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: A3742
SPONSOR: Carroll (MS) 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
of 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 long-
er solely due to a cost of living adjustment. As these income adjust-
ments are minimal they should not hinder the eligibility of seniors
currently enrolled in the program.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A4451 of 2011-12 - In Aging Committee.
A6646 of 2009-10;
A7923A of 2007-08 - passed Assembly each year.
2007 - Grannis bill A.1396
2005-06: A.302 - Passed Assembly
2003-04: A.1429 - Ways & Means
2001-02: A.5149 - Passed Assembly
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal as this will only apply to seniors previously determined eligi-
ble.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3742
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CARROLL, BENEDETTO, ABBATE, COLTON, GOTTFRIED,
TITONE, JAFFEE, PEOPLES-STOKES, RIVERA, ROSENTHAL, KAVANAGH, GUNTHER,
M. G. MILLER, ORTIZ, MOYA, SANTABARBARA, SKOUFIS, BRINDISI, STIRPE,
BARRETT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, CUSICK, FARRELL,
GLICK, MALLIOTAKIS, PERRY, WEINSTEIN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Aging
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 immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08463-01-7
