How to renew your Nebraska Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from Nebraska Medicaid

Always respond to official renewal notices from Nebraska Medicaid. Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

Keep your contact information current in iServe Nebraska — renewal notices depend on it

Nebraska DHHS sends renewal notices and requests for information to the address and contact info on file in your iServe Nebraska account. If your phone number, email, or mailing address has changed, update it immediately at iserve.nebraska.gov or by calling 855-632-7633. Missing a renewal notice is the most common reason people lose Nebraska Medicaid coverage they are still eligible for.

How Nebraska Medicaid renews your coverage

Nebraska DHHS renews Medicaid eligibility annually — once every 12 months — through a redetermination process. The first step is an ex parte review: DHHS uses electronic data sources including Social Security Administration records, state wage databases, and tax data to verify your eligibility without requiring you to submit documents. If ex parte verification confirms you are still eligible, DHHS renews coverage automatically and sends you a notice.

When ex parte verification cannot confirm eligibility — typically because income changed or data sources returned incomplete information — DHHS sends a renewal form and requests updated documentation. You must respond by the deadline on the notice, usually within 30 days, or coverage will end.

How to complete your Nebraska Medicaid renewal

1

Log in to iServe Nebraska

Go to iserve.nebraska.gov and check your My Benefits Dashboard for any renewal action items or alerts. Watch for renewal notices at the email address on file. Paper notices also go to your mailing address — keep both current.
2

Review and confirm your information

Verify your current address, income, household size, and employment status. Report any changes that occurred since your last renewal — these may affect your eligibility or benefit category.
3

Submit requested documentation

If DHHS cannot verify your income electronically, you may be asked to upload pay stubs, a tax return, Social Security award letters, or proof of residency. Upload directly in iServe Nebraska or mail to your local DHHS office.
4

Complete renewal by the deadline

Submit your renewal through iServe Nebraska online, by calling 855-632-7633, or in person at a local DHHS office. The notice will state the deadline — typically 30 days from the mailing date.
5

Confirm your coverage and Heritage Health plan

After renewal is processed, verify your Heritage Health plan is still active. In rare cases, DHHS may change your managed care plan assignment. Check iServe Nebraska for your current plan and contact information.

Documents that may be needed for Nebraska Medicaid renewal

Recent pay stubs (last 30 days)
Self-employment income documentation or most recent tax return
Social Security or SSI award letter
Unemployment benefit statement if applicable
Proof of Nebraska residency (utility bill, lease, bank statement)
Immigration documents if citizenship or status has changed
Updated household information (new members, changes in household size)

If Nebraska Medicaid coverage ends

If DHHS terminates your coverage and you believe you remain eligible, you have the right to request a fair hearing. Request a hearing within 30 days of the termination notice. Requesting a hearing before your coverage end date may allow coverage to continue while the appeal is pending.

Report mid-year changes right away — don't wait for renewal

Nebraska DHHS requires members to report significant income changes, household moves, and changes in household size within 10 days. Reporting promptly prevents larger eligibility issues at annual renewal and keeps your Heritage Health plan information accurate. Report changes through iServe Nebraska or by calling 855-632-7633.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Nebraska Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact Nebraska Medicaid to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When Nebraska Medicaid sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

Nebraska Medicaid's online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Nebraska Medicaid to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact Nebraska Medicaid within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Nebraska Medicaid or update your information through the online portal at https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Medicaid.aspx.