Medicaid Work Requirements in Nebraska
Nebraska was the first state to start. Work requirements for Heritage Health Adult members took effect May 1, 2026, ahead of the federal deadline.
Limited official details so far. We could not confirm a member phone number on an official Nebraska page. Use iServe Nebraska or the DHHS work requirements page for contact options.
Check your situation in Nebraska
When it starts in Nebraska
- December 2025: Nebraska announced it would start on May 1, 2026.
- May 1, 2026: the requirement began for applicants.
- Coverage ending July 31, 2026 or later: current members are checked at renewal.
Who has to meet it
The rule applies to people ages 19 to 64 in Heritage Health Adult (the adult expansion group), unless they are pregnant, have Medicare, or are exempt. You meet it in a month with 80 hours of work, community service, a work program, or school (in any mix), by going to school at least half-time, or with at least $580 in monthly income.
You are exempt if, for example, you care for a child 13 or younger or a person with a disability, are pregnant or postpartum, are American Indian or Alaska Native, are medically frail, are a veteran with a 100% disability rating, were in foster care at 18 and are under 26, are in drug or alcohol treatment, meet SNAP or TANF work rules, or left jail or prison in the last 3 months. See the full exemption list.
Court ruling, October 29, 2026. In Massachusetts v. Oz, a federal court struck down the CMS rule's extra "significantly impairs" test for the medically frail exemption. If you are in any of the five medically frail groups in the law, you qualify. The January 1, 2027 start date did not change, and CMS may appeal. What the ruling means.
How Nebraska checks and how to report
Months checked: Applicants must meet the rule in the month before they apply. Current members are checked at renewal.
Use iServe Nebraska to check your enrollment and renewal date, update contact details, and report changes. If DHHS asks for papers such as pay stubs, school records, or volunteer or work-program hours, you have 30 days to respond.
Other things to know in Nebraska
- Nebraska Medicaid says it will try to use information it already has before asking you for more.
- Governor Pillen estimated about 30,000 Nebraskans could be affected.
Official tools and contacts
- Report and upload: iServe Nebraska
- Nebraska DHHS: work requirements
- Agency: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Federal protections that apply in Nebraska
- The state must check its own records before asking you for proof.
- If it can't confirm you meet the rule, you get a notice and at least 30 days to respond, and your coverage continues meanwhile.
- You get written notice and the right to a fair hearing before coverage ends, and you can reapply at any time.
- If you lose Medicaid for not meeting the rule, you cannot get marketplace premium tax credits for those months. Learn more.
Frequently asked questions
When do Medicaid work requirements start in Nebraska?
Started May 1, 2026. Nebraska started before the federal January 1, 2027 deadline.
How many months does Nebraska check?
Applicants must meet the rule in the month before they apply. Current members are checked at renewal.
How do I report my hours or an exemption in Nebraska?
Use iServe Nebraska to check your enrollment and renewal date, update contact details, and report changes. If DHHS asks for papers such as pay stubs, school records, or volunteer or work-program hours, you have 30 days to respond.
Who do I call about Heritage Health Adult work requirements?
Nebraska has not published a dedicated phone line for the requirement. Use the contact options on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website.
Can I lose Heritage Health Adult right away if I don't meet the requirement?
No. Federal law requires a notice, at least 30 days to show you comply or are exempt, continued coverage during that time, and fair hearing rights before coverage ends.
Sources
- Nebraska DHHS: work requirements
- Legal Aid of Nebraska (Apr. 23, 2026)
- KTIV (Dec. 31, 2025)
- Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1), sec. 71119: community engagement requirement (GovInfo)
- CMS interim final rule, Medicaid community engagement requirement, 91 FR 33348 (June 3, 2026)
- Massachusetts v. Oz, No. 1:26-cv-12962-RGS (D. Mass.), memorandum and order (Oct. 29, 2026)