[20040206]RS21733_根据Medicare的新处方药福利计算收入.pdf

1 The disregard cannot be applied to SSI, cash welfare, and disability payments.Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21733February 6, 2004Counting Income Under Medicares New Prescription Drug BenefitChris L. PetersonAnalyst in Social LegislationDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryWhen calculating a Medicare beneficiarys income-to-poverty ratio for low-incomeeligibility purposes, not all income is counted; certain amounts and types of income aredisregarded. This report describes how income is counted for determining eligibility forthe low-income Medicare prescription drug benefit that begins in 2006. In addition, thisreport provides hypothetical examples of Medicare beneficiaries income and what theirincome-to-poverty ratio would be using the definition of income in P.L. 108-173. Thisreport will be updated as needed.The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L.108-173) establishes a prescription drug benefit that begins in 2006. The cost-sharing (forexample, deductibles and coinsurance) for prescription drugs is reduced for certainbeneficiaries, depending on their inco