- TO:
- ALL FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION OFFICES
- FROM:
- JULIE GIBSON, DIRECTOR
- SUBJECT:
- 2016 COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA) AND SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE (MEDICARE PART B) PREMIUM CHANGES
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this memorandum is to notify staff of the 2016 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and 2016 Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) premium changes.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced there will be no COLA adjustment, but SMI premiums for some Medicare recipients will increase effective January 1, 2016.
The SMI premium will remain $104.90 for recipients who:
- Are entitled to Social Security benefits for November and December 2015
- Have Medicare Part B premiums deducted from Social Security benefits in December 2015, and
- Have income under $85,000 (individual) and $170,000 (married)
The SMI premium will increase to $121.80 for recipients who:
- Are new Medicare beneficiaries, or
- Have Medicare premiums paid by the state of Missouri through a Medicare Savings Program (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) and Supplemental Low Income Beneficiary (SLMB), or
- Have income at or above $85,000 (individual) and $170,000 (married)
Because most SMI recipients will not have an increase in the premium, there will be no mass adjustment in the Family Assistance Management Information System (FAMIS) to increase the 2016 premium amounts.
The amount an individual pays for the SMI premium is used as a medical expense deduction on Food Stamp (FS), Child Care (CC), and MO HealthNet for Aged, Blind and Disabled (MHABD) cases. Individuals with an increase in the premium could have an increase in benefits or become eligible for these programs.
If SMI recipients report an increase in their SMI premium, the eligibility specialist (ES) must check all available sources, including the Missouri Department of Social Services Sves-Wire Third Party Query Response (IIVE) and the Beneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange (BENDEX) file to verify the increase. If the ES is unable to verify the increase with available sources, send Request for Information (FA-325 or IM-31A) to the recipient to provide verification of the increase.NECESSARY ACTION:
- Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
- Act on all SMI premium changes reported.
JG/ha