The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced updated 2024 spousal impoverishment standards on Wednesday.
The new allowances, which will take effect July 1, are some of those that apply when married individuals seek coverage of certain long-term services and supports via the Medicaid program.
“While some of the spousal impoverishment standards, such as the maximum community spouse income maintenance allowance and community spouse minimum and maximum resource allowances, are adjusted each January, section 1924 of the [Social Security] Act directs that the community spouse’s minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance (MMMNA) be adjusted, in accordance with changes to the federal poverty level, effective July 1 of each year,” Daniel Tsai, deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, wrote in an informational bulletin. “Additionally, as the community spouse’s monthly housing allowance (which is the basis for determining if the community spouse may have an excess shelter allowance) is calculated based on a percentage of the MMMNA, the housing allowance is adjusted each July 1 as well.”
The minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance, effective July 1, will be $2,555 in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. In Alaska, it will be $3,192.50, and in Hawaii, it will be $2,937.50.
The community spouse monthly housing allowance, effective July 1, will be $766.50 in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. In Alaska, it will be $957.75, and in Hawaii, it will be $881.25.
For more information, see the informational bulletin. The standards also are available on Medicaid.gov.
