Nebraska Medicaid income limits
Last verified: June 2026
Verify current limits with Nebraska Medicaid
Nebraska uses MAGI-based income for most eligibility categories
Nebraska Medicaid income limits by coverage group (2025)
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.
| Coverage group | FPL % | Approx. monthly limit (household of 1) | Approx. monthly limit (household of 4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults 19–64 (Heritage Health Adult/expansion) | 138% FPL | ~$1,732/mo | ~$3,576/mo |
| Children under 19 (Medicaid) | Up to 205% FPL | ~$2,572/mo | ~$5,311/mo |
| Kids Connection (CHIP) — children under 19 | Above Medicaid limit | Varies | Varies |
| Pregnant women | 185% FPL | ~$2,322/mo | ~$4,796/mo |
| Individuals with SSI / aged, blind, disabled | SSI-linked or medically needy | Varies | — |
Source: Nebraska DHHS Medicaid eligibility guidelines; 2025 HHS Federal Poverty Level guidelines. Monthly income figures are approximate after applicable deductions. Contact Nebraska DHHS at 855-632-7633 for current dollar amounts.
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.
How Medicaid income limits work
Medicaid eligibility is tied to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), a measure the Department of Health and Human Services updates each January. States set their income limits as a percentage of FPL — so when FPL increases, the dollar thresholds for Medicaid also shift.
The Affordable Care Act established a standard income methodology called Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for most Medicaid applicants. Under MAGI, the agency counts wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security benefits, and most other taxable income. Assets — a savings account, vehicle, home — are not counted for MAGI-based programs. That changed with the ACA and applies in all states.
States that expanded Medicaid under the ACA cover most adults at or below 138% FPL. In non-expansion states, income limits for adults without dependent children are far lower — sometimes as low as a few hundred dollars per month — or eligibility for that category simply doesn't exist.
These are federal guidelines — state limits may differ
What counts as income under MAGI
MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) is the income standard for most Medicaid applicants — children, adults under 65, pregnant women, and parents. It includes wages, salary, tips, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, Social Security retirement and disability benefits (SSDI), and most other taxable income.
It does not count child support received, gifts, loans, inheritances that are not generating income, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. One key MAGI rule: the ACA added a 5% FPL income disregard for most adults, which effectively raises the usable threshold by that amount. So a state with a 133% FPL limit effectively covers adults to about 138% FPL after the disregard.
Assets — a bank account, car, or home — are not counted for MAGI-based programs. That's a major difference from old-law Medicaid, where asset tests were common. If you previously didn't qualify because of assets, your eligibility may have changed after the ACA.
Asset limits and long-term care Medicaid
MAGI-based programs have no asset test. But Medicaid programs that cover long-term care — nursing home care, home and community-based services for seniors — use the old income and asset methodology, which does include asset limits.
Asset limits for long-term care Medicaid vary by state and are updated periodically. Generally, countable assets above the limit must be spent down before an applicant qualifies. Exempt assets — the primary home (in most circumstances), one vehicle, and certain personal property — are not counted.
Specific asset limits for Nebraska's long-term care programs are on the seniors and long-term care page. The thresholds change, so verify current figures with Nebraska Medicaid directly.