TITLE 56

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND WELFARE

CHAPTER 2

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE LAW

56-209e  Eligibility of married couples for medical assistance under the medicaid program. (1) It is the intent of the legislature in enacting this section to reduce the number of situations in which medicaid regulations as they apply to long term care costs, cause either the destitution of the entire family, or a dissolution of marriage carried out to prevent destitution. It is further the intent of this section to protect the community and separate property rights, insofar as such rights are not specifically preempted by federal law, of a married person whose spouse applies for medical assistance regardless of whether they are living together.

(2)  (a) In determining the eligibility of an aged, blind or disabled married individual or of a couple for medical assistance under title XIX of the social security act, the amount of income and resources to be counted as available to such individual or couple shall be calculated in accordance with the community property provisions of chapter 9, title 32, Idaho Code, or should it be to the advantage of such individual or couple, in accordance with the methods utilized by the federal supplemental security income program under title XVI of the social security act.

(b)  Where both spouses are applying or are covered by medical assistance, the same method of counting income and resources shall be applied to both spouses and utilized to determine the liability of each for the cost of medical care; however, for any month for which either spouse receives a supplemental security income payment or a state supplement under section 56-207, 56-208or 56-209a Idaho Code, or for which an application is filed and subsequently approved, the methodology of the supplemental security income program shall be applied.

(c)  The presumption of the availability of income under either the community property or supplemental security income method may be rebutted by either spouse.

(d)  The department of health and welfare shall furnish to each married medical assistance applicant who is aged, blind or disabled, a clear and simple statement in writing advising them of the provisions of this section.

(e)     (i)  The provisions of paragraphs (a) through (d) of this subsection shall continue to apply on and after September 30, 1989, to married couples who are living together.

(ii)  Beginning September 30, 1989, eligibility for any married person living in a medical institution whose spouse does not live in a medical institution, shall be determined by evaluating income first by attributing such income to the individual or individuals in whose name or names such income is paid, and if such attribution exceeds the maximum eligibility limit, secondly by attributing income in accordance with the community property provisions of chapter 9, title 32, Idaho Code.

(iii)  Beginning September 30, 1989, the post eligibility treatment of income of any married person living in a medical institution whose spouse does not live in a medical institution, shall be in accordance with section 1924(b) and (d) of the social security act regardless of whether eligibility was determined in accordance with the name or names by which income was paid or in accordance with the community property provisions of chapter 9, title 32, Idaho Code.

(iv)  The provisions of paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of this subsection as they relate to resources shall continue to apply on and after September 30, 1989, to couples separated because one (1) spouse entered a medical institution for a continuous stay on or before September 29, 1989; and the provisions of section 1924(c) of the social security act shall apply to couples separated because one (1) spouse enters a medical institution for a continuous stay on or after September 30, 1989.

(3)  If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the section that can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this section are severable.

History:

[56-209e, added 1988, ch. 50, sec. 1, p. 74; am. 1989, ch. 67, sec. 1, p. 107.]