Updated: November 21, 2024
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BestHealth InsuranceNebraskaBest Health Insurance in Nebraska
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Nebraska directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). MoneyGeek’s scoring methodology balances costs, claims approval and plan types to find the best providers in the state.
Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October 2023 for the 2024 enrollment period.
Ambetter is the provider with the highest MoneyGeek score, an 83 out of 100, offering the best health insurance in Nebraska. The company provides plans with competitive prices and low out-of-pocket costs. It performs better than average in managing claim denials.
For this analysis, we looked at 29 Silver plans in Nebraska, which included 21 EPO plans and eight HMO plans.
Offers affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Limited plan types offered
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Nebraska is Ambetter. The provider offers eight Silver HMO plans at an average rate of $606 per month. The average MOOP cost for these plans is $7,750.
Ambetter's Silver HMO plans might help customers who prefer to have a streamlined network of health care providers. These plans encourage the use of in-network doctors and health care providers. Ambetter has a denial rate of 15%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans from Ambetter:
Oscar has the highest score for health insurance with low out-of-pocket costs in Nebraska, earning a MoneyGeek score of 75 out of 100. It offers health plans with low monthly premiums and maximum out-of-pocket costs. It also doesn't deny many claims.
For this analysis, MoneyGeek looked at 25 plans in Nebraska, which were either Gold EPO or Gold HMO options.
Few claims denied
Low out-of-pocket maximum costs
Limited plan variety
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Nebraska for low out-of-pocket costs is Oscar. It offers two Gold plans at an average cost of $743 per month and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $7,100.
EPO plans like the ones offered by Oscar usually mean you have a select group of doctors and hospitals you can use. Oscar has a denial rate of 11.7%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold plans:
Ambetter is the best cheap health insurance provider in Nebraska, earning a score of 91 out of 100. The provider offers plans with lower average rates and lower average out-of-pocket expenses. It also has fewer claim denials compared to other providers.
For this review, we looked at 29 Silver plans in Nebraska, including 21 Silver EPO plans and eight Silver HMO plans. We focused more on plans with cheap monthly costs. However, know that plans with lower monthly costs often mean you pay more yourself when you need care.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Limited plan options available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Nebraska is Ambetter. The company offers eight Silver plans, including those with added vision and adult dental benefits, that are great for individuals wanting to save money on health care. Its plans cost an average of $606 per month with an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $7,750. Although Ambetter doesn't offer PPO or POS plans, its HMO plans help you keep costs down by choosing doctors in your network.
Ambetter has a denial rate of 15%, which is lower than most of the competition. This is good news for customers who want reliable coverage without paying too much.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
Ambetter offers the best health insurance in Nebraska for those with low income, scoring 91 out of 100. The company has lower-than-average rates for plans, low out-of-pocket maximums and a lower percentage of claim denials compared to competitors.
In Nebraska, we evaluated 21 Silver CSR EPO plans and eight Silver CSR HMO plans.
MoneyGeek focused more on plans with low monthly premiums that also offer cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). If you don't earn a lot of money, CSRs help by lowering the amount you pay when you use your insurance for doctor visits or getting medicine. Normally, a Silver plan pays for about 70% of health care costs, but CSR Silver plans can pay for more of your expenses.
These income brackets will change if you have more or fewer people in your home.
Low premium rates
Few claims denied
Low out-of-pocket costs
Only offers HMO plans
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Nebraska for those with low income is Ambetter. The provider offers cost-effective plans for people earning below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. Ambetter has eight Silver CSR plans available at an average rate of $606 per month. The average MOOP cost for these plans is $6513.
Ambetter does not offer PPO or POS plans. However, they offer HMO plans that often have lower premiums. The company's denial rate is 14.84%, which means the company approves claims more frequently than competitors.
Plan Recommendations
Ambetter's top-rated plan offers lower out-of-pocket expenses for the same premium for people in different income brackets. Here are some of the lower overall out-of-pocket costs based on income levels:
Ambetter has the highest MoneyGeek score in Nebraska for young adults, scoring 83 out of 100. The provider offers plans with low prices and low out-of-pocket costs. It also has better-than-average claim denial rates.
We evaluated two Bronze EPO plans, one Catastrophic EPO plan and 23 Expanded Bronze EPO plans, along with eight Expanded Bronze HMO plans for this category. Note that only those under age 30 can get Catastrophic coverage.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Few claims denied
Limited variety of plan types offered
Ambetter is MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance for young adults in Nebraska. This insurance provider offers eight Expanded Bronze plans at an average rate of $368 per month and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,788.
