Ranked 15 of 15 states · median $875/mo · CMS PY2026
Licensed Independent Agent · NPN #22052447 · 21 States
A 40-year-old physical therapist in Nebraska pays a median $875/month for a Silver plan before subsidies — the most expensive of the states covered here. The cheapest plan in the state is $640 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska in Burt. On median Silver premium, Nebraska ranks 15 of 15 for this occupation.
When you use coverage regularly, the annual total is driven by what each visit costs and whether the clinician you already see is contracted. A plan $40 cheaper that drops your specialist is not cheaper. These rankings pair median premium with how many carriers actually file in the state.
Occupational context: Lifting and transfer injuries; chronic back strain.
This is background for choosing a plan, not for pricing one. Since 2014 every Nebraska exchange plan has been guaranteed issue and community rated: same age, same ZIP, same tobacco status means the same filed premium whether you are a physical therapist or an accountant. Occupation changes the shopping criteria, nothing else.
Premium is set by rating area, so a physical therapist in one Nebraska county can pay materially more than one an hour away. Six counties from across the state, cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old:
| County | Cheapest Silver @40 | Issuer | Deductible | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | $778 | Ambetter Health | $6,000 | 5 |
| Chase | $826 | Ambetter Health | $6,000 | 5 |
| Garden | $826 | Ambetter Health | $6,000 | 5 |
| Lincoln | $826 | Ambetter Health | $6,000 | 5 |
| Sheridan | $826 | Ambetter Health | $6,000 | 5 |
| Saunders | $640 | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska | $6,000 | 5 |
The spread across just these six is $186/month — $2,232 a year for the same metal tier. Statewide the range runs $640 to $1,460. Coverage by County publishes all 93 Nebraska counties individually.
| Nebraska — network and cost | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Median Silver premium @40 | $875 |
| Cheapest Silver @40 | $640 — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (Burt) |
| Most expensive Silver @40 | $1,460 |
| Carriers filing in the state | 5 — Ambetter Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Medica, Oscar |
| Plan types available | EPO, PPO |
| Counties with only one carrier | 0 of 93 |
Nebraska has 5 carriers filing and 0 of 93 counties served by a single issuer. For a physical therapist with an established provider relationship, that carrier count is the number that decides whether you keep your doctor.
Source: CMS Plan Year 2026 Qualified Health Plan Landscape file. 5,902 plan records across 93 Nebraska counties. Full-price filed rates before premium tax credits — verify at enrollment.
Cheaper for the same coverage: Texas ($807), North Carolina ($828), Arkansas ($828).
Side-by-side: Nebraska vs North Carolina · Nebraska vs Arkansas
Read the comparison as context, not as a shopping list. Your county of residence determines what you can buy, and for a physical therapist that is fixed unless you relocate. Where it is actionable is a move already in progress — that is a qualifying life event, and you have 60 days on either side of it.
If you file a Schedule C as a physical therapist, the categories that usually show up are: Licensing, equipment, malpractice insurance, CE. The health premium itself is normally an above-the-line deduction under IRC §162(l), which reduces AGI rather than requiring you to itemize. Your CPA should confirm it against your actual situation.
If your household income is above the subsidy range, ACA is not automatically the answer. There are other categories of coverage that may fit, and they work very differently. That is a conversation, not a web page.
The cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old in Nebraska is $640 per month from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, with a state median of $875. Both figures are full price before premium tax credits; most buyers pay less after subsidies.
No. Under the ACA, carriers cannot rate, decline, or exclude based on occupation or health history. Rates vary only by age, ZIP code, tobacco use and household size.
Yes. Plan types filed for 2026: EPO, PPO.
Nebraska ranks 15 of 15 states covered here, at a median $875 per month. Indiana is cheapest at $558 and Nebraska is most expensive at $875.
This page compares states. For Nebraska specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — I publish that on Coverage by County, including a page written for Physical Therapists in Nebraska and a blog covering deductibles, subsidies and special enrollment.