Health Care Access

ENSURING ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE

The health and wellbeing of our communities depends on the health and wellbeing of all Nebraskans. Health care coverage is a vital part of living a good life. Nebraskans with health insurance are physically healthier – and economically more secure. They seek out preventative care, they see a doctor when they need to, and they’re more likely to bounce back, physically and financially, from injury or illness. We work to ensure:

Every Nebraskan has access to affordable health coverage.
Every Nebraskan has the information they need to enroll in and use health insurance.

We’re working to make sure that important laws and programs that provide health care coverage like Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act, are implemented properly in our state and that these programs are simple and easy to use.

Medicaid

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Your voice matters — share your health care story!

We’re collecting real experiences with health care, including experiences with health insurance coverage like Medicaid and Marketplace, as well as experiences with student and community health care to inform advocacy and change. This project is part of Nebraska Appleseed’s work to ensure that all Nebraskans have access to quality, affordable health care.

Please do not include highly sensitive information as you share your story (such as medical conditions, diagnoses, or immigration status).

Contact Information

We may reach out to you to learn more about your story, but we will hold your contact information in strict confidence. See our privacy policy for more.

First name

Last name

Email Address

Phone

City

Zip Code

Story Collection

You do not have to answer each question, and your answer can be as long or as short as you would like.

How have you or your family accessed health care within the last 3 years? Please indicate specific type of insurance if known.

Medicaid

Marketplace

Private Insurance

None

Other

If you indicated 'Other' in the previous question, please explain.

Can you describe a positive or negative experience you’ve had with Medicaid or Marketplace coverage?

What challenges, if any, have you faced when trying to get health care (e.g., cost, paperwork, access to providers, stigma, etc.)?

If you could change one thing about the health care system or your coverage experience, what would it be?

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your health care experience?

Staying Connected

Would you like to stay connected with Nebraska Appleseed?

Yes, add me to your email list

Yes, I’d like to hear about future story collection opportunities

Yes, I’d like to learn about volunteering or advocacy opportunities

No, not at this time

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR YOUTH IN NEBRASKA

Legislative Bill 574 (“LB 574”) passed in May 2023, restricting access to gender affirming care for people under 19 in Nebraska. Emergency regulations took effect Oct. 1, 2023 and were set to expire March 29, 2024. Permanent regulations implementing this bill took effect March 17, 2024.

Under LB 574, starting October 1, 2023, health care providers generally cannot perform some “gender-altering procedures” for people under 19 in Nebraska. Nebraska’s Chief Medical Officer’s regulations, effective March 17, 2024, allow people under 19 to access puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones if certain requirements are met.

Download this Fact Sheet to learn more about access to gender affirming care after LB 574.

If you are or expect to be experiencing difficulty accessing or providing gender affirming care as a result of LB 574, please contact Nebraska Appleseed’s Community Assistance Line at 402-438-8853 ext. 205 or neappleseed.org/gethelp to speak about your experiences, and contact ACLU of Nebraska at gethelp@aclunebraska.org to speak about your rights.

For 24/7 confidential crisis support, call the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text 678-678.

For questions about your specific care, please consult with your medical provider.

Note: The term “gender-altering procedure” is the legal term used and defined by LB 574 and is not intended to dis-affirm the experiences, perspectives, and necessity of gender affirming care.