Automated identification of eligible participants for the Medicare savings program

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

Medicare Savings Programs help Medicare beneficiaries by paying the Part B premium ($164.90 per month in 2023). MSP enrollees also automatically receive the federally funded Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS), or Extra Help program, which helps pay prescription drug costs. On average, Extra Help saves beneficiaries $5,300 per year. This makes the combined bene- fit of an MSP and Extra Help approximately $7,300 per year. The Quali- fied Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program also pays Medicare cost-sharing for enrollees (e.g., deductibles and coinsurances), producing additional savings. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food. SNAP helps low-in- come working people, older persons, persons with disabilities and others feed their families. Eligibility and benefit levels are based on house- hold size, income and other factors. It is likely that a large proportion of people with SNAP who are Medi- care eligible are also likely eligible for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP). MSP income eligibility is up to 186% of the FPL and SNAP income eligibility is up to 200% of the FPL. The MSP is underenrolled and it is known that people are often unaware of the MSP and that it can save an older adult or person with a disability money on their health care. The MSP does not have an asset test, and the eligibility information collected for SNAP aligns with the necessary eligible information required for the MSP. This legislation will undoubtedly help low-income older New Yorkers access the benefits they are eligible for through simple data matching among state agency programs that have similar eligibility requirements.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.