Medicare Blog

medicaid spend-down when paying for medicare part b

by Dr. Evan Brekke Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

When the patient is covered by both Medicare and Medicaid what would be the order of reimbursement?

gov . Medicare pays first, and Medicaid pays second . If the employer has 20 or more employees, then the group health plan pays first, and Medicare pays second .

How is spend down calculated?

Your spend-down amount will be the difference between your income and the Medicaid eligibility limit, as determined by your state over a given length of time (one to six months). Some states require you to submit receipts or bills to Medicaid to show your monthly expenses.

How does Medicaid spend down work in New York?

As the name indicates, the Medicaid Spend-Down Program in New York state helps subtract medical bills and expenses or spend them down to bring the person or couple within the Medicaid asset limit. The spend-down is the difference between the income earned from qualifying assets and the asset limit for Medicaid.Jul 28, 2020

How does the funding of Medicaid differ from the funding for Medicare?

Medicare is federally administered and covers older or disabled Americans, while Medicaid operates at the state level and covers low-income families and some single adults. Funding for Medicare is done through payroll taxes and premiums paid by recipients. Medicaid is funded by the federal government and each state.

How do I meet my Medicaid spend down?

If you are enrolled in Pay-in Spenddown, there are three ways to meet your spenddown:
  1. Use your medical expenses toward your monthly spenddown amount; or.
  2. Pay your monthly spenddown amount to HFS; or.
  3. Combine medical expenses (bills and receipts) and a payment to HFS.

How much money can you have in the bank on Medicaid?

Your assets must be $2,000 or less, with a spouse allowed to keep up to $130,380. Cash, bank accounts, real estate other than a primary residence, and investments, including those in an IRA or 401(k), all count as assets.May 24, 2021

What is the income threshold for Medicaid in NY?

Income & Asset Limits for Eligibility
2022 New York Medicaid Long Term Care Eligibility for Seniors
Type of MedicaidSingleMarried (both spouses applying)
Medicaid Waivers / Home and Community Based Services$934 / month†$1,367 / month
Regular Medicaid / Aged Blind and Disabled$934 / month$1,367 / month
2 more rows
Jan 10, 2022

What is spend-down charges in medical billing?

Spenddown is like an insurance deductible and is used to determine a client's liability for the cost of medical care. Clients must incur medical expenses equal to their excess income (spenddown or liability) before medical benefits are covered.

What is the income limit for Medicaid in New York?

View coronavirus (COVID-19) resources on Benefits.gov.
...
Who is eligible for New York Medicaid?
Household Size*Maximum Income Level (Per Year)
1$18,075
2$24,353
3$30,630
4$36,908
4 more rows

What are the disadvantages of Medicaid?

Disadvantages of Medicaid
  • Lower reimbursements and reduced revenue. Every medical practice needs to make a profit to stay in business, but medical practices that have a large Medicaid patient base tend to be less profitable. ...
  • Administrative overhead. ...
  • Extensive patient base. ...
  • Medicaid can help get new practices established.

What does Medicaid pay for?

Mandatory benefits include services including inpatient and outpatient hospital services, physician services, laboratory and x-ray services, and home health services, among others. Optional benefits include services including prescription drugs, case management, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

What is the difference in Medicare and Medicaid?

Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65+ or under 65 and have a disability, no matter your income. Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage if you have a very low income.

Can you spend down on medicaid?

Medicaid spenddown. Even if you have too much income to qualify, some states let you "spend down" to become eligible for Medicaid . The "spend down" process lets you subtract your medical expenses from your income to become eligible for Medicaid.

Does medicaid pay first?

Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but most health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. pays second. Medicaid never pays first for services covered by Medicare. It only pays after Medicare, employer group health plans, and/or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance have paid.

What is medicaid?

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that: 1 Helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources 2 Offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, like nursing home care and personal care services

Is Medicare part of Medicaid?

Original Medicare is a fee-for-service health plan that has two parts: Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).

What is original Medicare?

Original Medicare. Original Medicare is a fee-for-service health plan that has two parts: Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). After you pay a deductible, Medicare pays its share of the Medicare-approved amount, and you pay your share (coinsurance and deductibles). or a.

What is Medicare Advantage Plan?

Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) A type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans provide all of your Part A and Part B benefits, excluding hospice. Medicare Advantage Plans include: Health Maintenance Organizations. Preferred Provider Organizations.

Does Medicare Advantage cover hospice?

