The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Thursday afternoon announced updated standards for Medicaid financial eligibility for married individuals seeking coverage of certain long-term services and supports.
According to the Social Security Act, the community spouse’s minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance and the community spouse monthly housing allowance amounts must be adjusted annually to be effective July 1.
Effective July 1, the minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance will be $2,288.75 in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. In Alaska, it will be $2,861.25, and in Hawaii, it will be $2,632.50.
The current minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance is $2,177.50 in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. In Alaska, it is $2,721.25, and in Hawaii, it is $2,505.
Also effective July 1, the community spouse monthly housing allowance will be $686.63 in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. In Alaska, it will be $858.38, and in Hawaii, it will be $789.75.
The current community spouse monthly housing allowance is $653.25 in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. In Alaska, it is $816.38, and in Hawaii, it is $751.50.
CMS said that the community spouse’s minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance is adjusted in accordance with changes to the federal poverty level. The community spouse’s monthly housing allowance, the basis for determining whether the community spouse may have an excess shelter allowance, is calculated based on a percentage of the community spouse’s minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance.
Medicaid spousal impoverishment standards including the maximum community spouse income maintenance allowance and the community spouse minimum and maximum resource allowances are adjusted each January.
For more information, see the informational bulletin.
