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4.9.4 Choosing Not to Have a Deductible

An applicant who is ineligible for excess income Income is anything you receive in cash or in kind that you can use to meet your needs for food, clothing, and shelter. in some backdate months, but has no excess income in others, does not have to choose to have an MA deductible.  S/he can choose to be certified in the months s/he is eligible and to accept the ineligibility of the other months where s/he has excess income.

 

Example 1: Horace applies for MA in July.  He has no income and does not expect any income in the future.  He is financially eligible in July.  He also wants MA eligibility for April to cover some medical expenses he had in April.  In April he would have been eligible because he had no income or assets.

 

But in May and June he had excess income of $20 each month.  He has 2 choices:
 

  1. Choose an MA deductible period of April through September.  After meeting the MA deductible of $40 he would be certified for MA from April through September.
     

  2. Not choose an MA deductible period.  He would not have to meet an MA deductible. He could be certified immediately for April and July. But he would have to forego MA for May and June because of the excess income in May and June.

 

If the applicant has excess income in the month of application, but no excess income in the 3 months prior to the month of application, s/he does not have to include them in a deductible period.  S/he can be certified for them immediately, and can begin the MA deductible period with the month of application.  

 

Example 2: Roslyn applies for MA in July.  She is ineligible because she has excess income.  She had no income in April, May, or June.  She can be certified immediately for April, May, and June. She begins her MA deductible period in July.

 

 

This page last updated in Release Number: 97-03

Release Date: 07-01-97

Effective Date: 07/01/97