Gluesenkamp Perez, Ciscomani Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Medicaid Benefits for Working Adults with Disabilities

This week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-In Program Act to expand work opportunities and benefits for working adults with disabilities.

Specifically, the legislation would lift the age limit for the Medicaid Buy-In program for working people with disabilities. This would incentivize adults with disabilities to continue to work, if able, and would allow individuals over 65 years of age to continue to receive Medicaid coverage and benefits as long as they pay a premium.

Current law allows people with disabilities whose jobs pay above traditional eligibility to keep key benefits, like long-term care services that are not available through private insurance, so long as they pay premiums for their Medicaid coverage. However, once these individuals turn 65 years old, they can no longer participate in the program, leaving them to wait two years until they can receive Social Security benefits at age 67. This ultimately penalizes individuals with disabilities who may want to continue working.

“For people with disabilities who rely on home-based and long-term care through Medicaid Buy-In, an age cap for the program can present them with the difficult choice of limiting their income to receive Medicaid care or losing coverage by continuing to work and do what they love,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “By expanding eligibility for Medicaid Buy-In beyond 65, more folks across Southwest Washington can remain in their communities and choose whether to keep working until their Social Security benefits kick in or longer.”

“Working adults with disabilities should never have to choose between a paycheck and their benefits,” said Rep. Ciscomani. “By lifting the age limit for Medicaid buy-in, we can make sure the individuals with disabilities over the age of 65 who depend on these programs can continue to work, if they choose, while maintaining the vital Medicaid benefits they need. This legislation closes this gap in benefits and will allow these individuals to stay in the workforce and receive a paycheck while receiving the benefits they deserve.”

Full text of the bill is available here.

The lawmakers previously introduced this legislation in the 118th Congress and it passed a House Energy and Commerce Committee markup.