Bill > H5529

This bill expands eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) by increasing income limits and removing asset restrictions for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Specifically, the bill raises the income threshold for Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB) from 100% to 138% of the federal poverty line and establishes a new eligibility tier for Qualified Individuals (QI) with incomes between 138% and 186% of the federal poverty line. The MSP programs help seniors and people with disabilities by paying monthly Medicare premiums (which are $185/month in 2025), covering Medicare cost-sharing expenses like deductibles and co-payments, and automatically enrolling participants in the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) program, which can save enrollees an average of $5,300 annually on prescription drug costs. The bill requires the state to make these premium and cost-sharing payments for eligible individuals, with federal funding covering most or all of the expenses. The legislation aims to improve economic security and healthcare access for low-income Medicare enrollees by expanding program eligibility, and it includes provisions for a simplified application process and public outreach to help eligible individuals enroll.

Budget and Finance

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