2010 guide to benefits programs for older Georgians [Jan. 2010]

2010 GUIDE

BENEFITS PROGRAMS

FEDERAL FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

SOCIAL SECURITY

Assistance Putting Healthy l"ood
Within Reach MEDICARE
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MEDICAID
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FOR OLDER GEORGIANS

Georgia Department of Human Services

JANUARY 2010

MEDICARE

Eligible Persons: Age 65, on disability for 2 years or
diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (on dialysis or in need of a transplant) Apply at Social Security.

COVERAGE:
Part A - Hospitalization through Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Part B Medical Coverage for Doctors, Equipment and Supplies
through Noridian Administrative Services

DEDUCTIBLES:

Part A:

$1,100.00 each benefit period

Part B:

$155.00 annually

-

PREMIUMS: Monthly
Part A - $461.00 for uninsured and certain disabled individuals
with less than 30 quarters.
$254.00 for those credited with 30-39 quarters of
coverage.

Part B- Based on annual income. I f individual income is Less than $85,000
Less than $85,000
$85,000 to $107,000 $107,000 to $160,000 $160,000 to $214,000 Greater than $214,000

The Premium is: $96.40
(if premium withheld held by SSA in 2009)
$ 110.50 (if premium not withheld in 2009)
$154.70
$221.oo
$287.30 $353.60

Appeal Time: 180 days on initial appeal and 60 days for a request for reconsideration.

MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE I f you have not enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, please go to www.Medicare.crov or call GeorgiaCares
at 1-800-669-8387

HOSPITAL MEDICARE

Medicare pays up to 90 days for each spell of illness. For the first

60 days, Medicare pays I0O0/o of covered hospital services. For

-

the 61st through the 90th day, Medicare pays all but $275.00 per

day.

Lifetime Reserve Days: Every Medicare beneficiary has 60 days that they may use in their lifetime to cover days in the hospital that exceed the Medicare limit of 90. Once these 60 days have been used, they are not replaced. When one of these days is used, Medicare will pay everything except the first $550.00 per day.

NURSING HOME MEDICARE

Medicare pays for Skilled Care only. One must have been hospitalized for 3 consecutive days before entering the nursing home. For the first 20 days, Medicare pays all of the covered costs. For the 21st-100th day, there is a co-insurance payment of $137.50 per day and Medicare pays the rest. After 100 days, Medicare pays nothing.

MEDICAID
I f one is eligible for SSI/TANF, then one is eligible for Medicaid. The Department of Community Health's Division of Medical Assistance administers Georgia Medicaid: 1-800-766-4456 or (404) 298-1228, Application is made at DFCS. I f you lose your TANF/SSI, you do not necessarily lose Medicaid. The State must make an independent determination.
MEDICAID COVERED SERVICES
Ambulatory Surgical Services Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Childbirth Education Services Children's Intervention Services Community Based Alternatives (SOURCE) Dental Services (some) Diagnostic, Screening and Preventive Services Dialysis Services Durable Medical Equipment Rental (hospital beds,
wheelchairs, crutches and walkers prescribed by doctors) Emergency Ambulance Services EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment) Family Planning Georgia Better Health Care Health Insurance Premiums (Medicare: Part A and Part B, QMB, SLMB) Home health Hospice Services Inpatient and Outpatient Hospital Services Intermediate Care for the Mentally Retarded Facility Services Laboratory/ X-ray Services

M E D I C A I D SERVICES (continued)
Medicare Crossovers Mental Health Clinic Services Non-emergency transportation (12 doctors visits per year unless more medically justified) Nurse Practitioner Services Nursing Home Services Oral Surgery Orthotic and Prosthetic Pharmacy Services: NOTE: MEDICARE eliqible recipients must be enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Druq Plan Physician Services Physician's Assistant ServicesPodiatric Services Pre-Admission ScreeninglAnnual Resident Review Pregnancy Related Services Psychological Services Retroactive Medicaid (3 mos.) Rural Health Clinic/Community Health Center Services Swing Bed Services Targeted Case Management Services
Adults w/ Aids Chronically Mentally Ill Early Intervention Perinatal o Therapeutic Residential Intervention Vision Care Services Waiver Services Community Care o Independent Care Mental Retardation Community Habilitation and Support o Traumatic Brain Injury

