Gluesenkamp Perez’s Bipartisan Bill Passes Committee to Expand Medicaid Benefits for Working Adults with Disabilities

Last week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) and Rep. Juan Ciscomani’s (AZ-06) bipartisan Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-In Program Act unanimously passed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to expand work opportunities and benefits for working adults with disabilities.

Specifically, the legislation will 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.

Furthermore, the bill takes meaningful steps to improve access to Medicaid for those with disabilities by allowing states to waive certain Medicaid requirements that currently prevent individuals from qualifying for long-term care services at home if they do not meet an institutional level of care need. Some individuals may need help with some daily tasks such as preparing meals or getting dressed, but the current high standard to access this assistance has created long waiting lists to receive Medicaid HCBS. By allowing this gap in care to increase, those who currently may not need an institutional level of care but still need assistance, could find themselves in just that situation. This bill will give states the flexibility to improve the quality of life of those with disabilities.

“For people with disabilities who rely on home-based and long-term care through Medicaid Buy-In, an age cap for the program at 65 can present them with the difficult choice of either limiting their income to receive much-needed care through Medicaid or losing coverage by continuing to work and remain independent,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “With our bipartisan bill passing committee to expand eligibility for Medicaid Buy-In beyond 65, we’re one step closer to helping more folks remain in their communities and have the option to keep working until their Social Security benefits kick in or longer.”

“Working adults with disabilities should never have to choose between their paycheck or their benefits,” said Rep. Ciscomani. “By lifting the age limit for the Medicaid buy-in program, this bipartisan legislation expands eligibility and ensures that individuals with disabilities over the age of 65 can continue to work while maintaining vital Medicaid benefits they need. Proud to lead this effort with Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez and I am glad to see it pass out of the Energy and Commerce Committee.”