Third Congressional District Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washougal, has introduced bipartisan legislation to expand Medicaid benefits for some working adults with disabilities.
On Tuesday, Gluesenkamp Perez introduced the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-In Program Act. The legislation is cosponsored by Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona.
If passed, the bill would lift the age limit for the Medicaid Buy-In program. Currently, people with disabilities who work jobs that pay above traditional eligibility requirements can stay in the program through the age of 65, which the lawmakers say creates a gap of two years until they can access Social Security benefits at 67.
“For people with disabilities who rely on home-based and long-term care through Medicaid Buy-In, an age cap for the program at 65 can present them with the difficult choice of either limiting their income to receive much-needed care through Medicaid or losing coverage by continuing to work and remain independent,” Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement. “By introducing this bipartisan legislation to expand eligibility for Medicaid Buy-In beyond 65, we can help more folks across Southwest Washington stay in their communities and have the choice to keep working until their Social Security benefits kick in or longer.”
According to the pair of lawmakers, the legislation would allow people with disabilities to continue working if they desire.
“No one should have to choose between a paycheck and their benefits,” Ciscomani said in a statement. “By lifting the age limit for the Medicaid buy-in program, this legislation ensures that individuals with disabilities over the age of 65 can continue, if they choose, to work while maintaining vital Medicaid benefits they deserve. Ultimately, this allows individuals with disabilities to stay in the workforce and receive a paycheck, closing a gap in benefits that would have otherwise hurt them and take them out of the workforce.”
