Lancaster County's marketplace offers only EPOs, but I can arrange a nationwide PPO privately in Nebraska. Here's how Lincoln rental owners, including those hosting football visitors, can choose coverage based on annual earnings.
Hi, I'm Sam Jaber, a health insurance broker licensed in 36 states. Nebraska rental property owners can work with me by phone to arrange their own coverage.
Consider a Lincoln investor living in the Near South neighborhood. His properties include several duplexes, a fourplex and two houses near Memorial Stadium. On football weekends, those houses are rented nightly; during the rest of the year, he rents them by the month. Just seven fall Saturdays generate a surprisingly large portion of his annual income. He's weighing whether to sell the fourplex and use the proceeds to purchase single-family properties in northeast Lincoln. Since he buys his health coverage through HealthCare.gov, the available plans depend on his county. In Lancaster County, that means choosing an EPO rather than a marketplace PPO.
For 2026, Lancaster County residents have 84 individual medical plans available through the marketplace, offered by five insurance companies. Every plan is an EPO, with no marketplace PPO alternative. EPOs typically pay for treatment outside their participating provider networks only in emergencies. That's an important restriction if you regularly travel, have relatives in another state or spend time away from Nebraska looking at potential property investments.
I can arrange private nationwide PPO coverage in Nebraska instead of a marketplace EPO. The premium depends on medical underwriting, and its network reaches every state.
Premium assistance uses rental profit after expenses. That includes ordinary rent and football weekend bookings, minus mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, cleaning, platform charges, repairs and depreciation. Wages and other household earnings are included too. Once income exceeds four times the federal poverty level, the credit ends.
If he sells the fourplex, his income picture changes. Premium credits are based on modified adjusted gross income, which generally includes the profit from a property sale. Expensive repairs, by contrast, can lower annual earnings. Nebraska DHHS makes expanded Medicaid available to eligible adults ages 19 through 64 with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level. However, Nebraska was also the first state to implement federal work requirements, beginning May 1, 2026. Before planning on Medicaid for a lower-income year, review those requirements carefully and determine whether they apply to your household and circumstances.
To use a premium credit, you must purchase coverage through HealthCare.gov. Since Lancaster County offers only EPOs, your decision comes down to comparing those plans and their provider networks. Five insurers participate, giving you different networks to examine. Start by identifying plans that include your Lincoln physicians and preferred hospital. Then compare monthly premiums and deductibles. Consider how much of a deductible you could reasonably pay during a month when rental income is slow.
Next step: Send me your physicians' names and last year's Schedule E. I'll compare Lancaster County EPO networks and show premiums after applying your credit.
A property closing can push income past premium credit eligibility for the entire year. Any advance credits exceeding what your final income allows must be repaid when you file. Beginning in 2026, there's no repayment ceiling. Plan insurance before listing.
Paying full marketplace prices for a Lincoln-focused EPO can be costly. Healthy landlords should also compare private nationwide PPOs. The insurer reviews medical information and may accept your application, accept it with a specific condition excluded or decline it. Healthy applicants often receive premiums below marketplace list prices. I'll walk through the benefits before you enroll.
Next step: Call me before listing the property. I'll compare a nationwide PPO quote with Lancaster County's unsubsidized EPO premiums for your sale year.
If vacancies and a major repair lower household earnings toward 138% of the poverty level, review eligibility before choosing insurance. Medicaid may be available, although its work requirement is already active. When rental income increases again, report the change to HealthCare.gov and transition to marketplace coverage. Save your vacancy records and repair receipts so your preparer can document the lower income.
Next step: If you're expecting a low-income year, call me before submitting applications. We'll determine which coverage program fits your situation.
Straight answers, no sales pitch.
No. Lancaster County's entire 2026 marketplace lineup consists of 84 EPO medical plans.
Yes. Household income includes net rental profits, including short-term rental revenue after deductible expenses.
In most cases, yes. Sale profits generally increase modified adjusted gross income for the year of closing.
Yes. I can help healthy applicants obtain a private nationwide PPO outside HealthCare.gov.
Give me your county, everyone needing coverage, last year's Schedule E information and any expected sale. I'll compare suitable plans for that year and provide pricing.
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