MEDICAID BUY-IN LEGISLATIVE ALERT
(Medicaid Assistance for Employed People with Disabilities)
What is the Medicaid Buy-In Option?
Recently, the federal government passed H.R. 1180, which is a new law, entitled the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA). An important provision in this legislation gives states the option of providing Medicaid coverage to working individuals with disabilities who do not qualify for Medicaid under the existing income and asset rules. This new option for states allows more people with disabilities who are Medicaid recipients to be employed, without risking the loss of healthcare coverage.
Who is eligible for this program?
Through TWWIIA, states can provide Medicaid Health Insurance Coverage to people with disabilities ages 16-64 who work. With this new law, states can also change the limits on assets, income, and resources that are used to determine Medicaid eligibility. States may also provide coverage to working people with disabilities whose medical conditions have improved, but who continue to have severe medical impairments.
Why is Medicaid Buy-In important for New Yorkers?
People with disabilities often find that increasing their earnings through employment makes them ineligible for Medicaid and the coverage they need for acute and long-term support services. In order to keep their Medicaid eligibility, these people often stop working, or reduce their work hours because they cannot afford to pay for these medical services. In addition, most employer-sponsored health care plans do not cover many of the necessary support services.
If New York adopts the Medicaid Buy-in Option people who are eligible may "buy-in" to Medicaid coverage by paying premiums to Medicaid to keep their benefits when they go to work. These charges will be set according to a sliding scale fee based on the individual income.
How can you help?
The joint Senate and Assembly Health budget conference committee gave its conditional approval to inclusion of the Work and Wellness “Medicaid Buy-In" program in this year's state budget agreement. Governor Pataki has added his support for the bill. This is much stronger support than given previously introduces stand-alone bills. However, the “Medicaid Buy-in” program will not reach final and full approval unless the negotiators reach acceptable agreement on the amount of the money the program will cost in the years to come. If you want to get involved, visit the Coalition's web-site at www.cvmha.org and contact the Governor, and members of the State Senate and Assembly.
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2001 New York Work Exchange.phone: (212) 742-1122, e-mail:
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