Medicare in Nebraska
Key Takeaways
If you’re 65 or older, Medicare in Nebraska offers an affordable option for your healthcare needs.
Original Medicare offers hospital and medical insurance, with the option of adding drug and supplemental coverage.
Medicare Advantage in Nebraska replaces Original Medicare and includes Parts A and B’s benefits while bundling drug and supplemental coverage and coverages like dental and vision.
In 1872, a man who built a White House replica in his home state of Nebraska offered a prize to the resident who could plant the most trees on a designated day. Nebraskans responded by planting a million trees, and Arbor Day was born.
Unfortunately, money doesn’t grow on trees, but Medicare in Nebraska provides an affordable health insurance option. GoHealth is here to make sure your understanding of Medicare is on solid ground.
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Who Qualifies for Medicare in Nebraska?
If you are a U.S. citizen age 65 or older, you qualify for Medicare in NE. It’s as simple as that.
Of course, not everything about Medicare is that simple.
Medicare is a federal program that provides affordable health insurance to older Americans nearing retirement. At age 65, you can enroll in Part A (known as “hospital insurance”), Part B (“medical insurance”), or both — collectively known as Original Medicare. If you enroll in both, you have the option to add Part D to help with drug costs and Medigap (supplemental insurance) to help cover some out-of-pocket expenses.
Private insurance companies manage Part D and Medigap plans with guidance from the federal government. That’s also the case with Medicare Advantage in Nebraska.
Suppose you are enrolled in both Parts A and B. In that case, you have the option of switching to a Medicare Advantage plan that replaces Original Medicare and includes the benefits of Parts A and B while bundling drug and supplemental coverage and offering additional coverages like dental and vision.
How Do You Get Medicare When You Turn 65?
Your choices for applying for Medicare in Nebraska include:
- Enrolling online with the Social Security Administration.
- Visiting a local Social Security office.
- Enroll over the phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).
Turning 65 isn’t always a requirement for enrolling in Medicare. Regardless of age, you can enroll if you are living with End Stage Renal Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). You also can enroll after receiving 24 monthly payments of Social Security Disability Insurance or Railroad Board benefits.
Are you eligible for cost-saving Medicare subsidies?
Is Medicare Free After You Turn 65?
If you need low-cost insurance because of your financial situation, some people on Medicare in Nebraska qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, a federal program administered by individual states that helps cover costs associated with Medicare.
Some Nebraska residents facing more severe needs may qualify for Medicaid, a federal/state program founded alongside Medicare in 1965 that helps those facing a financial need or a disability. When you turn 65, it is possible to be eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (called dual eligibility).
What are the Requirements for Receiving Medicare?
In most instances, Medicare in Nebraska has monthly premiums. The possible exceptions are Part A of Original Medicare and some Medicare Advantage plans in Nebraska.
- Part A doesn’t require a monthly premium for most people, but because of the plan’s deductibles, copays and coinsurance, it can’t be called “free” insurance.
- Some Medicare Advantage plans don’t require a monthly premium while replacing the coverage provided by both Part A and Part B. That’s possible in part because Medicare Advantage plans feature a regional network of doctors instead of the nationwide coverage offered by Original Medicare.
Part B carries a standard monthly premium that can be higher depending on your income. Enrolling in both Parts A and B of Original Medicare opens the option to switch to Medicare Advantage or add Part D and Medigap to Original Medicare. Part D and Medigap come with their premiums.
What extra benefits and savings do you qualify for?
What is the Best Prescription Plan for Medicare?
Part D plans and the prescription drugs available vary by plan and carrier. To find the best prescription drug plan, first, make sure your medication is covered. Whether you choose Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, private insurance companies will provide your prescription drug plan.
GoHealth can help you compare different plans to find one that meets your Rx needs.
Which Company has the Best Medicare Advantage Plan?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has a Medicare Star Rating system that assigns one to five stars (five being the highest-rated) to individual Medicare Advantage plans. If you’re already on a Medicare Advantage plan and it’s not five-star, you are offered the opportunity to switch to a five-star plan each year.
While the premiums and rating systems can shed light on various Medicare Advantage plans’ value, there’s more to navigating Medicare in Nebraska. A dedicated GoHealth licensed insurance agent can review your situation and figure out what Medicare plan is the right fit for you.
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Medicare in Nebraska by the Numbers
Thousands of older adults enroll in Medicare every day across the United States. The latest CMS data shows that 334,898 people are enrolled in Medicare Part A and B in Nebraska. The total number of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage Increased from 61,849 to 76,571 year over year. Medicare Advantage participation in Nebraska went from 18.94% to 22.86% year over year. If you’d like to dive deeper into how Medicare in Nebraska breaks down across the state, we provide a glance at who is using Medicare and how.
Medicare
Nebraska
334,898 Beneficiaries with Part A & Part B
76,571 Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries
22.86% Meducare Advantage Participation Rate
55.08% Female
44.92% Male
91.87% Non-Hispanic White
2.02% African American
2.37% Hispanic
3.74% Other/Unknown
11.25% Eligible for Medicaid
0.91 Average HCC Score
$10,100.63 Actual Per Capita Costs
15.83% Hospital Readmission Rate
24.56% of Beneficiaries with an Emergency Department Visit
61,849 Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries, Previous Year
Increased Medicare Advantage, Year over year
18.94% Meducare Advantage Participation Rate, Previous Year
See more +
Table reflects the latest Beneficiary Demographics Data: Medicare Geographic Variation – by National, State & County
Average HCC Score: The Hierarchical Condition Category score gauges a population’s overall health. The score is based on a value of 1.0. Populations with an HCC score of less than 1.0 are considered relatively healthy. The score can be used to estimate health costs.
Nebraska Medicare Resources & Contacts
Beneficiaries spend an average of $10,100.63 each year on Medicare in Nebraska. To be sure you are not leaving anything on the table, let us help. A GoHealth licensed insurance agent can assess your coverage or explain which Nebraska-based resources, like these, may be able to help:
Nationwide Resources
Medicare Learning Guides
Healthcare is personal. So is choosing insurance. If you are new to Medicare, a beneficiary researching options, or a caregiver, we have tailored Medicare Guides for you.
Medicare guide
Before 65 Guide
Understanding health insurance before age 65, especially when considering early retirement
Medicare guide
Medicare Plans Guide
Costs, coverage and enrollment details for each Medicare plan
Medicare guide
Medicare Beneficiary Guide
For those currently enrolled in Medicare
Medicare guide
Low Income and Medicare Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
Medicare guide
A Caregiver’s Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
