Medicare savings programs

1. Qualified Medicare beneficiaries are entitled only to Medicare cost-sharing benefits described in subsection 19 of section 75-02-02.1-01, beginning in the month following the month in which the individual is determined eligible. 2. Special low-income Medicare beneficiaries are entitled only to Medicare cost-sharing benefits described in paragraph 2 of subdivision a of subsection 19 of section 75-02-02.1-01. Eligibility may be established for as many as three calendar months prior to the month in which the application was received. 3. Qualifying individuals are entitled only to Medicare cost-sharing benefits described in paragraph 2 of subdivision a of subsection 19 of section 75-02-02.1-01. Eligibility may be established for as many as three calendar months prior to the month in which the application was received unless the individual was in receipt of any other Medicaid benefits for the same period. Eligibility shall be established on a first-come, first-served basis to the extent of funding allocated for coverage of this group under section 1933 of the Act [42 U.S.C. 1396u-3]. 4. Individuals eligible for the Medicare part B immunosuppressive drug benefit are entitled to coverage for the Medicare part B immunosuppressive drug benefit only. To be eligible, the individual is required to have Medicare coverage under Medicare end stage renal disease and this benefit ends thirty-six months after a successful transplant. 5. All medically needy technical eligibility factors apply to the Medicare savings programs except as identified in this section. 6. No individual may be found eligible for the Medicare savings programs unless the total value of all nonexcluded assets does not exceed: a. For periods of eligibility prior to January 1, 2010: (1) Four thousand dollars for a one-person unit; or (2) Six thousand dollars for a two-person unit. b. For periods of eligibility on or after January 1, 2010, the asset limit described in 42 U.S.C. 1396d(p)(1)(C). 7. Provisions of this chapter governing asset considerations at section 75-02-02.1-25, valuation of assets at section 75-02-02.1-32, excluded assets at section 75-02-02.1-28.1, and forms of asset ownership at section 75-02-02.1-29 apply to eligibility determinations for Medicare savings programs except: a. Half of a liquid asset held in common with another Medicare savings program is presumed available; b. Assets owned by a child, under age twenty-one, in the unit are not considered available in determining eligibility for the child's parent, except that all liquid assets held in common by the child and the parent are considered available to the parent; and c. Assets owned by a spouse who is not residing with an applicant or recipient are not considered available unless the assets are liquid assets held in common. 8. a. Income calculations must consider income in the manner provided for in section 75-02-02.1-34, income considerations; section 75-02-02.1-37, unearned income; section 75-02-02.1-38, earned income; section 75-02-02.1-38.2, disregarded income; and section 75-02-02.1-39, income deductions; except: (1) Married individuals living separate and apart from a spouse are treated as single individuals. (2) Income disregards in section 75-02-02.1-38.2 are allowed regardless of the individual's living arrangement. (3) The earned income of any blind or disabled student under age twenty-two is disregarded. (4) The deductions described in subsections 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9 of section 75-02-02.1-39, income deductions, are not allowed. (5) The deductions described in subsection 10 and subdivision e of subsection 11 of section 75-02-02.1-39, income deductions, are allowed regardless of the individual's living arrangement. (6) Annual title II cost of living allowances effective in January shall be disregarded when determining eligibility for Medicare savings programs for January, February, and March. b. A qualified Medicare beneficiary is eligible if countable income is equal to or less than one hundred percent of the poverty level applicable to a family of the size involved, and if the individual meets all of the requirements described in this section. c. A special low-income Medicare beneficiary is eligible if countable income is more than one hundred percent but equal to or less than one hundred twenty percent of the poverty level applicable to a family of the size involved, and if the individual meets all of the requirements described in this section. d. A qualifying individual is income eligible if countable income is more than one hundred twenty percent, but equal to or less than one hundred thirty-five percent of the poverty level applicable to a family of the size involved, and if the individual meets all of the requirements described in this section.