Medicaid Expansion Work Requirements Start May 1, 2026 for Some Adults
Under a new law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, Nebraska Medicaid expansion enrollees will have to meet work requirements or prove an exemption to get coverage. Even though our state is unprepared, Governor Pillen is starting these requirements 8 months early on May 1, 2026. And we need your help.
THE DETAILS:
Medicaid expansion is a specific type of Medicaid that provides health coverage to 70,000 Nebraskans between the ages of 19-64 who have income up to 138% of the federal poverty level (in 2026, about $22,000/year for an individual) and do not qualify for any other type of Medicaid.
How do I meet requirements? If you must meet work requirements, you generally must complete at least 80 hours of work, a work program, volunteering, or school (at least half-time) activities in a qualifying month (but not every month). You also meet the requirement if you have income of at least $580 in a qualifying month, even if you did not work 80 hours.
Many people do not have to meet the requirements. You may not have to meet work requirements if you are pregnant, under the age of 26 and aged out of foster care, a member of a recognized Native American Tribe, are a parent/guardian of a child under 14 or a person with disabilities, are “medically frail” (have a disability, serious or complex health condition, or have other special health needs). There are many other reasons you may not have to meet the requirements, which DHHS calls “exemptions,” including for short-term hardships.
When does this start?
- If you’re applying for Medicaid: Starting May 1, applicants who would qualify for Medicaid expansion must meet work requirements or prove an exemption.
- If you already have Medicaid: Anyone with a renewal due on or after July 31, 2026 will have to meet the work requirements or prove an exemption. Submit any requested information to DHHS by the deadline and provide as much information as possible.
Learn more at neappleseed.org/medicaidwr
We need your help!
Unfortunately, Nebraska is choosing to implement these complicated work requirements too fast, without enough resources, without properly communicating with impacted individuals, and with many important questions left unanswered.
Our state is putting up these barriers to health care that will hurt everyone, even those with other types of Medicaid coverage. Help us show how these work reporting requirements are harming our communities: Email smaresh@neappleseed.orgto share problems like call center issues, online portal issues, call center or state staff being unable to provide enough or accurate information, notice issues or delays in Medicaid processing times, and/or people being confused or having difficulty navigating or understanding the work reporting requirements.
Thank you for your advocacy.