Nebraska is implementing Medicaid work requirements eight months ahead of the Trump administration budget bill’s timeline. Tens of thousand of Nebraskans could now lose benefits this spring.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed an order at the end of last year announcing that the state would be the first to implement the requirements, even though federal law doesn’t require Medicaid expansion work requirements until the first of 2027.
Nebraska Appleseed’s Health Care Access Program Director Sarah Maresh said the move will affect tens of thousands of residents of all ages.
“Medicaid expansion covers individuals who are low-income, and are age 19 through 64,” said Maresh. “This population in Nebraska is about 70,000 people.”
Maresh estimated that roughly 54,000 people will lose insurance under the new law, which requires Medicaid recipients to work at least 80 hours a month. The Trump administration has said is trying to root out fraud and corruption in social service programs.
The state is scheduled to implement the new requirements in May. Maresh said that won’t give Medicaid recipients time to plan or prepare.
“One concern that we have in the state, implementing this so early,” said Maresh, “is they’re not going to be able to do the education and outreach needed to effectively inform people about those changes either, because they lack detailed information right now.”
Exemptions exists for caregivers, people who are considered medically frail, and pregnant women. But Maresh said there’s ambiguity in those areas, too, which is creating even more confusion and uncertainty about who may lose coverage.