MEDIA CONTACT
Collin Spilinek, (531) 739-7920,
collin.spilinek@nebraska.gov
Lincoln, NE – The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is informing Medicaid members and applicants that new federal requirements will change eligibility for certain noncitizens starting October 1, 2026. These changes come from Section 71109 of H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Individuals who meet all other Medicaid eligibility requirements will still qualify for coverage as of October 1 if they have one of these immigration statuses:
- Green card holders (also known as lawful permanent residents) who:
- Have met the five-year bar;
- Can be credited with 40 working quarters; or
- Are exempt from meeting the five-year bar.
- Cuban-Haitian Entrants
- Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants, including individuals from Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau
- Lawfully present non-citizens who are:
- Pregnant; or
- Under the age of 19.
Beginning October 1, individuals who don't have a lawful permanent resident status may no longer qualify for Medicaid if they have one of these immigration statuses:
- Victims of domestic violence applying under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
- Parolees
- Refugees
- Asylees
- Victims of trafficking and their spouse, child, sibling, or parents
- Individuals with conditional entry
- Veterans or active-duty military and spouses or unmarried dependents who also have a qualified non-citizen status
- People whose deportation is being withheld
- Native Americans born outside of the United States
Other immigration categories may also be impacted by the new eligibility requirements.
Starting October 1, new Medicaid applicants will be subject to these requirements immediately. Current Medicaid members who no longer qualify due to their immigration status may lose coverage, even if their renewal date is later.
Medicaid members who believe they may be affected should:
- Make sure DHHS has their current mailing address and phone number by visiting iServe at https://iserve.nebraska.gov, calling (855) 632-7633, or visiting a local DHHS office (https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Public-Assistance-Offices.aspx)
- Respond to any requests for information from DHHS. DHHS will first review member eligibility with information on hand before reaching out to members if more information is needed.
- Schedule all medical, dental, and behavioral health appointments and refill prescriptions as soon as possible.
If an individual no longer qualifies for full Medicaid coverage, assistance may be available through other programs through DHHS, including:
- 599 CHIP: This program is available for pregnant women without health coverage and covers prenatal and pregnancy-related services for the unborn child, as well as labor and delivery.
- Refugee Resettlement Program: RRP provides cash and medical assistance for individuals who reside in the U.S. legally, have moved to the U.S. within the past eight months, and must have an applicable immigration status, including:
- Refugee
- Amerasian
- Asylee
- Cuban or Haitian entrant
- Afghan or Iraqi special immigrant
- Certain Afghan or Ukrainian humanitarian parolee
- Victim of human trafficking
- Eligible unaccompanied alien child
- Emergency Medical Services Assistance: EMSA can help pay for emergency medical care for individuals who meet Medicaid requirements aside from citizenship or immigrant requirements.
For more information on these changes, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/NoncitizenEligibility.