Department of Social Services
Family Support Division
PO Box 2320
Jefferson City, Missouri
TO: ALL FAMILY SUPPORT OFFICES
FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: UPDATE OF POVERTY INCOME GUIDELINES FOR MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED PROGRAMS
MANUAL REVISION #
Appendix J, Adult Standards Chart
Appendix K, MO HealthNet Aged, Blind, and Disabled Program Descriptions
Appendix L, Aged, Blind, Disabled Income Chart
Appendix M, Medicare Cost Savings Program
DISCUSSION:
Effective April 1, 2021, the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) income guidelines increase for the following programs: MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (MHABD) Spend Down and Non-Spend Down, Ticket to Work Health Assurance (TWHA), Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB and SLMB-2), Qualified Disabled Working Individuals (QDWI), MO HealthNet for Disabled Children (MHDC) and Gateway to Better Health programs (GTBH). The Blind Pension (BP) spousal support income maximum has also increased with the FPL.
On the weekend of March 06, 2021, MHABD programs with income eligibility based on the federal poverty level will be adjusted. This memorandum includes information on:
- PREMIUM REFUNDS
- INCOME CHARTS AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
PREMIUM REFUNDS
Premiums paid for April coverage will be refunded to the participant if the FPL causes the case to become eligible as a non-premium case. The refund process will take approximately 8 weeks to complete.
INCOME CHARTS
Income charts are no longer being updated in each manual section, but instead will be updated in the Appendices. For historical purposes, the income standards listed below will be included in the FPL memo:
MHABD OAA/PTD income standards effective April 01, 2021 through March 31, 2022
| Assistance Group Size | Non-Spend Down Income Standard |
| 1 | $913.00 |
| 2 | $1234.00 |
MHABD AB income standards effective April 01, 2021 through March 31, 2022
| Assistance Group Size | Non-Spend Down Income Standard |
| 1 | $1074.00 |
| 2 | $1452.00 |
Blind Pension sighted spouse income maximum effective April 01, 2021 through March 31, 2022
| Sighted Spouse | $7259.00 |
QDWI income standards effective April 01, 2021 through March 31, 2022
| Assistance Group Size | QDWI Income Standard |
| 1 | $2,147.00 |
| 2 | $2,903.00 |
QMB income standards effective April 01, 2021 through March 31, 2022
| Assistance Group Size | QMB Income Standard |
| 1 | $1,074.00 |
| 2 | $1,452.00 |
| 3 | $1,830.00 |
SLMB1 income standards effective April 01, 2021 through March 31, 2022
| Assistance Group Size | SLMB1 Income Standard |
| 1 | $1,288.00 |
| 2 | $1,742.00 |
| 3 | $2,196.00 |
SLMB2 income standards effective April 01, 2021 through March 31, 2022
| Assistance Group Size | SLMB2 Income Standard |
| 1 | $1,449.00 |
| 2 | $1,960.00 |
| 3 | $2,471.00 |
TWHA Premiums for Single Cases effective April 01, 2021 through March 31, 2022
| Type of Case | Percent of FPL | Monthly Income | Premium Amount |
| Single | < 100% FPL | $1,074.00 or less | non premium |
| Single | >100% FPL but < 150% FPL | $1,074.01 – $1609.99 | $42 |
| Single | > 150% FPL but < 200% FPL | $1,610.00 – $2,146.99 | $62 |
| Single | > 200% FPL but < 250% FPL | $2,147.00 -$2,683.99 | $104 |
| Single | > 250% FPL but < 300% FPL | $2,684.00 – $3,220.00 | $156 |
TWHA Premiums for Couple Cases effective April 01, 2021 through March 31, 2022
| Type of Case | Percent of FPL | Monthly Income | Premium Amount |
| Couple | < 100% FPL | $1,452.00 or less | non premium |
| Couple | >100% FPL but < 150% FPL | $1,452.01 -$2,177.99 | $56 |
| Couple | > 150% FPL but < 200% FPL | $2,178.00 -$2,903.99 | $85 |
| Couple | > 200% FPL but < 250% FPL | $2,904.00 -$3,629.99 | $141 |
| Couple | > 250% FPL but < 300% FPL | $3,630.00 – $4,355.00 | $211 |
PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS AND OTHER RESOURCES
The MHABD Standards Chart, MHABD Program Descriptions, MHABD Income Chart, and the Medicare Cost Savings Programs (QMB and SLMB) internet pages are updated in Appendices J, K, L, and M in the MHABD Manual to include the change in FPL income limits.
NECESSARY ACTION:
- Begin using the new federal poverty level income guidelines effective for April 2021 and later.
- Follow the FPL FAMIS Guide to resolve conflicting actions.
- Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
KE/vm