|
New York
& Connecticut
Social
Security Reverses Course and Agrees to Send Low-Income People with
Medicare Corrected Letter about Eligibility
Oct. 31, 02 - Reversing course, the Social Security Administration (SSA)
agreed today in federal district court to send letters to over a
million low-income people with Medicare correcting misrepresentations
the agency sent earlier this year regarding eligibility for federal
programs that assist people with Medicare with paying for health care
costs.
The proper notifications will go out to all low-income people with
Medicare in New York and Connecticut from November 18 through December
18, 2002, the SSA said.
SSA's about-face came at today's court hearing in a suit filed by the
Medicare Rights Center (MRC), a consumer service organization. The
suit was filed last week following months of requests by MRC and
others urging the agency to correct the misinformation contained in
letters aimed at increasing enrollment in the Medicare Savings
Programs. Until today, the SSA had rebuffed these requests.
In the suit, MRC contended that the SSA violated federal law by
misrepresenting eligibility requirements for the federal Qualified
Individual Beneficiary Program (QI-1), which pays the annual $648
Medicare premium.
"We commend the Social Security Administration for re-thinking its
position, and agreeing in court today to follow the law. Congress
directed the Bush Administration to reach out to increase enrollment
in these health care programs. Anyone who cares about the health care
crisis for America's elderly should be allies in increasing access to
care through these programs," said Robert M. Hayes, president of the
Medicare Rights Center.
In New York and Connecticut, the $4,000 and $6,000 asset limits for an
individual and a couple, respectively, have been eliminated for the
QI-1 program. However, since June the SSA has sent over one million
misleading letters in those states and elsewhere stating that these
asset requirements were still in effect
In 2000, Congress mandated that SSA send a letter with state-specific
information to low-income people with Medicare about QI-1 and other
Medicare Savings Programs because most people are unaware that these
programs exist so enrollment in these programs is low, Mr. Hayes
said.
Currently, the QI-1 program pays the Medicare Part B premiums for more
than 100,000 Americans with incomes between 120 to 135 percent of
poverty ($10,642 to $11,964 for a single person). In 2002, the annual
Medicare premium is $648 and will rise to about $704 in 2003.
The law firm of Hughes Hubbard and Reed & LLP is serving as lead
counsel in the suit on a volunteer basis.
Medicare Rights Center (MRC)
is a
national, not-for-profit consumer service organization working to
ensure that older adults and people with disabilities receive
high-quality, affordable health care. For more information about MRC,
visit the MRC web site:
www.medicarerights.org. |
