Tucson Standard

U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) celebrated the Energy and Commerce Committee's unanimous approval of his legislation to expand work opportunities, benefits, and home and community-based services (HCBS) for individuals with disabilities. Ciscomani introduced this bipartisan effort in April 2024 with Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). The bill passed out of Committee on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.

Under current law, people with disabilities who earn above traditional income eligibility limits can keep key benefits, such as long-term care services not available through private insurance, as long as they pay premiums for their Medicaid coverage. However, when these individuals turn 65 years old, they can no longer participate in the Medicaid buy-in program, forcing them to wait two years until they can receive Social Security benefits at age 67. This can result in a two-year gap in coverage and penalizes individuals with disabilities who want to continue working.

Ciscomani’s legislation H.R. 8107, the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-In Program Act, would lift the age limit for the Medicaid buy-in program for working people with disabilities. This would give these individuals the option to continue working if they choose and allow those over 65 years of age to continue receiving Medicaid coverage and benefits.

Furthermore, the bill aims 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 daily tasks such as preparing meals or getting dressed, but the current high standard to access this assistance has created long waiting lists for 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 for those with disabilities.

“Working adults with disabilities should never have to choose between their paycheck or their benefits,” said 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.”

“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 Gluesenkamp Perez. “With this bipartisan legislation to expand eligibility for Medicaid Buy-In beyond 65, we can help more folks across Southwest Washington stay in their communities and have the choice to keep working until their Social Security benefits kick in or longer.”

Full text of the bill is available here.