Comments on: HELP Committee Number Confusion…Again http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/07/03/help-committee-number-confusionagain/ Politics for liberal newsgeeks Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:51:30 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: BargainCountertenor http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/07/03/help-committee-number-confusionagain/comment-page-1/#comment-30348 BargainCountertenor Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:00:01 +0000 http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/07/03/help-committee-number-confusionagain/#comment-30348 <p>Figuring out the effect of increasing Medicaid eligibility to 150% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is not going to be easy. Many States are operating under waivers from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that raise the income level for coverage. For example, in New Mexico the upper household income limit to cover children (under age 19) is 185% of FPL. From 185% to 235% of FPL kids are eligible for SCHIP. Above 235% you’re on your own.</p> <p>For adults (19 to 64) things are tougher: in order to be eligible for Medicaid, you have to be on Supplemental Security Income (Social Security Disability) <strong>and</strong> have household income below 85% of FPL. Over 65 years and you’ve made it to the Medicare safe harbor.</p> <p>However, for females of reproductive age below 200% of FPL family planning services are available. There is an additional State-sponsored program called State Coverage Insurance that is available to some adults below 200% of FPL.</p> <p>Making sense of this crazy quilt of programs and eligibility can make you crazy. Once upon a time, I made up a graph of Household income (expressed relative to FPL) vs.age and shaded the eligibility areas. It’s not a pretty thing, and there are so many exceptions to the basic rules that it’s not terribly helpful.</p> <p>What I’m saying is that changing eligibility to 150% of FPL is probably a good thing, but if the coverage effects are derived from national figures they’re wrong, biased upwards.</p> Figuring out the effect of increasing Medicaid eligibility to 150% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is not going to be easy. Many States are operating under waivers from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that raise the income level for coverage. For example, in New Mexico the upper household income limit to cover children (under age 19) is 185% of FPL. From 185% to 235% of FPL kids are eligible for SCHIP. Above 235% you’re on your own.

For adults (19 to 64) things are tougher: in order to be eligible for Medicaid, you have to be on Supplemental Security Income (Social Security Disability) and have household income below 85% of FPL. Over 65 years and you’ve made it to the Medicare safe harbor.

However, for females of reproductive age below 200% of FPL family planning services are available. There is an additional State-sponsored program called State Coverage Insurance that is available to some adults below 200% of FPL.

Making sense of this crazy quilt of programs and eligibility can make you crazy. Once upon a time, I made up a graph of Household income (expressed relative to FPL) vs.age and shaded the eligibility areas. It’s not a pretty thing, and there are so many exceptions to the basic rules that it’s not terribly helpful.

What I’m saying is that changing eligibility to 150% of FPL is probably a good thing, but if the coverage effects are derived from national figures they’re wrong, biased upwards.

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