H. B. 664 and S. B. 369 Medicaid Buy-In (MBI) Facts on the Medicaid Buy In Bill Goal: To have written into Ohio law that people with disabilities have the option of buying into a Medicaid Buy-In program; therefore, allowing people with disabilities to go to work and become taxpaying citizens. How It Works: Federal legislation passed in 1999 expands a Medicaid option to allow states to provide Medicaid health insurance coverage to working individuals with disabilities who do not qualify for Medicaid under current income and asset rules. In the seven years since the federal legislation was passed, Ohio does not offer this option; however, 32 other states have MBI programs with more than 80,000 enrollees nationwide. The proposed bill will do the following:
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Increase the Medicaid asset limit from $1,500 to $10,000 for eligible Ohioans with disabilities who are working.
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Increase maximum income levels for eligible Ohioans who are on Medicaid, and who are working, to 250 % of poverty – excluding the first $20,000 of earned income. MBI would permit a person to earn up to $44,500 per year and still retain Medicaid coverage.
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Create a rational premium based on income.
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Change no premiums until the employed person with a disability exceeds 150% of poverty level in earnings. That is $14,700 for a single person.
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Establishes the Directory of Job and Family Services as Administrator of the Medicaid Buy-In Program. States that no Medicaid funded long term care services may be provide if the beneficiary equity interest in a home exceeds $500,000 or $750,000 if they qualify for Medicaid long term insurance policy – These amounts
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United Way of Central Ohio Medicaid_Buyin_SB369, Page 1 of 3