Black Health

Black Health Profile

Black health in Nebraska

94,512

Black residents (ACS)

4.80%

Of state population

Nebraska has about 95,000 Black residents, concentrated in Omaha. Nebraska Medicine (University of Nebraska Medical Center) is the state's academic medical center. Medicaid expansion was adopted by ballot in 2018 with enrollment starting in 2020.

The largest Black health disparity tracked on these pages varies by metric. Use the ten topic pages below to see each one cited against the state's primary-source dataset.

On the positive side, every US state now has CDC-funded maternal mortality review committees, and most have at least one HRSA-designated federally qualified health center serving low-income Black residents. The ten facet pages below point to state-specific programs and providers.

Key takeaways

  • Black residents: 94,512 (4.8% of the state).
  • Medicaid expansion adopted.
  • Medicaid does not cover doula services.
  • Certified nurse-midwife scope-of-practice recognized by Medicaid.
  • 12-month postpartum Medicaid extension active.

Health outcomes & coverage

Ten race-stratified indicators drawn from CDC, Census, KFF, and SAMHSA primary sources. Each page links the underlying dataset, compares to the national average, and frames the state-specific drivers and policy levers.

maternal mortality

Data pending expert review

Read the maternal mortality breakdown

infant mortality

Black infants in Nebraska die before age one at 12.1 per 1,000 live births — compared to the US all-race rate of 5.4.

Read the infant mortality breakdown

cardiovascular mortality

Age-adjusted cardiovascular mortality among Black residents of Nebraska: 336.3 deaths per 100,000 (CDC WONDER, ICD-10 I00-I99).

Read the cardiovascular mortality breakdown

diabetes prevalence

13.9% of Black adults in Nebraska have been diagnosed with diabetes — compared to the US all-race rate of 11.6%.

Read the diabetes prevalence breakdown

breast cancer mortality

Age-adjusted breast cancer mortality among Black women in Nebraska: 26.8 per 100,000 (CDC WONDER, ICD-10 C50).

Read the breast cancer mortality breakdown

prostate cancer mortality

Age-adjusted prostate cancer mortality among Black men in Nebraska: 38.7 per 100,000 (CDC WONDER, ICD-10 C61).

Read the prostate cancer mortality breakdown

life expectancy

Life expectancy at birth for Black residents of Nebraska: 73.5 years (US all-race: 77.5).

Read the life expectancy breakdown

uninsured rate

11.2% of Black residents of Nebraska have no health insurance coverage — vs. a US all-race uninsured rate of 8%.

Read the uninsured rate breakdown

Medicaid coverage

About 23% of Black residents of Nebraska receive Medicaid coverage. Nebraska is a Medicaid expansion state.

Read the Medicaid coverage breakdown

mental health access

56.8% of Black adults in Nebraska who experienced a past-year mental health need reported not receiving the treatment they needed (SAMHSA N…

Read the mental health access breakdown

Policy context in Nebraska

Nebraska has adopted Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Medicaid does not currently cover doula services. Postpartum Medicaid coverage extends for 12 months after delivery, the federal recommended standard.

Data sources & refresh cadence

  • US Census ACS 5-year 2019–2023, Table B02001 (race) & S1903 (income).
  • CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death (D69) & Underlying Cause of Death (D76), 2018–2022 release.
  • KFF Medicaid expansion and state coverage trackers, Q1 2026.
  • SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2022 state annual.
  • HRSA NHSC workforce data, 2024.

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