How Nebraska Medicaid works for long-term care

What is Nebraska Medicaid's resource limit for long-term care?

Nebraska Medicaid allows countable resources of up to $4,000 for one person and $6,000 for a two-person household, not counting the home, one motor vehicle, property used in a trade or business, and an irrevocable burial fund.

Sources: Nebraska DHHS Medicaid Eligibility and Share of Cost pages; DHHS guidance document “Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) Standard of Need” (2025 figures, the latest it lists).

Countable resources include checking and savings, CDs, stocks and bonds, and the cash value of most life insurance. The home is excluded while the applicant, a spouse or certain relatives live there or the applicant intends to return, subject to federal home equity limits, which for 2026 run from $752,000 to $1,130,000 depending on the state's choice; ask DHHS which figure Nebraska applies. Because the limit is so low, most Omaha families pay privately until savings approach it.

Does Nebraska have an income limit for nursing home Medicaid?

Not a hard cap: a person whose income is above Nebraska's standard can still qualify through the Medically Needy program by paying a monthly share of cost, which is the income above the Medically Needy Income Level ($392 a month for a household of one or two), and DHHS says the program suits people in nursing facilities or on waivers.

In practice, a nursing home resident on Medicaid pays most of his or her monthly income to the nursing home and keeps a personal needs allowance of $75 a month, the figure DHHS has used since September 1, 2023; Medicaid pays the rest of the bill. A waiver participant's share of cost is paid to the provider instead of being met with monthly medical bills. Because the program handles high incomes this way, Nebraska families generally do not need the income trusts some other states require.

How does Nebraska Medicaid protect a spouse who stays at home?

Federal spousal impoverishment rules, which Nebraska applies, let the at-home spouse keep a protected share of the couple's countable resources and an income allowance; for 2026 the federal resource standard runs from $32,532 to $162,660 and the monthly maintenance allowance from $2,705 (effective July 1, 2026) to $4,066.50.

Source: CMS Informational Bulletin, Updated 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards (April 27, 2026).

DHHS calculates the protected amount from the couple's resources at the start of a continuous period of institutional care. The home, one car and household goods are not counted. A couple in this position should speak with DHHS or an elder law attorney before spending down, because the order and form of spending can change how much the at-home spouse keeps.

What is the Medicaid look-back period in Nebraska?

Nebraska Medicaid, like every state, reviews asset transfers in the 60 months before an application for long-term care, and gifts or sales below fair value in that window can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay for nursing home or waiver services.

Spending on the applicant's own care, medical bills, home repairs, a replacement vehicle, prepaid irrevocable funeral arrangements and paying off debts is generally allowed. Giving money to children or grandchildren, adding someone to a deed, or selling property to a relative for less than it is worth is what the look-back is designed to catch. Keep receipts for every large payment during the five years.

How do Omaha residents apply for Nebraska Medicaid?

Apply online through iServe Nebraska, by phone at (855) 632-7633 (in Omaha (402) 595-1178), or in person at a DHHS office; there is no separate application for the Medically Needy program, so note on the application that you want to be considered for it.

Have recent bank statements, income letters, insurance policies, property records and identification ready. For a nursing home stay, the facility's business office often helps with the application. For the AD Waiver, file the waiver application as well. ENOA's Information and Assistance line, (402) 444-6444, and the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program can answer general questions, but DHHS makes the eligibility decision.