LB 323

Purpose and Intent:  

• To help individuals with disabilities who use Medicaid keep their job, take a raise, or go to work without losing their Medicaid benefits;
  • Allows individuals to earn up to 2.5 times the Federal Poverty Rate ($31,225 for a family of 1) without losing Medicaid;
  • Assess a small premium for those at the top tier of earnings

What LB 323 Does:         

• Makes a change in the Medicaid Insurance for Workers with Disabilities program by ignoring an applicant’s unearned income, assets, and resources when determining eligibility for the program
• Caps the “buy-in” premium at 7.5% of family income

Why LB 323 is Important:

• Employment rate for people with disabilities in Nebraska: 51.8%
• Employment rate for people without disabilities in Nebraska: 86.4%
• Percentage of people with disabilities working full-time, full-year (Nebraska): 37%
• Percentage of people without disabilities working full-time, full-year (Nebraska): 68.6%
• Percentage of people with disabilities living below the poverty line (Nebraska): 21.5%
• Percentage of people without disabilities living below the poverty line (Nebraska): 8.1%
• The risk of losing Medicaid is a significant barrier to people with disabilities who want to work in Nebraska. Medicaid often provides an array of services that are necessary for people with disabilities but are not provided in private or employer-based insurance.
• Most Nebraskans with disabilities CAN work and WANT to work but they are not utilizing the Medicaid Insurance for Workers with Disabilities program (not aware of it, unearned income makes them ineligible) and Nebraska needs to revamp its antiquated program (based on 1999 Balanced Budget Act)