Initiative

The Partnership for Work & Healthcare

The Partnership for Work & Healthcare was launched to raise awareness of the importance of providing Medicaid healthcare access to individuals with disabilities who wish to earn a competitive income. The Partnership for Work & Healthcare is an alliance comprised of more than 30 organizations statewide. The Partnership's focus is to support the Work Incentive Medicaid Coverage Initiative.

In order to allow persons with disabilities to join Florida’s workforce while still maintaining access to the medical care they require, the Partnership is requesting that Florida include a Medicaid "buy in" option as allowed by the TWWIA. States that participate in the TWWIA buy- in option can allow an individual with a disability to “buy in” to the state Medicaid program by paying a premium that is determined by the state (but cannot exceed 7.5 percent of the participant’s income).

How the buy-in will work

• Income Limits/Exclusions
  • Unearned income is limited to 88% of the Federal Poverty Level or approximately $750 in 2007. Setting this limit is one means of controlling the cost of the program.
  • Once an individual is enrolled in the program – the individual can earn up to $39,000 or 250% of the Federal Poverty level.
• Asset Limits
  • Cash assets of $10,000 (individual) and $15,000 (married couple) would be excluded, as would IRS-recognized retirement accounts. (The cap amount for couples is under consideration to be increased this year).
• Premiums
  • Participants could be charged premiums of up to 7.5 percent of their earned income if it exceeds the poverty level.
• Medicaid and Private Health Insurance
  • If it is in the best interest of both the state and the participant, Medicaid could pay the premiums of an employer-sponsored health plan.