Medicare Advantage Plans provide all of your Part A and Part B benefits, excluding hospice. Medicare Advantage Plans include: Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage. . If you have Medicare and full Medicaid, you'll get your Part D prescription drugs through Medicare.

Do you have to spend down Medicaid?

While one may know it’s necessary to spend-down some of their countable assets to qualify for Medicaid, the exact amount that needs to be spent down may be unclear. This is because the asset limit varies by state, as well as if one is single or married, and if married, if one or both spouses are applying for Medicaid.

How much can a spouse keep on medicaid?

Typically, the spouse who is applying for Medicaid is able to keep $2,000 in non-exempt assets, while the healthy spouse can keep up to $128,640 (in 2020). Again, the asset limits vary by the state in which one resides. Thus, it is extremely important to know the asset limit for one’s state of residence.

How much is a home worth in 2020?

For example, in 2020, in Alabama, one’s home is exempt up to a value of $595,000, and in Wisconsin, one’s home may be valued up to $750,000. Note that if a spouse continues to live in the home, there is no home equity value limit.

What is non-countable asset?

Non-countable assets are also called “exempt” assets. And countable assets are sometimes referred to as “available” assets. Non-countable assets do not count towards the Medicaid asset limit. All states have a countable asset limit, but the limit depends on the state.

Why do we spend down Medicaid?

The concept of spend down comes into play because income and assets above a certain level disqualifies applicants for long-term care under Medicaid. Spending down is a way to legally bring income and assets in line with eligibility requirements.

What is asset spend down?

Asset spend down: Spending resources down to meet the asset ceiling set by Medicaid. Countable assets: Sometimes referred to as non-exempt assets or liquid assets that can easily be converted to cash because these assets count toward the maximum you can possess for Medicaid eligibility. Examples are bank accounts, vacation homes, stocks and bonds. ...

How to spend money on a house?

Following are examples of some ways people spend down assets: 1 Pay off credit card balances, a mortgage, or personal or auto loans. 2 Buy medical items not covered by your health insurance, such as dentures, glasses and hearing devices. 3 Reconstruct your home to make it more senior-friendly, such as adding a walk-in shower. 4 Purchase an annuity. 5 Buy an irrevocable funeral trust.

How many people are covered by medicaid in 2019?

Funding appropriation is a joint effort by the states and the federal government. Medicaid reports that 63.9 million people were covered at the end of 2019.

What is spending down?

Spending down is a way to legally bring income and assets in line with eligibility requirements. It is important to research how this is done in your specific area because the parameters vary across the country and even within the states.

How long does it take for Medicaid to look back?

This period is 60 months in most states and 30 months in California.

What are countable assets?

Countable assets: Sometimes referred to as non-exempt assets or liquid assets that can easily be converted to cash because these assets count toward the maximum you can possess for Medicaid eligibility. Examples are bank accounts, vacation homes, stocks and bonds.

What Is Medicaid Spend Down?

The Medicaid spend down program offers a way for beneficiaries with high medical expenses to qualify for Medicaid. Learn more about how this program works and find out if you’re eligible in your state.

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Is Medicare Part D voluntary?

Part D enrollment is voluntary, so not all Medicare individuals will be enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan (PDP) or a Medicare Part C Advantage Plan (MA-PD) when HCA first receives a medical application. However, under WAC 182-503-0505, Part D enrollment is a condition of eligibility for Medicaid coverage.

What is benchmark Medicare?

All States have a range of "benchmark" Part D plans. Benchmark plans are considered average Medicare plans. They have adequate health care coverage and their premiums can be fully covered by the LIS. Other Part D plans have higher premiums than the benchmark plans.

Does HCA pay for QMB?

HCA pays Part A premiums when the individual is eligible for the QMB (S03) program or the Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI) (S04) program in ACES. HCA allows Part A premium expenses for spenddown only if:

What is the purpose of MSP?

Purpose: This section provides information about what the department allows as medical expenses for individuals who have spenddown, are entitled to Medicare and who may qualify for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP ). To qualify for Medicaid, individuals who are entitled to Medicare must apply for and enroll in Medicare.

What is Medicaid spend down?

If you have medical expenses that significantly reduce your usable income, you may qualify for a Medicaid spend-down. The spend-down program may also be referred to as a medically needy program or Medicaid’s Excess Income Program. Below is a general guide to the Medicaid spend-down process.

Does Medicare pay for inpatient hospital?

Medicare will pay first for covered services, and Medicaid will pay second for qualifying costs, such as Medicare cost-sharing. Your state may require you to qualify and apply for spend-down for multiple periods in order to qualify for Medicaid inpatient hospital coverage. States with spend-down programs may allow you to use ...