Transfer of Assets for Long Term Care Medicaid: I n Medicaid for long-term care, which includes nursing home and the community care services program, where assets are transferred for less than the Fair Market Value within 60 months before application for Medicaid is filed; a person may be disqualified for a
period equal t o the value transferred . (Effective 2/1/07, any transfers
to assets made after 2/8/06 became subject to a 60 month look back period under the Federal Deficit Reduction Act "DRA.)
(Contact the Division of Aging Services for more information about this subject in our publication, "Medicaid for Long Term Care".)
COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES PROGRAM
This program provides Medicaid Coverage and in-home services for persons who are nursing home eligible but choose to stay in their own homes. I f a person's income level exceeds the Federal Benefit Rate for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, there is a cost share to participate in the program. $2,022 is the cap for eligibility. Income exceeding this amount will require a QIT or Miller Trust for eligibility. Cost share is based upon the amount of income over the SSI amount. Some of the services available include Personal Care Aide, Adult Day Health, Emergency Response System, Nursing Services, etc.
For more information, contact the Community Care Services Program Office for your area through the Area Agency on Aging.

NURSING HOME MEDICAID ( No Chanae for 20101

This is a program that enables people, aged, blind or disabled who need nursing home care but are unable t o afford it a means by which t o receive care through the Medicaid program. Income exceeding the amount below will require a QIT or Miller Trust in order to ensure eligibility.

Income limit: up to $2,022 per month - per person

Resources limit: $2,000 individual

$3,000 couple

- SPOUSAL IMPOVERISHMENT (No Chanae for 20101
This is a program that can prevent a married couple from having to spend down all of their resources. The program allows the spouse who remains a t home, the Community Spouse, who is not receiving Medicaid, t o keep up t o $2,739.00 of the couple's income and $109,560.00 of the couple's resources.
Allowable Resources: the home, a $10,000.00 limit for burial exclusions for AIR and for the spouse, including accounts, life insurance and preneeds contracts, $2,000.00 savings for the AIR, household furnishings, certain automobiles, and some other items
Example: For a Nursing Home bill of $2,00O/month, where the community spouse has $1,000.00 income and the nursing home resident has $1,200 income; the calculations will be as follows: Step 1:
The Nursing Home Resident receives income in the amount of $1,200:

$1,200 income (-1 $50.00 Personal Needs Allowance (-1
$130.00 in excess medical expenses (=) $1,020.00 available income Step 2: The Community Spouse receives $1,000.00 income:
$1,000.00 income (+) $1,020.00 from NH resident (=)
$2020.00 total income which is less than $2,739.00,
therefore community spouse keeps $2,020.00 income, leaving $0.00 for the resident's contribution to the nursing home bill and the Medicaid payment is $2,000.
Incurred excess medical expenses not covered by Medicaid, (i.e. dentures, some medications and chiropractic care) may be deducted from the NH resident's income. Most medications should be covered by the NH resident's Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for those on Medicare and NH Medicaid. DFCS must be notified.
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI)
For: Those age 65 or older, blind or disabled with income as provided below. Apply at Social Security.
Januarv 2010 [No Increase)
Individual: $674.00 per month Couple: $1,011.00per month
There is a resource limit of $2,000.00 for an individual and $3,000.00 for a couple. Resources include things like cash, savings, CDs, etc. Certain things are excluded from resources.

Examples of things excluded from resources are: home, car up to $4,500, prepaid burial plots, caskets, vaults etc. and up to $1,500 in a burial account, household goods up to $2,000, trade/business, life insurance face value up to $1,500. Appeal Time: 6 0 days.
Pickle People: I f you received SS/SSI in the same month and SSI was canceled due to cost of living increase, you may be eligible for continued Medicaid if you are eligible but for the cost of the living increase. Apply at DFCS.

