Provides that an individual shall not become ineligible under the EPIC program due to an increase in social security benefits or a public or private pension where such increase does not exceed the consumer price index.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A928A
SPONSOR: Carroll TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to eligibility under the
program for elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
To allow seniors to retain their eligibility in the EPIC program if they
have previously qualified but are no longer eligible because of an
increase in a public or private pension or social security benefit.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS::
Adds a new paragraph (i) to section 547-b of the elder law to allow an
individual to remain eligible for the. EPIC program if they were previ-
ously eligible but are no longer solely due to an increase in a public
or private pension or an increase in social security benefits. Increase
amount cannot exceed consumer price index.
JUSTIFICATION::
The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program assists
seniors with the financial burden of prescription drug costs. The
already high costs of prescription drugs are still escalating. EPIC has
been enormously successful in keeping prescription 'drugs affordable.
Specifically, the program provides thousands of seniors with a vital
service by paying a portion of their prescription drug costs. Residents
6f New York State who are 65 or older with an annual income up to
$35,000 (single) or $50,000 (married)are eligible. It would be unfair to
punish seniors who were previously eligible for EPIC but are no longer
solely due to a cost of living adjustment. As these income adjustments
are minimal they should not hinder the eligibility of seniors currently
enrolled in the program.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
A.5149 of 2001-02 - Passed Assembly A.1429 of 2003-04
A..302 of 2005-06 - Passed Assembly
A.1396 of 2007
A.7923A of 2007-08 - Passed Assembly A.4451of2011-12 A.4305 OF 2014
A:3618 OF 2015-16 A.3742 of 2017-18 A.3145/S.2187 of 2020
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
Minimal as this will only apply to seniors previously determined eligi-
ble.
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect on April 1st, 2023.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
928--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CARROLL, BENEDETTO, ABBATE, COLTON, GOTTFRIED,
PEOPLES-STOKES, J. RIVERA, L. ROSENTHAL, GUNTHER, SANTABARBARA,
STIRPE, BARRETT, ENGLEBRIGHT, DICKENS, BUTTENSCHON, SAYEGH, FRONTUS,
FALL, CRUZ, DINOWITZ, MONTESANO, GRIFFIN, ANDERSON, JACKSON, BARNWELL
-- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, CUSICK, GLICK, PERRY, SIMON --
read once and referred to the Committee on Aging -- reported and
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means -- recommitted to the
Committee on Ways and Means in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to eligibility under the
program for elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 242 of the elder law is amended by
2 adding a new paragraph (i) to read as follows:
3 (i) An individual who is determined to be eligible for assistance
4 under this article shall not become ineligible based upon income solely
5 because of an increase in either a public or private pension or an
6 increase in social security benefits as provided under federal law where
7 such increase does not exceed the consumer price index (all items United
8 States city average) for such year.
9 § 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2023.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05241-03-2
