State Variation in Medicaid Per Enrollee Spending for Seniors and People with Disabilities

Issue Brief
  1. As of 2015, 10 states elect the § 209(b) option to use disability or financial eligibility standards that are more restrictive than the federal SSI rules, so long as the state’s rules are not more restrictive than those in effect in January 1972. Section 209(b) states must allow SSI beneficiaries to establish Medicaid eligibility through a spend-down by deducting unreimbursed out-of-pocket medical expenses from their countable income. Section 209(b) states also must provide Medicaid to children who receive SSI and who meet the state’s financial eligibility rules for the AFDC program as of July 16, 1996.  In addition to covering SSI beneficiaries, states also must offer Medicare Savings Programs through which low-income Medicare beneficiaries with incomes generally below 135% FPL (or about $16,000 per year for an individual in 2016) receive Medicaid assistance with some or all of their Medicare premiums, deductibles, and other cost-sharing requirements (these “partial dual eligible” beneficiaries do not receive Medicaid benefits).

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