Adult Medically Needy "Spend Down"

Eligible persons are those who are aged 65 or older, blind or disabled with high medical bills and income too high for other categories of Medicaid. Total unpaid bills must bring income below the required limits. Apply at DFCS.

Januarv 2010 $337.00 $395.00

Resources: $2,000 individual

$4,000 couple

Appeal Time: 3 0 days

MEDICARE BUY-IN PROGRAMS

There are programs that enable a person with limited income to assist with paying for the cost of having Medicare. Income limits change every year when the Federal Poverty Levels change. Apply at DFCS.

1. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Covers Part B Premium, Co-insurance and Part A & B Deductibles. (Does Not PAY for prescriptions).

Income Limit:

(Thru March 2010)

Individual $ 923.00

Couple

$1,235.00

2. Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary [SLIMB) only covers the Part B Premium.

Income Limit:

(Thru March 2010)

Individual $1,103.00

Couple

$1,477.00

*Ask about the availability of benefits under the Q-1 program that pays the Part B premium.

Effective January 1, 2010, the three Medicare Savings Programs will use the Part D low-

income subsidy (LIS) asset amount, indexed each year according to the Consumer Price

Index.

Resources: $6,600 individual

$9,910 couple

Appeal Time: 3 0 days (10 days for continued benefits)

MEDICARE PART D SUBSIDIES ("Extra Help")
Full- Provides drug subsidy with low co-payments t o Medicare beneficiaries with incomes up to 135% of federal poverty level and limited resources. Apply at Social Security. Income Limit: $1,218.00 individual per month
$1,639.00 couple per month
Partial- Provides a partial subsidy of premium, deductible and co-insurance to Medicare beneficiaries with incomes up t o 150% of poverty and limited resources. Income limit: $1,353.00 individual per month
$1,821.00 couple per month

HOSPICE
Hospice cares for the terminally ill and their families. The goal is not to cure but to provide care and counseling to make the final stages of life more comfortable. Hospice, provided by a public or private agency that is Medicare or Medicaid approved is for all ages, including children and adults.

Services available:

Nursing services

Medical social services

o Physician services

o Counseling

1

Homemaker services

1

Medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, walkers, hospital

beds)

o Medical supplies (bandages, catheters)

0 Prescription drugs for pain

Short term stay in the hospital for respite care

o Home health aide

D Physical and occupational therapy Speech therapy Social worker services Dietary counseling
D Grief counseling

Services Not Covered By Hospice Treatment to cure the terminal illness Care from a hospice provider other than your hospice provider The same type of care that your hospice care provider is giving you
- -
Medicare Hospice

You pay a possible $5.00 for each outpatient prescription drug and similar products for pain relief and symptom control and possibly a 5% of the Medicare per day payment amount for inpatient respite care. Medications for one in hospice are also covered by either Medicare Part B or Part D.

Medicaid H o s ~ i c e Income limit: $2,022 per month

Resources: $2,000 individual

$3,000 couple

Food Stamps (throuqh September 2010)

Federal Program renamed "SNAP"

(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

1 HH sire l65q0of

Gross

Net Income

Max

Poverty

130%

100%

Allotment

I

2

3

4

5

6

7

-

8

Each

additional

person

$1,490 $2,004 $2,518 $3,032 $3,547 $4,061 $4,575 $5,089 +$515

$1,174 $1,579 $1,984 $2,389 $2,794 $3,200 $3,605 $3,406 +$406

$ 903 $1,215 $1,526 $1,838 $2,150 $2,461 $2,773 $3,085 +$312

$200 $367 $526 $668 $793 $952 $1,052 $1,202 +$I50

An elderly or disabled person's food stamp allotment is based upon their net income. Most households must meet the maximum gross income to even be considered eligible for the program and then meet the net income limit. Apply a t DFCS.
Multiply the net income by .3 and subtract that figure from
the maximum food stamp allotment to obtain the HH allotment.
Resources: $3,000 elderly (60 and over) $2,000 non-elderly
Exempt Resources: Home and lot; household goods; cars with FMV under $4,650 or cars exempt because used for income production, long distance work, as home or for transporting disabled. Appeal Time: 90 days (10 days continued benefits).

