State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Release 24-03 December 18, 2024

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24.7 Meeting the Deductible

The fiscal test group meets the deductible by incurring medical costs that equal the dollar amount of the deductible. The countable costs are added together. When they are equal to or greater than the amount of the deductible, the group can be certified for Medicaid.

If the group has not yet met the deductible within the deductible period, it may choose to start a new deductible period that begins with a later month in the current deductible period with a new application (see Section 24.3 Deductible Period).

Example 1:

Stanley’s deductible period is from January through June. In April Stanley incurs a large medical expense that would meet his deductible. Stanley requests to start his deductible April 1st. His new deductible period is April through September. Stanley will have to submit a new application.

If an expense was applied to a prior deductible but did not result in Medicaid certification, it can be applied to a later deductible, as long as it still meets the criteria listed in Section 24.7.1 Countable Costs below.   

24.7.1 Countable Costs

To be counted toward the deductible, a medical or remedial expense must meet all of the following conditions.

1. Be an expense for a memberA recipient of Medicaid; formerly referred to as a "client." of the applicantA person who has submitted a request for coverage for whom no decision has been made regarding eligibility or member's FTGfiscal test group.
   
   Expenses may be counted if incurred for someone the member is legally responsible for if that individual could be counted in the member's FTG. The medical bill may be used even if the family member is no longer living or no longer in the current FTG.

   Example 2:

   Sally's spouse died of leukemia in April 2014. In September 2014, Sally requests that a medical bill incurred for her spouse be used towards her deductible. Sally is still legally responsible for the bill. The bill can be used to meet the deductible as long it did not result in a Medicaid certification in an earlier period.

2. Meet the Definition of Medical or Remedial expense as defined in (see Section 24.7.1.1 Countable Expenses)
3. Meet one of the following four conditions
   1. Still be owed to the medical service provider sometime during the current deductible period.
      
      Expenses which have been "deferred” by the provider are considered a countable cost still owed to the provider and can be used to meet a Medicaid deductible.
      1. The deferred charge should be viewed as an incurred expense that remains an unpaid obligation for the member.
      2. If only a portion of the deferred charge was used to meet a prior deductible, any remaining balance can be used to meet future deductibles.
      3. Many deferred charge situations involve very high costs for the services provided, it is extremely important to document in Case Comments which portion of the deferred charges are used to meet previous deductibles, and any remaining balance that can be used to meet current or future deductibles.

         Example 3:

         From May- July 2013 Helen resided in an Institute for Mental Disease (IMD) and incurred a $14,000 bill.  As of October 2014, Helen has not paid this bill. In October Helen's social worker, Ruth, applies for Medicaid on Helen's behalf.     Ruth tried to help Helen meet her deductible by collecting Helen's medical  bills. The "bill" for Helen's IMD stay listed $14,000 in  "Deferred Charges". Ruth questioned what deferred meant.  The account's receivable person at the IMD indicated that charges for low-income people are often "deferred."  "Deferred,"  she explained, means that the member would never be billed for the charges, but if he or she happens to come into a windfall of money (lottery or inheritance), they will change the status of those charges to current and try to collect the debt. Helen can use this "deferred" charge toward her deductible.

          

         Example 4:

         Lestat applies for Medicaid in July, 2014. An Medicaid deductible of $700 is calculated for him. In 2013 he had a blood transfusion. The bill for the transfusion was $800. He never paid it and still owes it to the service provider. He can use the unpaid bill to meet his Medicaid deductible, but must provide documentation to show that the charges are currently owed. The remaining $100 can be applied to the next deductible period, as long as it is still owed.

   2. Paid or written off sometime during the current deductible period. Medical bills written off through bankruptcy proceedings are not allowed as a medical expense to meet a deductible.

      Example 5:

      Frank and Estelle apply for Medicaid on March 1, 2014, requesting that their deductible period begin January 1, 2014. Their deductible for the period January 1 - June 30th is $340. In April, they had a ten-year-old medical bill of $300 written off. They can count the $300 toward the January - June 2014 deductible because it was written off during the deductible period.

   3. Paid or written off sometime during the deductible period that immediately precedes and borders on the current deductible period.  These bills can be used even if they were paid after the person met the deductible in the prior period.

