Nebraska Medicaid Long-Term Care Eligibility in 2025

Nebraska Long-Term Care

Nebraska offers long-term care Medicaid for individuals who meet financial and functional eligibility requirements. Medicaid services include nursing home care, assisted living, and support services to allow seniors to live at home or in their communities.

Eligibility for 2025:

Residency and Citizenship – Applicants must be Nebraska residents and U.S. citizens or have proper immigration status.
Age/Disability – Applicants must be 65 years or older, blind, or disabled, and meet medical requirements consistent with the level of care requested. They must also require care for thirty (30) consecutive days.
Income Limitations in 2025:
- Monthly income must be under $1,255 for a single applicant. If income exceeds the limit, the applicant must use excess income to cover care costs until the countable income falls below the limit.
- A personal needs allowance of $75 per month is excluded from income calculations.
- For married couples, the community spouse may keep up to half of the combined income, subject to spousal income protection rules.
Asset Limitations (Exempt vs. Available):
- Nebraska categorizes assets as exempt or available. Non-exempt assets must be liquidated to pay for care before Medicaid eligibility is granted.
- A 5-year look-back period applies, penalizing transfers of assets below fair market value or gifting assets.

Exempt Assets in 2025 for an Applicant in Nebraska:

$4,000 or less in cash or non-exempt assets for a single applicant; $6,000 for married couples when both require care.
One home is exempt, with an equity limit of $788,000, if the applicant intends to return, or if a spouse, child under 21, or disabled dependent resides there.
One car.
Prepaid funeral plans up to $5,040.
Personal effects and household goods.

Spousal Rules for 2025:

Community Spouse Asset Allowance: The community spouse may retain non-exempt resources up to a minimum of $30,027 and a maximum of $152,020. If assets are below the minimum, additional resources may be transferred from the institutionalized spouse to meet the threshold.

Community Spouse Income Protection: The community spouse may retain part of the institutionalized spouse’s income if their monthly income is below $2,389. Depending on living expenses, the maximum monthly income a community spouse may retain is $3,898.50.

Nebraska Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership for 2025:

Nebraska’s Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Program allows policyholders to protect assets dollar-for-dollar based on the policy’s maximum benefit payout. For example, a policy with a $165,000 maximum benefit protects $165,000 in assets. Married couples must purchase separate policies to qualify individually.