Does Medicare pay for nursing home care?

Note: If your state does not have a spend-down program, it should have more generous Medicaid income guidelines for people who need nursing home care than for those who do not. Medicare will pay first for covered medical services, and Medicaid will pay second for qualifying costs, such as Medicare cost-sharing.

What is a spend down program?

The spend-down program may also be referred to as a medically needy program or Medicaid’s Excess Income Program. Below is a general guide to the Medicaid spend-down process. Contact your local Medicaid office to learn if a spend-down program is available in your state, and the rules for applying.

What is a trust for Medicaid?

Trusts allow people with disabilities and income or assets higher than Medicaid eligibility guidelines to place a portion of their income or assets into the trust, where it will not be counted. Rules about how these trusts work vary greatly by state.

What is Medicaid insurance?

Medicaid is the nation’s health insurance program where most people will qualify based on work history. Even the wealthiest Americans qualify. Medicaid is a needs-based health insurance program that exists to help people with healthcare needs who can’t otherwise afford healthcare coverage.

What is Medicaid 2021?

Even the wealthiest Americans qualify. Medicaid is a needs-based health insurance program that exists to help people with healthcare needs who can’ t otherwise afford healthcare coverage.

What are countable assets for Medicaid?

Countable assets are anything Medicaid counts toward the countable asset limit set by your state. Countable assets include: Cash. Bank accounts—checking or savings accounts. Property other than your primary home. Retirement accounts (varies by state) Investment assets like CDs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and others.

What is irrevocable medical trust?

An irrevocable medical trust is money set aside that becomes part of the trust that pays out to certain beneficiaries. This money is permanently placed in the trust and managed by somebody other than the person or their spouse. Often the money pays out to beneficiaries once the person passes away but it can also be paid to the original Trustor—generally not for at least five years after the trust is established. Trusts are complicated and creating one to qualify for Medicaid adds an additional level of complexity. Trusts require an estate attorney.

Can you transfer money to an annuity?

Because the spouse is allowed a higher amount of income than the person applying for Medicaid, transferring money to an annuity and having it pay to the spouse is an acceptable spend-down strategy as long as it pays out before the end of the community spouse’s life expectancy.

What are non-countable assets?

Non-countable assets are anything that is exempt from your Medicaid asset limit. Non-countable assets include: Primary home—check with your state on rules regarding your home. Prepaid funeral expenses. One vehicle. Life insurance policy with a cash value of $1,500 or less. Term life insurance.

Qualification

Issues

  • Not all assets held by the applicant are counted towards Medicaids asset limit. When determining if one is over the asset limit, its critical to know which assets are counted and which are not.
See more on medicaidplanningassistance.org

Terminology

  • Countable (non-exempt) assets are counted towards the asset limit. They are also sometimes referred to as liquid assets, which are assets that are easily converted to cash. Countable assets include cash, bank accounts (checking, money market, savings), vacation houses and property other than ones primary residence, 401Ks and IRAs that are not in payout status (depending on t…
See more on medicaidplanningassistance.org

Example

  • It is fairly standard that a single elderly applicant is limited to $2,000 in countable assets, but again, this figure varies based on the state in which one resides. For instance, in Maryland, single applicants can keep up to $3,000 in assets, Mississippi allows up to $4,000 in assets, and New York has a much higher asset limit of $15,450 (in 2019).
See more on medicaidplanningassistance.org

Advantages

  • When only one spouse of a married couple is applying for nursing home Medicaid or long-term care via a Medicaid waiver, the non-applicant spouse, commonly called the community spouse, is able to retain a higher number of assets. As of 2019, this figure, called the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) can be as great as $126,420. That said, there are a few exceptions, …
See more on medicaidplanningassistance.org

Statistics

  • The CSRA is further complicated by the fact that some states are 50% states, while others are 100% states. In very simplified terms, in 50% states, the community spouse can keep up to 50% of the couples assets, up to the maximum allowable amount. (As mentioned above, this figure, as of 2019, is $126,420 in most states). There is also a minimum resource allowance, which as of 201…
See more on medicaidplanningassistance.org

Risks

  • If an applicant is over the asset limit for Medicaid eligibility, spending down excess non-exempt assets becomes paramount. As mentioned above, one must proceed with caution in order to avoid violating Medicaids look-back period, which is 60-months in every state but California. (California has a 30-month look-back period). Fortunately, there are m...
See more on medicaidplanningassistance.org

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