Medicaid Programs for Disabled Workers
Work Without Worry
United Spinal Association is launching a multi-state campaign targeting states across the country, plus the District of Columbia, to implement and/or enhance Medicaid programs for disabled workers. These Medicaid ‘Buy-In’ programs are an optional state Medicaid benefit group for workers with disabilities who have earnings in excess of traditional Medicaid rules. Individuals with disabilities who would be ineligible for Medicaid because of earnings can work and access the services and supports they need. Ideally, it means workers with disabilities do not need to choose between healthcare and work. For more details on Medicaid Employment Initiatives, please visit medicaid.gov.
Mobilize with us and become part of our Grassroots Advocacy Network.
Medicaid Win in Tennessee
In May 2024, Governor Bill Lee signed the TennCare for Working Individuals with Disabilities Act which allows qualified disabled individuals to pay a premium to access Medicaid’s long-term support services if their income exceeds the current Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Congratulations to Robby Barbieri, United Spinal’s Advocate of the Year 2024, for leading this effort in Tennessee. Thanks also to Medicare and Medicaid expert Annette Shea, United Spinal consultant and former Administration for Community Living and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services staff, as well as the Tennessee Disability Coalition. Additionally, we recognize the original champions of the bill: State Representative Darren Jernigan and sponsors State Senator Bo Watson, and State Representative Tim Hicks.
Read about Robbie’s fight in our blog, “Robby Just Wants to Work and Save Money“.
You can make a difference
Your support will help us address this pressing issue of improving access to Medicaid supports and services for workers with disabilities who need to remain employed.
What we are fighting for:
- We must separate the dependence on personal care from income
- The need for personal care supports is a medical necessity not an elective
- Premiums for homecare supports should be based on a sliding scale for income
- We must lift asset and income limits in Medicaid programs across the country and disregard spousal income for eligibility of supports to allow for increased economic mobility, wealth generation and accumulation to facilitate empowerment and increased independence of all people with disabilities for greater participation in society
- This will lead to people with spinal cord injuries and all wheelchair users being able to get married, raise children and select their job of choice and state of choice and not be hampered by restrictive state regulations.
US State Medicaid Disabled Workers Program Adoption
Map provided by MusicCityWheels.
United Spinal supports these provisions in Medicaid legislation across the country:
- no income or asset limits
- no spousal restrictions
- premium scale (tiered scale/increases in income do no limit supports)
- lift the age cap (beyond age 64)
- excluding assets accrued during enrollment period (exclude recouped assets after death: qualified retirement assets, primary residences and assets accrued during enrollment in waiver programs)
- continuous eligibility (grace periods for individuals who experience an interruption in employment for up to 6 months)