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Effective: December 1, 2006 |
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18ar1 - Deeming Income and Assets (Archive) |
Archived: September 1, 2008 |
When calculating income and asset totals for an individual to determine his or her eligibility for a health care program, it is often necessary to count another person’s income or assets in that determination. This is known as deeming. This chapter provides deeming policy for each health care program including sponsor deeming.
GAMC and GHO Income and Asset Deeming.
To deem means to count the income or assets of one person when determining the eligibility of another.
MinnesotaCare (MCRE) has a household income total and all household members’ countable income is considered when calculating that total.
For more information on countable income, excluded income or income calculations see Income.
For more information on three-generation households, see Household Composition.
MinnesotaCare has a household asset total which is the countable value of assets owned by all members in the household who are age 21 or older.
For more information on countable assets, jointly owned assets, excluded assets, determining the asset value and exemptions to the asset limit, see Assets.
Deeming requirements are not the same as household composition rules. People may be counted in a client’s household size without having their income counted in the client’s income calculation.
Determine whose income deems to a person separately for each client. In general, deem the income of the following people to the client, when they live with the client:
l The client’s spouse.
Note: When a client is not divorced but is legally separated from his/her spouse, and continues to live in the same household, deem the spouse’s income to the client.
Exceptions: Do not deem a spouse’s income to the other spouse, if:
n The spouses live apart for reasons other than temporary absence.
n The client is on MA-EPD.
n The client is on the CADI, CAC, EW, or TBI waivers.
n The client is on the DD waiver, and DHS has given written approval to disregard spousal income.
l The client’s parent, whether biological or adoptive, and regardless of the parent’s age, if the client is under 21 years old and not emancipated.
Note: When the father, or alleged father, is not married to the child’s mother, deem the father’s income only if the father lives with the child and paternity has been established.
Exceptions: Do not deem a parent’s income to the child if the child is:
n A blind or disabled child ages 18 to 21.
n An auto newborn. Do not deem from birth through the end of the month of the child’s first birthday.
n On MA-EPD and age 18 or older, and lives with one or both biological or adoptive parents.
n On TEFRA and is not eligible when parental income is deemed.
n On the CADI, CAC, or TBI waivers.
n On the DD waiver, and DHS has given written approval to disregard parental income.
Do not deem income from:
l A child to a parent.
l A sibling to another sibling, or other children under 21 living in the household.
l A stepparent to a stepchild.
l A grandparent to a grandchild.
l A non-parent relative caretaker to a child.
l Other people to a client who has automatic MA or other deeming exceptions.
MA-LTC, including EW, has unique rules for when deeming of income begins and ends for that program. Please see Long-Term Care (LTC) and Elderly Waiver (EW) for more information.
Deeming requirements are not the same as household composition rules. People may be counted in a client’s household size without having their assets counted in the client’s asset total.
Note: Keep in mind that a child under 21 years old has an asset limit exemption and therefore no assets are deemed to a child.
Determine whose assets deem to a person separately for each client.
Deem the assets of the client's spouse when they live with the client.
Note: When a client is not divorced but is legally separated from his/her spouse, and continues to live in the same household, deem the spouse’s income to the client.
Exceptions: Do not deem spousal assets for the following:
n An MA-EPD client. This includes the spouse’s share of jointly held assets.
n A client on the CADI, CAC, EW, or TBI waivers.
n A client on the DD waiver, and DHS has given written approval to disregard spousal assets.
Do not deem assets from:
l A child to a parent.
l An adult sibling to another adult sibling.
l Another person to a client who meets an asset limit exemption.
GAMC and GHO Income and Asset Deeming
Deem the income and assets of a client’s spouse to the client when the spouse lives with the client.