Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment Figures for 2013 Are Projected

Although there has been no official pronouncement from
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, we think we know what next
year’s spousal impoverishment thresholds will be for Medicaid long-term care
applicants. 

The annual adjustments to the figures are based on the
consumer price index for urban consumers for the September prior to the year in
question, in this case September 2012, a figure that was just released. 
Pennsylvania attorney the results in his blog.  Marshall cautions that his projections
may differ slightly from CMS’s ultimate figures if the agency rounds
differently, but we feel certain that the figures are no doubt very close to
the final ones, if not exactly right.  CMS has not replied to our request
for confirmation; we’ll let you know of any changes.

Marshall’s projections for the new spousal impoverishment
allowances for 2013 are as follows:

Minimum Community Spouse Resource Allowance: $23,184

Maximum Community Spouse Resource Allowance: $115,920

Maximum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance for the lower
48 states: $2,898

The minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance for the
lower 48 states remains $1,891.25 until July 1, 2013.