      Example 6:

      Jeffrey is in his second deductible period. He did not meet his deductible in the prior period, which borders on the current period.  He has a bill that was written off in the prior period.  He can apply this bill to his current deductible.

       

      Example 7:

      Malcolm is in his second deductible period which began March 1, 2014.  He did not meet his deductible in the prior deductible period, which immediately preceded the current deductible period.  He has a medical bill that he paid in February 2013.  He may not apply this toward his current deductible.

       

      Example 8:

      Norah is in her second deductible period which began in September 2014. In June 2014, Norah met her first deductible period and was certified for Medicaid through August. After certification, and before the first deductible period ended in August, Norah paid for medical services that were not Medicaid covered services. Norah can apply these paid bills to the second deductible period that began in September 2014.

   4. Paid or written off some time during the three months prior to the date of application.  This expense can only be used for the first deductible period.  Balances cannot be carried forward to future deductible periods.

      Example 9:

      Sierra and Skyler apply for Medicaid on August 10, 2014, requesting that their deductible period begin on August 1, 2014.  Their deductible for the period from August through January is $1500.  On May 10th the couple had paid off a $2000 outstanding medical bill.  They can use that expense to meet their deductible because it was paid in the three months prior to the date of their application.  The remaining $500 cannot be applied to future deductible periods.

       

      Example 10:

      Anna applied for Medicaid on July 25, 2020, with no request for any backdated months. Her deductible period is from July 2020 through December 2020. She has paid her Medicare Part B premiums since she turned 65, seven years ago. She can use her Part B premium expense from the months of April, May, and June 2020 as paid medical expenses. See Process Help 19.3.4  for processing information.

       

      Example 11:

      Anna applied for Medicaid on July 25, 2020, requesting a one month backdate. Her deductible period is from June 2020 through November 2020. She has paid her Medicare Part B premiums since she turned 65, seven years ago. She can use her Part B premium expense from the months of April, May and June 2020 as paid medical expenses. See Process Help 19.3.4  for processing information.

24.7.1.1 Countable Expenses

The following are expenses that can be counted against the deductible if they meet the conditions listed in 24.7.1 Countable Costs:

1. Medical expenses. Medical expenses are costs for services or goods that have been prescribed or provided by a professional medical practitioner (licensed in Wisconsin or another state) regardless of whether the services or goods are covered by Medicaid. Medical expenses for services or prescriptions acquired outside of the United States may be counted toward a deductible if a licensed medical practitioner or pharmacy provided the service or drug.
   
   Some examples of medical expenses are deductibles and co-payments for Medicaid, for Medicare, for private health insurance; and bills for medical services which are not covered by the Wisconsin Medicaid program.  

   Note:

   ForwardHealth interChange (iC) data may be used to calculate Medicaid co-payments from the previous deductible period.

2. Remedial expenses. Remedial expenses are costs for services or goods that are provided for the purpose of relieving, remedying, or reducing a medical or health condition. Some examples of remedial expenses include:
   1. Case management
   2. Day care
   3. Housing modifications for accessibility
   4. Respite care
   5. Supportive home care
      