Medical expenses in excess of $35.00 can be used t o increase food stamp allotments for the elderly. These would include one-time medical bills and recurring expenses such as Medicare and insurance premiums, (when paid by the recipient) and doctor visits. This now includes medical mileage defined as transportation t o and from medical appointments and the pharmacy in the recipient's own vehicle. Mileage expenses should be reported on Form 840-Medical Transportation Log which is available from DFCS. For transportation by taxi, bus, train, etc. use the actual cost of the t r i p t o claim it as an expense.
Other Food st am^ Budset Allowances
Standard Deduction: $141.00 maximum (1-3 people) $153.00 (4+ people)
Shelter Deduction: $459.00 (In addition, excess shelter costs for elderly households)
A Dependent care deduction for work, training or education
A 20% deduction for earned income

For Assistance with the Programs Discussed I n This Brochure See The Following :

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES (Contact the office in your county)

I.Nursing Home Medicaid 2. Spousal Impoverishment 3. QMB or SLIMB 4. Adult Medically Needy "Spend Down" 5. Food Stamps

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

(1-800-772-1213)

I. Social Security

--

2. Supplemental Security Income

3. Low income Subsidy or Medicare Part D "Extra Help"

MEDICARE (1-800-MED1CARE)"I-800-633-4227''

MEDICARE PART B CLAIMS 1-800-633-4227

MEDICARE PART A CLAIMS 1-800-633-4227

GEORGIA HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE ORGANIZATION 770-924-6073 or 1-877-924-6023

GEORGIA CARES For information on prescription drug plans, Medicare and other health insurance options 1-800-669-8387
COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES PROGRAM Information is available from the Area Agency on Aging Office for your area.
MEDICAID Department Of Community Health Division of Medical Assistance 1-800-766-4456 or (404) 298-1228
GEORGIA SENIOR LEGAL HOTLINE Brief legal advice over the phone for people 60 years of age and older 1-888-257-9519 or (404) 657-9915
ELAP (Elderly Legal Assistance Program) Legal assistance program providing civil information, education and representation at no cost to persons 60 years of age and older when brief telephone legal advice is not enough.
For the program that serves your area, contact your Area Agency on Aging Office or the Division of Aging Services at 1-866-552-4464 or (404) 657-5319
LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM I f you have someone in a personal care home or nursing home that needs an advocate or an extra voice, contact the local ombudsman. 1-888-454-5826 or (404) 463-8383

AREA AGENCIES O N AGING

I

Atlanta Regional

River Valley

Commission

Home Office: Columbus

Home Office: Atlanta

1-800-615-4379

(404) 463-3333

1-800-676-2433

Middle Georgia

Home Office: Macon

Central Savannah River

1-888-548-1456

Area

Home Office: Augusta

Northeast Georgia

1-888-922-4464

Home Office: Athens

1-800-474-7540

Coastal Georgia

Home Office: Brunswick

Northwest Georgia

1-800-580-6860

Home Office: Rome

1-800-759-2963

GA Mountains (Legacy

Link, Inc.)

Southern Georgia

Home Office: Gainesville

Home Office: Waycross

1-800-845-5465

1-888-732-4464

Heart of Georgia Altamaha
Home Office: Baxley
1-888-367-9913

Three Rivers/Southern Crescent
Home Office: Franklin
1-866-854-5652

Southwest Georgia Home Office: Albany
1-800-282-6612

Natalie K. Thomas Attorney at Law
State Legal Services Developer Division of Aging Services
2 Peachtree Street, NW; Suite 9.398 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3142 1-866-55-AGING or (404) 657-5328 nkthomas@dhr,state.qa.us