The Nebraska Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion was an optional program offered to the state a few years back in order to expand the income bracket for Medicaid eligibility. The ACA Medicaid expansion was offered to all states in the country, yet only 31 and Washington D.C. opted in for the expansion at that time. Although the Nebraska legislature rejected the Medicaid expansion, Nebraska residents but the issue on the ballot and it was passed by the voters and implemented in August 2020. So, “What is the expansion of Medicaid anyway, and what changed?” In truth, the ACA expansion for Medicaid granted new applicants eligibility for affordable healthcare by extending the income requirements implemented.  The new Obamacare Medicaid expansion details made an additional 90,000 residents, eligible to receive affordable healthcare coverage, and so far, more than 80,000 residents have signed up for the program. For those wondering how Affordable Care Act eligibility for Medicaid changed since Nebraska opted in to the program, continue reviewing the sections provided below.

Learn About the ACA Medicaid Expansion in Nebraska

So, what is the Obamacare Medicaid expansion?

The ACA Medicaid expansion comes with additional federal funding but the states that choose the expansion will still have to pay a portion of the operational expenses for the program. The ACA Medicaid expansion cost to states can be quite large with some states paying billions of dollars of state funds to keep the program functioning. However, Nebraska lawmakers were worried that the cost of the ACA expansion would hurt the Nebraska state budget, which is why officials originally decided to reject the expansion. In October 2020, Nebraska’s Medicaid expansion coverage took effect and it became one of the 40 states and D.C. to choose the expansion plan.

What does choosing the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion mean for Nebraska?

The Nebraska ACA Medicaid expansion plan adds to the number of people who can receive Medicaid benefits. This is made possible by the new Medicaid expansion eligibility requirements. Since income will now be the only factor needed to be eligible for Medicaid benefits, more people now have the opportunity to enroll in the program. Before the expansion, Medicaid benefits were not available to adults who did not have children or a disability. The Nebraska Medicaid expansion allows applicants who make less than a 138% of the poverty level to qualify for coverage under the state program. The new enrollment requirements allow more childless adults between 19 and 64 years of age to receive Medicaid assistance. This change also helps some low-income families receive medical benefits that previously were not eligible.

The details of the Obamacare expansion enable those who were in the foster care system to remain in the Medicaid program until they are 26 years of age. The expansion also increases funding for tobacco cessation and family planning programs. Download our free guide to read more about requirements for Medicaid.

By accepting Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion in Nebraska, residents who were not able to sign up for Medicaid, can now do so. How to apply for Medicaid has not changed, just the eligibility criteria.  In Nebraska, due to expanding ACA Medicaid coverage, all low-income adults have access to affordable Medicaid coverage, not just parents with dependent children. The expansion for Medicaid now bases eligibility on income limits, rather than using other factors and stipulations as qualifiers. As it stands, since expanding Medicaid coverage in Nebraska, thousands of residents now have access to affordable healthcare.

To learn more about the ACA Medicaid expansion, download our guide.