Paying for assisted living in Nebraska
Most Nebraska families pay for assisted living privately at first, usually from savings, retirement income, the proceeds of a home sale, or a long-term care insurance policy. Costs vary widely depending on the community, the city, the size of the apartment, and how much daily help a resident needs. You can compare current pricing for communities across the state in the pricing tables below.
Because assisted living is rarely free, it helps to understand which public programs may offset the cost of care, and which ones never pay for room and board.
Does Nebraska Medicaid (the Aged and Disabled Waiver) cover assisted living in Nebraska?
Nebraska does help pay for assisted living care through Medicaid, but only through its home and community-based Aged and Disabled (AD) Waiver — not through standard Medicaid. The waiver can cover services delivered in a licensed assisted living facility, such as help with personal care, activities of daily living, medication assistance, and health maintenance.
What Medicaid does not cover is room and board. Residents remain responsible for their housing and meal costs, plus any Medicaid share-of-cost based on their income.
To qualify, a person generally must:
- Be eligible for Nebraska Medicaid (meeting income and asset limits)
- Be age 65 or older, or have a qualifying disability
- Require a nursing-facility level of care, as determined by an assessment
- Have a genuine need for waiver services
The AD Waiver is not an entitlement, so enrollment slots are limited and a waiting list can form. You can apply online through iServe Nebraska or by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging or a DHHS service coordinator.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Nebraska?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for the ongoing custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, and other daily activities) that defines assisted living.
Medicare may still cover related medical needs while someone lives in assisted living, such as:
- Doctor visits and hospital care
- A short, medically necessary stay in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay
- Medicare-covered home health or hospice services, when eligible
For free, unbiased help understanding what Medicare will and won't cover, contact Nebraska SHIP (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program), which offers one-on-one Medicare counseling at no charge.
