Bill Text: MN SF1639 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Spousal income requirements for medical assistance (MA) eligibility modification
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-29 - Referred to Health, Human Services and Housing [SF1639 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF1639-Introduced.html
1.2relating to human services; modifying spousal income requirements for medical
1.3assistance eligibility;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256B.058,
1.4subdivision 4.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256B.058, subdivision 4, is amended to
1.7read:
1.8 Subd. 4. Treatment of income. (a) No income of the community spouse will
1.9be considered available to an eligible institutionalized spouse, beginning the first full
1.10calendar month of institutionalization, except as provided in this subdivision.
1.11 (b) In determining the income of an institutionalized spouse or community spouse,
1.12after the institutionalized spouse has been determined eligible for medical assistance,
1.13the following rules apply.
1.14 (1) For income that is not from a trust, availability is determined according to items
1.15(i) to (v), unless the instrument providing the income otherwise specifically provides:
1.16 (i) if payment is made solely in the name of one spouse, the income is considered
1.17available only to that spouse;
1.18 (ii) if payment is made in the names of both spouses, one-half of the income is
1.19considered available to each;
1.20 (iii) if payment is made in the names of one or both spouses together with one or
1.21more other persons, the income is considered available to each spouse according to the
1.22spouse's interest, or one-half of the joint interest is considered available to each spouse
1.23if each spouse's interest is not specified;
2.1 (iv) if there is no instrument that establishes ownership, one-half of the income is
2.2considered available to each spouse; and
2.3 (v) either spouse may rebut the determination of availability of income by showing by
2.4a preponderance of the evidence that ownership interests are different than provided above.
2.5 (2) For income from a trust, income is considered available to each spouse as
2.6provided in the trust. If the trust does not specify an amount available to either or both
2.7spouses, availability will be determined according to items (i) to (iii):
2.8 (i) if payment of income is made only to one spouse, the income is considered
2.9available only to that spouse;
2.10 (ii) if payment of income is made to both spouses, one-half is considered available to
2.11each; and
2.12 (iii) if payment is made to either or both spouses and one or more other persons,
2.13the income is considered available to each spouse in proportion to each spouse's interest,
2.14or if no such interest is specified, one-half of the joint interest is considered available
2.15to each spouse.
2.16(c) To the extent allowed by federal law, for a community spouse age 65 or older,
2.17income received from the proceeds of any retirement account, including an individual
2.18account, 401(k) plan, 403(b) plan, Keogh plan, and pension plan is not considered
2.19available to an eligible institutionalized spouse.
2.20 Sec. 2. FEDERAL WAIVER OR APPROVAL.
2.21The commissioner of human services shall seek any federal waivers or approvals
2.22necessary to implement section 1.
1.3assistance eligibility;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256B.058,
1.4subdivision 4.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256B.058, subdivision 4, is amended to
1.7read:
1.8 Subd. 4. Treatment of income. (a) No income of the community spouse will
1.9be considered available to an eligible institutionalized spouse, beginning the first full
1.10calendar month of institutionalization, except as provided in this subdivision.
1.11 (b) In determining the income of an institutionalized spouse or community spouse,
1.12after the institutionalized spouse has been determined eligible for medical assistance,
1.13the following rules apply.
1.14 (1) For income that is not from a trust, availability is determined according to items
1.15(i) to (v), unless the instrument providing the income otherwise specifically provides:
1.16 (i) if payment is made solely in the name of one spouse, the income is considered
1.17available only to that spouse;
1.18 (ii) if payment is made in the names of both spouses, one-half of the income is
1.19considered available to each;
1.20 (iii) if payment is made in the names of one or both spouses together with one or
1.21more other persons, the income is considered available to each spouse according to the
1.22spouse's interest, or one-half of the joint interest is considered available to each spouse
1.23if each spouse's interest is not specified;
2.1 (iv) if there is no instrument that establishes ownership, one-half of the income is
2.2considered available to each spouse; and
2.3 (v) either spouse may rebut the determination of availability of income by showing by
2.4a preponderance of the evidence that ownership interests are different than provided above.
2.5 (2) For income from a trust, income is considered available to each spouse as
2.6provided in the trust. If the trust does not specify an amount available to either or both
2.7spouses, availability will be determined according to items (i) to (iii):
2.8 (i) if payment of income is made only to one spouse, the income is considered
2.9available only to that spouse;
2.10 (ii) if payment of income is made to both spouses, one-half is considered available to
2.11each; and
2.12 (iii) if payment is made to either or both spouses and one or more other persons,
2.13the income is considered available to each spouse in proportion to each spouse's interest,
2.14or if no such interest is specified, one-half of the joint interest is considered available
2.15to each spouse.
2.16(c) To the extent allowed by federal law, for a community spouse age 65 or older,
2.17income received from the proceeds of any retirement account, including an individual
2.18account, 401(k) plan, 403(b) plan, Keogh plan, and pension plan is not considered
2.19available to an eligible institutionalized spouse.
2.20 Sec. 2. FEDERAL WAIVER OR APPROVAL.
2.21The commissioner of human services shall seek any federal waivers or approvals
2.22necessary to implement section 1.
