QI - 1 PROGRAM, WHICH PAYS PART B PREMIUM FOR SOME LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS, EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER, 2005

The Qualified Individual (QI) program, set to expire on November 20, 2004, has been extended through September 30, 2005. The law includes authorization of $100 million for the period October 1 through December 31, 2004, and $300 million for January through September 2005.

Medicare beneficiaries who have incomes between 120% and 135% of federal poverty levels and countable assets less than $4,000 for an individual or $6,000 for a couple qualify for the QI program.  The benefit for those who qualify is payment of the Medicare Part B premium by the state Medicaid program.  The program is funded entirely with federal dollars and, unlike the other Medicare Savings Programs – Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualified Disabled and Working Individual – QI is not an open-ended entitlement. That is to say, when a state’s annual allotment for QI funds is  used up, no other individuals can get the benefit.

Advocates and some policy makers want to make the QI  benefit – which originally expired in 2002 and has limped along on short-term extensions ever since – permanent, but to date that has not happened.  The benefit will be more important than ever in 2005 when the Part B premium increases by more than 17% to $78.20 per  month.

© Copyright, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. 05/02/2008