI	Individual	$1,816/mo
QI	Married couple	$2,455/mo

SLMB

Situation: Individual
Monthly income limit: $1,616/mo

SLMB

Situation: Married couple
Monthly income limit: $2,184/mo

Situation: Individual
Monthly income limit: $1,816/mo

Situation: Married couple
Monthly income limit: $2,455/mo

QMB is the most valuable of the three: it pays the Part B premium ($202.90/month in 2026), the Part A premium for anyone who owes one, and every Medicare deductible, coinsurance amount, and copayment. Federal law bars any provider who accepts Medicare from billing a QMB enrollee for that cost-sharing — full stop, regardless of whether the provider also takes Medicaid. SLMB and QI are narrower, covering only the Part B premium with no help toward deductibles or coinsurance.

Apply through Nebraska DHHS at dhhs.ne.gov, not through Medicare — the state Medicaid agency determines MSP eligibility and processes the application. QI is funded through a capped annual federal allotment awarded first-come, first-served, so an approved member must reapply every year. QMB, SLMB, and QI enrollees are also automatically enrolled in Extra Help, which caps 2026 covered Part D drug costs at $12.65 per prescription.