Medicaid Buy-In

Pat Pucket, the Executive Director of The Georgia Independent Living Network, took the lead in convincing the Senate and House to put language into the FY07 that called for an analysis of Medicaid Buy In. See their recent newsletter:

The Senate version of the budget requires the Department of Community Health to conduct an analysis of Medicaid Buy In programs operational in other states and to recommend a cost-effective program to allow working Georgians with disabilities to receive healthcare through Medicaid. We fully expect the House to agree. The final step is the Budget Conference Committee, which works out House/Senate differences on the 2007 budget. If you are interested in working on the Buy In Task Force, contact Pat Puckett at the SILC.

The language is a directive to the Department of Community Health to explore ways that will allow people with Disabilities to work and not lose their much needed Medicaid supports. The fact sheet developed by SILC outlines this program this way...

The purpose of a Medicaid Buy-In program is to provide people with disabilities who are working the opportunity to earn a modest income ($35,000-$45,000) and/or accumulate savings ($10,000) while maintaining needed health coverage. With this program, working people with disabilities can earn more income without the risk of losing Medicaid-related services. States have the choice to create new Medicaid eligibility categories for working people with disabilities whose earnings and/or resources would otherwise make them ineligible for Medicaid. The buy-in provision, first established in 1997, was expanded by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.

Why is having a program so important?

According to a 2004 study, only 35% of people with disabilities were employed either on a full-time or part-time basis, compared to 78% of people without disabilities. Though, not the sole cause of unemployment, the fear of losing vital healthcare benefits has a significant influence on citizens with disabilities and their decisions to work. A Georgia Medicaid Buy-In Program would assist Georgians who want to be productive taxpaying citizens. Currently, the Medicaid system unintentionally keeps some individuals from earning a significant income and/or accumulating any meaningful amount of savings. Strict guidelines pertaining to income and assets make these individuals fear losing vital health care services if they just try to earn a decent living or save toward a purchase (e.g., home). Thus, they become dependent on more services, costing taxpayers significantly. Of course, these people face negative attitudes about their ability to be economically-productive members of society. The reality is all people can contribute fiscally to their community.

If you would like to be considered for the Task Force, email Pat Pucket.