MASSHEALTH INCREASES THE COMMUNITY SPOUSE MMMNA

Effective July 1, the MassHealth Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) was increased from $1,712 to $1,750 per month.

The MMMNA is an income floor for the spouse of a MassHealth-covered nursing home resident. This amount is calculated according to a complicated formula based on each community spouse's housing costs.  If, for instance,  a community spouse's MMMNA is calculated under MassHealth's formula to be $1,900, but her income is $1,000 a month, she is entitled to $900 a month of the nursing home spouse's income.  The balance of the nursing home spouse's income (less a small personal needs allowance) must go to the nursing home.  No matter the community spouse's actual housing costs, her MMMNA cannot be less than $1,750 nor more than $2,610 without an appeal.

-Adapted from: e-mail News from Margolis & Bloom, July 14, 2008 and July 21, 2008.

 

07/08