Omaha Senior AdvisorWhat happens when a parent's savings run out in Omaha assisted living?
In a waiver-certified ALF, a resident who becomes eligible for Nebraska Medicaid and the AD Waiver may be able to stay, with the waiver paying for services and the resident paying room and board from income; in a private-pay-only ALF, the resident usually must move.
36 of the 79 licensed ALFs in the five Omaha-area counties (46%) are marked on the DHHS roster of October 15, 2026 as certified for the Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver. Ask your parent's current building now whether it is certified and whether residents can convert in place. If not, identify a certified building nearby before the money runs out, so a move can be planned rather than forced.
When should we apply for Nebraska Medicaid?
Start a few months before countable resources reach $4,000 (or $6,000 for a two-person household), because the Medicaid application, the Nursing Facility Level of Care assessment and the AD Waiver enrollment each take time.
Gather five years of financial records, since Medicaid looks back 60 months at transfers. Apply through iServe Nebraska or (855) 632-7633; in Omaha (402) 595-1178. Ask to be considered for the Medically Needy program if income is above the limits.
What can a parent spend money on before applying?
Spending on the parent's own care, medical and dental bills, hearing aids, needed home repairs, a replacement vehicle, prepaid irrevocable funeral arrangements and paying off debts at fair value is generally allowed; gifts and below-value sales to family are what the five-year look-back penalizes.
Keep receipts. If a spouse is still at home, federal spousal rules protect a share of resources and income, so speak with DHHS or an elder law attorney before spending down.
What other help is there when money is tight?
VA Aid and Attendance for wartime veterans and surviving spouses, PACE for eligible adults 55 and older, ENOA's in-home services and Meals on Wheels on a contribution basis, and Nebraska Medicaid's nursing home coverage are the main options in the Omaha area.
A nursing home resident on Medicaid keeps $75 a month as a personal needs allowance and pays the rest of his or her income toward care. Ask whether the home accepts Medicaid for long stays before your parent moves in.
Who can help us plan a Medicaid transition?
DHHS answers eligibility questions at (855) 632-7633, ENOA's Information and Assistance line at (402) 444-6444 explains the AD Waiver and local programs, and an elder law attorney can review a spend-down plan before money moves.
A facility's business office often helps residents with Medicaid applications too; ask whether it does.
Sources include 175 NAC 4 (assisted-living facilities), the Nebraska Revised Statutes cited above, Nebraska DHHS program and licensure pages, CMS, CareScout and VA rate tables; see our editorial standards.