      Supportive Home Care is necessary assistance to help people meet their daily living needs, ensure adequate functioning in their home, and safely access their community.  Services may include:
      1. Assistance with activities of daily living
      2. Attendant care
      3. Supervision
      4. Reporting changes in the participant’s condition
      5. Assistance with medication and medical procedures which are normally self-administered
      6. The extension of therapy services, ambulation and exercise
      7. Tasks associated with routine household upkeep, including general housekeeping chores, lawn mowing, snow removal, changing storm or screen windows and other household services that are essential to the participant’s safety, well-being and care at home
   6. Transportation to obtain medical care. This includes but is not limited to taxi, rideshare services, bus fares, or a person’s own vehicle at a cost of $0.24/mile. A transportation log is sufficient verification. The log should provide the time and date of the appointment, name and address of the provider, time departed, time returned, and miles driven.
   7. Community Based Residential Facility (CBRFcommunity-based residential facility. A place in which five or more unrelated adults live and where they receive care, treatment, or services, but not nursing care on any permanent basis, in addition to board and room), AdultAn adult is anyone age 18 or older. Family/Foster Home (AFHAdult Family Home), Residential Care Apartment Complex ( RCAC), and all other community substitute care setting program costs not including room and board expenses.
   8. Remedial expenses do not include housing or room and board expenses.
   9. CBRF, AFH, RCAC, and all other community substitute care setting program costs, not including room and board expenses, can be counted as a remedial expense only as they are incurred. CBRF, AFH, RCAC and all other community substitute care setting program costs will be considered incurred as of the date that the member is billed for these expenses by the CBRF, AFH, RCAC or other community substitute care setting. The billing procedure used by the CBRF, AFH, RCAC or other community substitute care setting (one month in advance, bimonthly, etc.) for Medicaid residents should be the same as that which is used for its non-Medicaid residents.
   10. In determining how much of a CBRF, AFH, RCAC or other community substitute care setting expense can be applied to meet a medical deductible, use the facility’s breakdown of the room and board versus program costs, with the program costs to be applied to the deductible.
3. Ambulance service and other medical transportation (21.4.2 Transportation).
4. Medical insurance premiums paid by a member of the fiscal test group or FFU. These insurance premiums include disease specific and per diem hospital and nursing home insurance payments. This includes all Medicare premiums paid by the member. Do not allow accidental insurance policy premiums as a countable cost.

   Note:

   Unlike other expenses listed in this section that may not be applied toward a deductible until they are incurred, count medical insurance premiums from the first day of the deductible period, if the premium will be coming due anytime during the current deductible period. This includes all Medicare premiums owed by the member during the deductible period.

5. Medical bills paid by a party who is not legally liable to pay them can be counted against a deductible.
   
   Examples of parties that pay medical bills when not legally liable include, but are not limited to: Churches, fraternal organizations, Children's Special Health Needs Unit of the Division of Public Health, Veterans Administration and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).
6. Medical services received at a Hill-Burton facility. The Hill-Burton Act was enacted by Congress to provide federal assistance for the construction and modernization of health care facilities. Medical facilities which receive Hill-Burton assistance must provide without charge a reasonable volume of services to persons unable to pay for those services.
7. In-kind payments. These are services or goods supplied to the provider in lieu of cash. Self declaration of the bill being satisfied is adequate verification.
8. Medical or remedial expenses that are paid or will be paid by a state, county, city or township administered program that meets the conditions detailed in 24.7.1. # 3.
   
   Examples include:
   1. General Assistance
   2. Community Options Program
   3. AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)

   Example 12:

   Fred receives a medical service which will be paid by ADAP.  When Fred comes in to apply for Medicaid and has to meet a deductible this medical bill that has not been paid can be used immediately because it will be paid by the state administered ADAP program.

    

   Example 13:

   Sally received a medical service in January which was paid by the state administered, state funded Community Options Program in the same month.  In February Sally applies for Medicaid requesting a backdate to January.  Sally has excess income and must meet a deductible. Since the medical bill was paid by COP within three months of Sally's Medicaid application it can be used to meet Sally's Medicaid deductible.

9. Medical or remedial expenses that have been paid or will be paid by Indian Health Services that meet the conditions detailed in 24.7.1 # 3

   Example 14:

   On January 1, Michael received a medical service which will be paid by Indian Health Services.  When Michael applies for Medicaid on January 10 he has to meet a deductible. The bill for the January 1 medical services may be used immediately because it will be paid by the Indian Health Services program.

    

   Example 15:

   Charlie received a medical service in January which was paid by Indian Health Services in the same month.  In February Charlie applies for Medicaid requesting a backdate to January.  Charlie has excess income and must meet a deductible. Since the bill was paid by Indian Health Services within three months of Charlie's Medicaid application it can be used to meet Charlie's Medicaid deductible.

10. SeniorCare Enrollment Fees

24.7.2 Noncountable Costs

Do not count the following toward the deductible:

1. Medical bills written off through bankruptcy.
2. Medical services payable or paid for by a third party who is legally liable for the bill. This includes bills that will be paid or have been paid by Medicaid, Medicare, or other Insurance.

   Example 16:

   Medical services provided to an incarcerated person. In this case, the incarcerating authority is the legally liable third party.

3. A bill cannot be used if it has been used to meet a prior deductible. If only a portion of an unpaid bill was used to meet a prior deductible, any remaining balance that was not applied to the prior deductible, may be applied to a subsequent deductible period as long as it is still owed or meets criteria in 24.7.1 Countable Costs.

