# Understanding the Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act

When a married person needs long-term care at home or in a community setting and qualifies for Medicaid to pay for it, there's a serious problem that can devastate their spouse. Currently, the healthy spouse can be forced into poverty because Medicaid counts both spouses' income and assets when determining eligibility, even though only one person needs care. This bill makes permanent a protection that prevents this from happening.

Right now, there's a temporary rule that shields the healthy spouse's income and assets from being counted against the sick spouse's Medicaid eligibility for home and community-based care. Without this protection, a couple might have to spend down their life savings or the healthy spouse might lose access to their own income just so the other spouse can afford necessary care like in-home nursing, physical therapy, or assisted living services. This bill removes the expiration date on that protection, making it permanent instead of letting it disappear in 2023. The change applies to all the different types of Medicaid programs that cover home and community care, ensuring consistent protection across the board.

For married seniors and their families, this means peace of mind that they won't have to choose between getting needed care and protecting their spouse from financial ruin. A couple won't have to deplete their retirement savings or have the healthy spouse go without income just to qualify for Medicaid-covered home care. It's essentially saying that when one spouse needs help, the other spouse's financial security shouldn't be sacrificed as the price of getting that care.

Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act of 2021

Upton, Fred

Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act of 2021 This bill makes permanent certain provisions regarding Medicaid eligibility that protect against spousal impoverishment for recipients of home and community-based services. Under current law, these provisions expire on September 30, 2023.