​Hi Brandy and Linda,


I have a couple of changes for the Massachusetts lines on the grid.  Within the last few years SHINE has had discussions with MassHealth (MH) about including the $20 disregard on our charts. We were informed that they do not train their staff on the disregard because it is not routinely used, and they informed us it was inappropriate to add it to our charts. Since it is their program, we removed the $20 from our charts and train our counselors that they should help consumers apply if their incomes are near the eligibility guidelines. I'm attaching the MH FPL/ income chart we use.  If you would like to discuss it with someone from MH, I can provide contact information.​


The assets for Mass Senior, Buy in and QI are $15,940/individual and $23,920/couple. That information is attached and called the Traditional Financial Information page. (It contains identical information on both sides of the page.)


I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any questions.

Cindy


Cindy Phillips
SHINE Program Director
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
1 Ashburton Place, 5th floor
Boston, MA. 02108
w: (617) 222-7416
c:  (781) 552-1034


From: xxxxxx@lists.ncoa.org <xxxxxx@lists.ncoa.org> on behalf of Brandy Bauer <xxxxxx@ncoa.org>
Sent: Monday, March 1, 2021 11:23 AM
To: Linda Cardoza
Subject: MIPPA Listserv: Medicare Savings Program (MSP) eligibility & coverage
 
CAUTION: This email originated from a sender outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mail system.  Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.


Each year when the federal poverty guidelines are announced, NCOA updates our eligibility and coverage chart for the Medicare Savings Programs, using these new figures. (See attached.)

 

Some states implement the new eligibility requirements shortly after the FPLs are announced; others wait until they get official word from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), or until a specific date, such as March or April 1.

 

Unfortunately, CMS has yet to release the official eligibility criteria for 2021 (usually published at: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/seniors-medicare-and-medicaid-enrollees/index.html); therefore this chart represents the unofficial figures. Nevertheless, we wanted to send it out, since a handful of states are already using the new 2021 guidelines.

 

As always, this chart represents a lot of crowdsourcing and research—which is where you come in. If you believe there’s an inaccuracy with the guidelines in your state, please let me know and I can correct it! Likewise, if you hear of policy changes on the horizon (e.g., your state eliminating the asset test; congrats to New Mexico for joining this club!), we also want to know.

 

Once the CMS figures are published, any discrepancies will be corrected.

 

Best,

Brandy

 

Brandy Bauer
Associate Director, Center for Benefits Access
Office: 571-527-3911
xxxxxx@ncoa.org

National Council on Aging
251 18th St S, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202
ncoa.org | @NCOAging

 

 

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