Several of you have asked for our updated Medicare Savings Program (MSP) chart for 2017. I am attaching the newly updated chart here, but want to caution folks that these figures are based on our calculations using the 2017 poverty guidelines (https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines) and have NOT been officially published by CMS. Therefore, you should continue to use the 2016 guidelines until you hear otherwise from your state Medicaid agency. (Typically, state Medicaid agencies wait for CMS’s announcement of the new figures, and then there is a delay to get these programmed into their systems.)

 

Also, note that this chart reflects Federal guidelines only. Several states have increased income thresholds or eliminated/expanded resource tests, as noted here:

 

·       5 states (CT, IL, IN, ME, & MS) and DC have monthly income guidelines/disregards that are more generous than the Federal guidelines.

·       10 states (AL, AZ, CT, DE, ME, MN, MS, NY, OR, & VT) and DC have eliminated the asset test entirely or increased the amount of assets an applicant may have.

 

Again, once we have official confirmation from CMS and the states, we’ll circulate a more nuanced table with all of the state-specific guidelines.

 

I’m also attaching the LIS 2017 chart. Thanks to some eagle-eyes in IL, we found a small correction (the amount of the deductible for Partial Extra Help for people with incomes less than 135% FPL is $74 not $82).

 

Brandy Bauer

Communications Manager, Economic Security

Office: 571-527-3911

xxxxxx@ncoa.org

 

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