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April 26, 2024 Clear | 34°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 25A: Determination of eligibility for Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary and Qualified Individual programs; consideration of certain income or assets

[ Subsection (a) effective until July 1, 2023. For text effective July 1, 2023, see below.]

  Section 25A. (a) For individuals 65 years of age or older, the division shall not consider income in an amount equivalent to 90 per cent of the federal poverty level or assets in an amount equivalent to the federal resource limit for the Medicare Saving programs, each as adjusted annually, in determining eligibility for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary and Qualified Individual programs, described in 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(E), also known as the Medicare Saving or Medicare Buy-In programs; provided, however, that until the division receives the federal approvals described in subsection (b), the division shall not consider income in the amount equal to 30 per cent of the federal poverty level. Enrollment in the Qualified Individual program shall be capped if the federal allotment for the program is exhausted.

[ Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) as amended by 2023, 28, Sec. 46 effective July 1, 2023. See 2023, 28, Sec. 115. For text effective until July 1, 2023, see above.]

  (a)(1) For individuals 65 years of age or older, the division shall not consider income in an amount equivalent to 90 per cent of the federal poverty level as adjusted annually, in determining eligibility for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary and Qualified Individual programs, described in 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(E), also known as the Medicare Saving or Medicare Buy-In programs; provided, however, that until the division receives the federal approvals described in subsection (b), the division shall not consider income in the amount equal to 30 per cent of the federal poverty level. Enrollment in the Qualified Individual program shall be capped if the federal allotment for the program is exhausted.

[ Paragraph (2) of subsection (a) added by 2023, 28, Sec. 47 effective July 1, 2023. See 2023, 28, Sec. 115.]

  (2) In determining eligibility for Medicare Saving or Medicare Buy-In programs described in paragraph (1) for individuals 65 years of age or older, the division shall disregard all assets or resources. Implementation of this paragraph shall be contingent upon receiving federal approvals described in subsection (b).

  (b) Prior to implementing subsection (a), the division shall obtain all required federal approvals, including amending its state plan and amending its 1115 waiver, as necessary, and shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.