All the plans available from Ambetter in Nebraska are HMOs. This type of plan typically requires members to choose a primary care physician and get referrals to see specialists. Ambetter has a denial rate of about 15%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults in Nebraska:
Health insurance companies have different plan types. In Nebraska, residents can choose from eight Silver HMO plans and 21 Silver EPO plans. The best providers for all plan categories in Nebraska are:
MoneyGeek's recommendations only use Silver plans. These plans are great if you need to use health services often. They help balance what you pay every month and what you pay out of pocket when you get health care.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Nebraska for Silver EPO plans is Oscar, which offers five different plans. Its plans cost about $703 per month with an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $8,860. It denies fewer claims than average, with a denial rate of just 11.7%.
Silver EPO plans are common plan choices and are good because you may not need a referral to see a specialist. A downside is that you must stay in the network unless it is an emergency, which can limit your options.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver EPO plans from Oscar:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Nebraska for Silver HMO plans is Ambetter. Its plans come at an average rate of $606 per month and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $7,750. The provider denies fewer claims than average, with a denial rate of 14.84%.
Silver HMO plans are a popular choice for health insurance. They tend to cost less each month compared to other plans. However, you need to see doctors in your plan's network, except for emergencies. You also need a referral from your regular doctor to see a specialist. This type of plan is good if you want to save money each month and if the doctors in the plan's network are okay for you.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver HMO plans from Ambetter:
National General Accident & Health offers the best short-term health insurance in Nebraska, receiving a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100. Short-term health insurance plans often have annual or lifetime coverage limits and may not cover pre-existing conditions. They also typically have higher premiums and less coverage than plans that comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Because of this, they aren’t recommended as a long-term health insurance alternative.
National General Accident & Health is the leader in MoneyGeek's evaluation of the best short-term health insurance in Nebraska, with a near-perfect score of 95 out of 100. The insurer has over 75 years of accident and health insurance expertise. While its policy term lengths are flexible, ranging from 3 to 36 months, some of its plans may include waiting periods and application fees.
When shopping for health insurance, remember that the best health insurance plan for you in Nebraska will depend on your individual health care needs and budget. Evaluate how much you’re willing to pay each month versus out of pocket for care.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
In health insurance, in-network providers refer to doctors and hospitals that have a deal with the insurance company. These providers charge less to people in the plan. Out-of-network providers do not have this deal, so they cost more.
In Nebraska, there are 21 EPO plans and eight HMO plans available. Some plans like EPO are flexible and let you choose out-of-network doctors. However, others, like HMOs, make you stay in the network to save money. The choice depends on how much you want to pay and if you want more options for your health care providers.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
When you look for the best insurance, you want one that fits your needs. You balance how much you pay every month with how much you could pay for medical care during the year. Some plans cost less each month, but you could pay more out of pocket if you get really sick. Others cost more each month, but you don't pay as much if you need a lot of medical care. Let's talk about a Silver plan with a lower amount you pay if you get really sick. This plan costs $592 a month, and the maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) cost for the whole year is $5,400. The monthly cost is close to the average cost for Silver plans. However, you can look into selecting a plan with a lower MOOP, as it can save you money, especially if you go to the doctor a lot.
Individuals in Nebraska who are aged 65 or older, as well as those with certain medical conditions, are eligible for Medicare. This is a federally-funded program that subsidizes the cost of health insurance for eligible individuals. Medicare is divided into three parts:
MoneyGeek’s guide can also help you find the best Medicare Advantage and best Medicare Supplement plans in Nebraska.
Medicaid is another government assistance program designed to offset the costs of health insurance for eligible individuals. Your income must be below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level to qualify for Medicaid in Nebraska. This makes it the most affordable health insurance option for those in a Medicaid extension state like Nebraska.
Finding an ideal health insurance plan can be complicated due to concerns about price and availability. MoneyGeek answers some frequently asked questions to help you research options.
The best health insurance in Nebraska for 2024 is provided by Ambetter. However, the best choice for you will depend on your unique circumstances and needs.
A plan with reasonable prices and sufficient coverage is what you should be looking for. Despite offering reduced prices, some plans and companies might only offer a few services that may not suit all your medical needs. Your unique needs will determine what the best health insurance plan for you is.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
