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Beginning on October 1, 2026, federal law changes which noncitizens are eligible for full Medicaid coverage. As a result, some noncitizens who currently qualify for Medicaid will no longer be eligible for full Medicaid benefits after September 30, 2026.
Who is Impacted by the October 1 Changes?
The October 1 changes apply to new applicants and current Medicaid members. This means that people who apply on or after October 1, 2026, will be subject to these new eligibility requirements. Also, current Medicaid members who no longer qualify because of their immigration status may lose Medicaid coverage on October 1, 2026, even if their renewal date is later.
People who meet all other eligibility requirements (such as income requirements), will still qualify for Medicaid as of October 1 if they have one of these immigration statuses:
- Lawful permanent residents, also known as green card holders who:
- Have met the five-year bar;
- Can be credited with 40 working quarters; or
- Are exempt from meeting the five-year bar.
- Cuban and 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, 2026, people 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
* This is not an exhaustive list. Other immigration categories may be impacted by the new eligibility requirements.
Lawfully present pregnant women and children who are part of the listed groups will continue to qualify for Medicaid, if they meet all other eligibility requirements.
Next Steps
Medicaid members should make sure Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has their current mailing address and phone number and respond to any requests for information.
Nebraska Medicaid will review eligibility for members based on information we already have available. If we need more information, we will send a notice explaining what documents or information we need and how individuals can send it to us. DHHS will also send an official notice to people who are no longer eligible for Medicaid because of their immigration status. People can check if they have any notifications from DHHS by logging onto iServe.
People whose eligibility may be affected should schedule all medical, dental, and behavioral health appointments and refill prescriptions now.
More Information