Quick answer
Nebraska’s 2026 benchmark silver plan averaged $710 a month for a 40-year-old before subsidies, about $85 more than the U.S. average of $625. Full prices run from about $556 a month at 21 to $1,667 at 64, but about 87% of enrollees got a tax credit, and the average enrollee paid $217 a month after it. Insurers have proposed 2027 increases averaging 13.3% to 13.6%, depending on the calculation, and they hadn’t been approved as of late September 2026.
Key takeaways
- Nebraska’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old was $710 a month before subsidies, above the $625 national average.
- 128,492 Nebraskans picked a Marketplace plan for 2026, down 6% from 2025, and those who got a tax credit paid $120 a month on average.
- Proposed 2027 increases average 13.3% (healthinsurance.org) to 13.6% (ACA Signups) before subsidies and weren’t final as of late September 2026.
- The same five insurers filed to sell plans again for 2027: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, Medica, Ambetter, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare.
- Nebraska started enforcing the new federal Medicaid work requirements on May 1, 2026, eight months before the national start date.
On this page
What a Nebraska Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $556 |
| 30 | $631 |
| 40 | $710 |
| 50 | $992 |
| 60 | $1,508 |
| 64 | $1,667 |
| Child under 15 | $425 |
At those prices, a household with two 40-year-old parents and two young children would face about $2,270 a month for benchmark plans before any tax credit.
The benchmark is one plan. Averaged across every plan Nebraskans chose, the full premium was $800 a month in 2026, up from $687 in 2025.
What you’d pay after a tax credit
With household income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, you can get a premium tax credit that holds your cost for the benchmark plan to a percentage of your income. A single 40-year-old Nebraskan earning $40,000 would have paid about $287 a month for the benchmark plan in 2026, with the credit covering about $423. In 2027, that person’s share of the benchmark rises to about $289 a month. Above 400% of the poverty level ($62,600 for one person for 2026 coverage and $63,840 for 2027), there’s no credit, and you pay the full price.
The credit made a big difference for most buyers in 2026. The average credit was $674 a month, and 17% of Nebraska enrollees paid less than $10 a month after it.
Nebraska expanded Medicaid, so adults earning up to 138% of the poverty level (about $22,025 a year for one person in 2026) can usually get Medicaid instead. Unlike most states, Nebraska already checks work requirements when expansion adults renew. Check the Medicaid income limits by state.
Costs beyond the premium
The premium isn’t your whole bill. When you get care, you pay toward your deductible plus copays and coinsurance, up to the out-of-pocket maximum of $10,600 for one person in 2026 and $12,000 in 2027. About a quarter of Nebraska enrollees picked silver plans with cost-sharing reductions in 2026, which lower those costs if your income is under 250% of the poverty level.
Nebraska Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange.
- Enrollment: Nebraskans made 128,492 plan selections for 2026, compared with 136,684 in 2025. About 87% received financial help, and the average bill after tax credits was $217 a month.
- Insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, Medica, Ambetter from Celtic Insurance, Oscar Health and UnitedHealthcare sold 2026 plans and filed to return for 2027. People who had Nebraska Total Care plans were moved into similar Ambetter plans for 2026.
- 2027 prices: Proposed, with no final rates announced as of late September 2026. healthinsurance.org calculates a weighted average of 13.3% and ACA Signups calculates 13.6%. By insurer, requests run from 8.6% (Oscar) to 19.7% (Medica).
- State help: Nebraska has no state premium subsidy, reinsurance program or individual mandate, so federal tax credits are the only help with premiums.
- Medicaid: Heritage Health Adult covers adults up to 138% of the poverty level, and children qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, known as Kids Connection, up to 218%. Nebraska was the first state to enforce the federal work rules early, starting May 1, 2026. About 70,000 expansion adults are covered by them: if you’re 19 to 64 and not exempt, you need at least 80 hours of work, school, volunteering or similar activity in a month, or earnings of at least $580 a month. See Medicaid work requirements.
When to enroll
Nebraskans sign up through HealthCare.gov, where open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15 if you want coverage starting January 1. Medicaid has no enrollment season, so you can apply whenever your income qualifies. To keep your Marketplace bill down, see how to lower your Marketplace premium.
Other options in Nebraska
- Coverage through your job, which is usually cheaper than buying on your own.
- Heritage Health, Nebraska’s Medicaid program, for adults up to 138% of the poverty level, and Kids Connection for children; see health insurance for children.
- Medicare once you turn 65.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
See 2027 plans and prices in your Nebraska county: compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
How much does health insurance cost in Nebraska?
Before subsidies, a 40-year-old’s benchmark silver plan averaged $710 a month in 2026. After tax credits, the average Nebraska enrollee paid $217 a month, and those who got a credit paid $120.
Does Nebraska Medicaid have work requirements?
Yes, since May 1, 2026. The state checks at renewal, starting with renewals that end July 31, 2026 or later, and uses data it already has before asking you to return a form within 30 days. Parents and caretakers of children 13 or younger and people who are pregnant or up to 12 months postpartum are among those exempt.
How much will Nebraska premiums go up in 2027?
Insurers have proposed increases averaging 13.3% to 13.6% before subsidies, depending on the calculation. Those rates weren’t final as of late September 2026.
Which insurers sell Marketplace plans in Nebraska?
Five for 2026: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, Medica, Ambetter, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare. All five filed rates to return for 2027.
Sources
This article is general information, not insurance, tax or legal advice. Your premium depends on your county, age, income and plan, and Medicaid rules depend on your circumstances. Last reviewed September 2026.