Appendix XXXI, Budget Reference Chart

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Revision 18-3; Effective September 1, 2018

Community-Based Programs Using SSI Limits (DAC, Pickle, Widow (er) s)

Income — Effective Jan. 1, 2018, total countable income must be less than the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) federal benefit rate (FBR) with the exclusion of certain increases in Social Security benefits:

• Individual — $750
• Couple — $1,125
• Deeming amount — $375

Resources — Total countable resources must be no more than the limit:

• Individual — $2,000
• Couple — $3,000
• Companion — $3,000

In-Kind Support and Maintenance (Community Living Arrangement)

The value of food, shelter or both that a person receives from someone else.

Effective Jan 1, 2018:

• One-third of the SSI FBR:
  • Individual — $250.00
  • Couple — $375.00
• One-third of the SSI FBR + 20:
  • Individual — $270.00
  • Couple — $395.00
• One-half of the couple 1/3 SSI FBR:
  • Companion — $187.50
• One-half of the couple 1/3 SSI FBR + 10:
  • Companion — $197.50

All Living Arrangements

Effective Jan 1, 2018, the special income exemption for a student’s earned income (regardless of living arrangement).

• Monthly earnings — $1,820
• Annual earnings — $7,350

For additional information, see Section E-2220, Student Earnings.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)

Income limits are based on the federal poverty income limit (FPIL).

Income — Effective March 1, 2018, total countable income must be:

• QMB — No more than 100 percent FPIL:
  • Individual — $1,012
  • Couple — $1,372
  • Deeming amount — $360
  • Medicaid benefits are:
    • Part A premiums
    • Part B premiums
    • Deductibles
    • Coinsurance
• SLMB —Greater than 100 percent FPIL, but less than 120 percent FPIL:
  • Individual — $1,012.01 to < $1,214
  • Couple — $1,372.01 to < $1,646
  • Deeming amount — $432
  • Medicaid benefits are:
    • Part B premiums
• QI-1 — At least 120 percent FPIL, but less than 135 percent FPIL:
  • Individual — $1,214 to < $1,366
  • Couple — $1,646.01 to < $1,852
  • Deeming amount — $486
  • Medicaid benefits are:
    • Part B premiums
• QDWI — No more than the 200 percent FPIL:
  • Individual — $2,024
  • Couple — $2,744
  • Deeming amount — $720
  • Medicaid benefits are:
    • Part A premiums

Note: These income limits do not include the $20 disregard for MSP.

Resources — Effective Jan. 1, 2018, total countable resources must be:

• QMB, SLMB, QI-1 — No more than the limit:
  • Individual — $7,560
  • Couple — $11,340
• QDWI — No more than twice the SSI resource limit:
  • Individual — $4,000
  • Couple — $6,000

Medicaid Buy-In (MBI) Program

Income — Effective March 1, 2018:

• Income eligibility is based on earnings.
• Countable earned income must be less than the limit:
  • 250 percent of FPIL — $2,530

Resources — Total countable resources must be no more than the limit of $2,000.

MBI Monthly Premiums: Countable Unearned Income Minus (−) SSI FBR of $750 Plus (+) Earned Income Premium

Unearned Income Premium
Countable Unearned Income Minus (−) SSI FBR of $750 

Earned Income Premium

If the unearned income premium amount plus the earned income premium amount equals or exceeds $500, then the total monthly premium remains at $500.

Medicaid Buy-In for Children (MBIC) Program

Resources — No resource test for MBIC.

Income — Effective March 1, 2018:

• MBIC income exclusion — $85 plus one-half of the remaining income.
• Eligibility — No more than 150 percent FPIL based on family size.

These amounts do not include the MBIC income exclusion.

Ineligible sibling exclusion amount (150% FPIL x 2 + $85) — $3,121

MBIC Premiums — ESI and No State-Paid HIPP

No MBIC premium.

Medicare Premiums

Effective Jan. 1, 2018

Part A Premium (Hospital Insurance):

• $0 — Most people do not pay a monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse have 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered employment.
• $422 — Standard Medicare Part A monthly premium cost — The monthly Part A premium for people who are not otherwise eligible for premium-free hospital insurance and who have less than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.
• $232 — Reduced Medicare Part A premium — The monthly Part A premium for people who have 30–39 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

Part B Premium (Medical Insurance):

• $134.00— 2018 standard Medicare Part B monthly premium. (no change from 2017)

Staff must use the Medicare Part B amount as verified in the State Online Query (SOLQ). For more information, see Section H-1800, Medicare Part B Premium.

Community Attendant Services (CAS)

Income — Effective Jan.1, 2018, total countable income must be no more than the special income limit:

• Individual — $2,250
• Couple — $4,500

Resources — Total countable resources must be no more than the limit:

• Individual — $2,000
• Couple — $3,000

Institutional Living Arrangement (Individuals residing in a Medicaid certified long-term care facility or receiving Home and Community Based Waiver services)

Individual or Couple Eligibility Budget

Special income limit — The special income limit for an individual is equal to or less than 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate.

Income — Effective Jan. 1, 2018, total countable income must be no more than the special income limit:

• Individual — $2,250
• Couple — $4,500

Resources —Total countable resources must be no more than the limit:

• Individual — $2,000
• Couple — $3,000
• Substantial home equity — $572,000
• Transfer of assets divisor — $172.65 daily rate (effective Sept. 1, 2017)

Note: The Transfer of Assets daily rate is reviewed every other year.

Co-Payment

Individual or Couple Co-Payment Budget:

• Section H-1500, Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) —
  • $60 (nursing facility recipient)
  • $60 plus the Protected Earned Income (PEI) amount (recipient in an ICF/IID facility)
  • $85 (recipient in foster care or assisted living)
  • $2,250 (HCBS waiver recipient) 
• Section H-1550, Guardianship Fees — Varies
• Section H-1600, Dependent Allowance (Non-Spousal) — $750
• Section H-2000, Incurred Medical Expenses — Varies
• Section H-1700, Deduction for Home Maintenance — Up to $750

Spousal Co-payment Budget:

• Section H-1500, Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) —
  • $60 (nursing facility recipient)
  • $60 plus the Protected Earned Income (PEI) amount (recipient in an ICF/IID facility)
  • $85 (recipient in foster care or assisted living)
  • $2,250 (HCBS waiver recipient)
• Section H-1550, Guardianship Fees — Varies
• Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) (Spousal allowance) — $3,090
• Section J-7400, Spousal Impoverishment Dependent Allowance — $2,058 (effective July 1, 2018)
• Section H-2000, Incurred Medical Expenses — Varies

Calculation of the Spousal Protected Resource Amount (SPRA):

• SPRA is the greater of:
  • one-half of the couple's combined countable resources; or
  • the minimum resource amount set by federal law (SPRA minimum — $24,720); but
  • SPRA is not to exceed the maximum resource amount set by federal law (SPRA maximum — $123,600).
• Income-first MMMNA for SPRA expansion — $3,090