In January, 2009, the Maryland Medical Assistance program revised it’s income and asset thresholds. For 2009, the maximum spousal resource allowance is $109,560, and the minimum allowance is $21,912. Remember, however, that the spouse whose partner is in a nursing home may not be able to retain the maximum resource allowance depending on how much money the couple had when one of them entered the nursing home. To see how one might take action to ensure that the spouse at home can keep the maximum, you can read the article I have written on the subject by clicking -HERE-.
If the the spouse at home has insufficient income, the Medicaid program will allow her to keep a portion of the nursing home spouse’s income. This is the case if the spouse at home has income of less than $1,750 per month, or in some instances, income less than $2,739.
Those persons who get Medicare benefits, including people under age 65 who are disabled and receive Social Security Disability Income, or SSDI, can get Medicaid to pay their Medicare premiums, and in some instances, their Medicare deductible and co-pay amounts. Under the so-called QMB program, such benefit is allowable if one’s income is less than $10,400 per year, or $867.00 per month for an individual, and $14,000 per year, or $1,167.00 per month for a couple, for 2009. Under the SLMB and SLMB II programs, these income amounts are slightly higher.
The Supplemental Security Income program, or SSI, for low income and low asset disabled persons, will pay an individual $674 per month, and a couple $1,011.00 per month, in 2009.