MassHealth Updates Community Spouse Allowances

Under regulations just released by MassHealth, but effective January 1, 2007, cost-of-living adjustments have been updated as follows:

• Maximum monthly spousal maintenance needs allowance increased from $2,488.50 to $2,541.00 ( See Regulation 520.026 ) 


• Maximum amount of assets that can be kept by institutionalized individual's spouse increased from $99,540.00 to $101,640.00 ( See Regulation 520.016 )

Note: At Attny. Jeff Bloom’s recent CRC Information Session, the question arose whether same-sex married couples also are afforded these protections. He replied that the state seems to be planning on honoring these protections, but it is unclear if this has yet been tested. He suspects since MassHealth is a combined state and federal program that in this situation the state will probably not seek federal reimbursement for the amount that would be in dispute.

-News from Margolis & Associates, The Margolis & Associates Weekly, June 25, 2007.

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