Expanded Medicaid will soon be available in Nebraska from a ballot initiative passed by voters.
An estimated 90,000 people will newly be eligible for expanded benefits for individuals whose income is at or below the 138-percent of the federal poverty level.
“What the voters have done, they have decided to take advantage of the federal possibility to allow individuals who are generally able-bodied and working-age to get Medicaid for the first time,” Nate Watson, deputy director for policy and regulation at Nebraska Medicaid tells KLIN News.
The expansion includes physical, behavior and mental health services along with pharmacy benefits.
“What it will make available to them is a very comprehensive and robust package of healthcare services and it will include all the things individuals who would receive benefits through insurance at their workplace,” Watson said.
“The newly eligible group are those ages 19-64 under 138% of the FPL. Most in the new group will receive basic benefits, a comprehensive package of healthcare services. Individuals within the new group who are ages 19-20, pregnant, or determined medically frail will receive Prime benefits, which include dental and vision services, and over the counter medications.”
For more information or to apply:
- Applications will start being taken on August 1, 2020, with the benefits starting October 1, 2020. You can apply in the following ways:
- Online at ACCESSNebraska.ne.gov,
- Over the phone by calling ACCESS Nebraska at:
- Omaha: (402) 595-1178
- Lincoln: (402) 473-7000
- Toll Free: (855) 632-7633
- TDD: (402) 471-7256,
- By fax at (402) 742-2351,
- By email at ANDICenter@nebraska.gov,
- By paper application (which may be downloaded from AccessNebraska.gov):
- By fax at (402) 742-2351,
- By email at ANDICenter@nebraska.gov,
- By mail at P.O. Box 2992, Omaha, NE 68103-2992, or
In-person at a DHHS office located around the state, but Gering and Allliance in this area.