   Example 17:

   An applicant incurs a $300 medical bill. She applies the $300 toward her deductible even though he or she has not made any payments on the bill. She meets her deductible and is certified for Medicaid.  Three years later she applies for Medicaid again and a deductible is calculated for her. She now pays the $300 bill. But she cannot use it to meet her current deductible because she already used it to meet the prior deductible.

24.7.3 Prepaying a Deductible

Anyone can prepay a deductible for himself/herself or for someone else.  It can be paid in installments or all at once. A prepaid deductible may be refunded if the member requests a refund of the prepayment prior to the begin date of the corresponding deductible period.

If the member is 55 or older, forward the payment to:

ForwardHealth
Estate Recovery/Casualty Collections
313 Blettner Blvd
Madison WI
53714-2405

Prepayment checks or money orders should be made payable to: "The Department of Health Services.”

With the payment, include:

1. Documentation that the payment is voluntary.
2. The member’s name and Medicaid ID number.

If he or she is under 55, instruct the member to make the payment payable to your IMincome maintenance Agency.  Report the receipt on the Community Aids Reporting System (CARS) labeled as a Medical Refund.  

24.7.3.1 Payment of Entire Deductible Amount

If the entire deductible amount is paid at any point during the deductible period, eligibility begins on the first date of the deductible period.  

Example 18:

Laura’s deductible period is from March 1st through August 31st. The total deductible amount is $1,000. Laura submits payment of $1,000 on August 15th.  Laura’s Medicaid eligibility begins on March 1st.

Enter the first date of the deductible period on AGTM as the date the payment was received.

24.7.3.2 Combination of Payment and Incurred Expenses

If the deductible is met through a combination of payment and incurred medical expenses, count the incurred medical expenses first.  Eligibility, by paying the remaining deductible amount, can begin no earlier than the last date of incurred medical expense within the deductible period.

Example 19:

Chad’s deductible period is from March 1st through August 31st.  The total Medicaid deductible amount is $1,800.  Chad submits a medical bill with a March 8th date of service for $800.  On July 15th, he submits payment of $1,000.  Chad’s Medicaid eligibility begins March 8th.  Submit a Wisconsin Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus Remaining Deductible Update (F-10109) identifying the provider of service on March 8th and the $800 member share amount.

Enter the incurred medical expense first.  Perform a PF23 sort.  The remaining balance is the amount that can be paid to meet the deductible.  Enter the payment date as the same date of the last incurred medical expense, which equals the balance of the deductible, on CARES screen AGTM.  Complete and submit a Wisconsin Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus Remaining Deductible Update (F-10109) to the fiscal agent.  Enter the deductible met date as the date of the last incurred medical expense.  Enter the member share as the amount of the last incurred medical expense.  

24.7.3.3 Combination of Payment and Outstanding Expenses

If the deductible is met through a combination of payment and outstanding medical expenses (incurred prior to the beginning of the deductible period), eligibility begins on the first date of the deductible period.

Example 20:

Roberta’s deductible period is from March 1st through August 31st.  The total Medicaid deductible amount is $1,500.  She submits an outstanding bill from January 10th for $500.  On August 15th, she submits payment of $1,000. Roberta’s Medicaid eligibility begins March 1st.

Enter the first date of the deductible period on AGTM as the date the payment was received.

24.7.3.4 Calculation Errors

If any portion of the deductible is paid and you find the amount was wrong due to agency error, refund the paid amount that was incorrect and report the refund on CARS.

24.7.3.5 Insufficient Funds

If the deductible is paid with a check that is returned for insufficient funds, discontinue the person's eligibility, determine if an overpayment occurred and if so, establish a claim for benefit recovery.

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The information concerning the Medicaid program provided in this handbook release is published in accordance with: Titles XI and XIX of the Social Security Act; Parts 430 through 481 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations; Chapters 46 and 49 of the Wisconsin Statutes; and Chapters HA 3, DHS 2, 10 and 101 through 109 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

Notice: The content within this manual is the sole responsibility of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS). This site will link to sites outside of DHS where appropriate. DHS is in no way responsible for the content of sites outside of DHS.

Publication Number: P-10030