While there are numerous flaws in the mislabeled Medicare Catastrophic Protection Act, which passed the House by a 301-127 majority, as you convincingly point out in your editorial, ”Medicare bill could be
catastrophic,” a provision of the bill to prevent spousal impoverishment should be retained in the version of the bill finally signed into law.
According to the provision, the ”community spouse”-that is, the spouse remaining at home while Medicaid is paying for the institutional care of the afflicted spouse-may retain $12,000 in liquid assets and up to $48,000 in total assets. The couple`s homestead is exempt from these thresholds.
In addition, under terms of the bill, the community spouse can retain income as high as $925 per month, and in some instances, even higher. Under present outmoded and oppressive statutes, couples must spend down their assets and income to below the poverty level prior to qualifying for Medicaid coverage.
