Question: I just received a letter from Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services, telling me I have Medicaid and need to re-certify within two weeks. I do not have Medicaid and I don’t think I should fill out this form/application.

Answer: There are many programs under the umbrella of Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS); one of them being Medicaid. There are many types and levels of Medicaid. Because it is June/July, I would guess that you get your Medicare Part B Premium paid by either New York State or the Federal Government. This Medicare Part B Premium is the $170.10 for most Medicare enrollees. That Medicare Part B premium is usually taken out of your Social Security check each month. This benefit comes under the heading of DHHS and Medicaid, so it says Medicaid in the letter. The letters say something like “During the previous year, you or a member of your household was eligible to have the Medicaid Program pay the Medicare Part B Premium.” or “During the previous year, you or a member of your household were eligible for Medicaid.” or “During the previous year, you or a household member were eligible for the Medicare Savings Program.”

This letter indicates, you applied for a benefit that would have that Medicare Part B premium added back into your Social Security check. Your Social Security check would have increased and you would have gotten a letter from Social Security explaining the new payment level and why. This benefit is called the Slimb/QI-1 benefit, or the Medicare Savings Program (MSP). This benefit needs to be recertified (or re-applied) each year. The recertification process have been on pause due to the COVID protections enacted by New York State. In the past, the DHHS office sent out the annual re-certifications during June/July. This is the first day we have heard about this in over two years, but today we have heard from many individuals with this same question.

Anyone who has applied for, or had a continuing benefit, is required to recertify in June and July. The form is usually mailed to them and due back within two to three weeks.

If you choose not to complete the form or don’t return it back to them, your benefit will stop. That means your Social Security will decrease by $170.10, because you will be paying the Medicare Part B premium again. I would therefore recommend that you complete this form and send it back with the requested documents. You can also call DHHS, at the number on the letter and ask for help in determining what program you are in. If it is the benefit I have been talking about, complete the form and send it in.

I consider this benefit a “gateway” benefit. Once approved, there are many other benefits that you are automatically approved for, such as the Low Income Subsidy (LIS) from Social Security to help with Medicare Part D costs.

This Slimb/QI-1 benefit allows an individual to have monthly income up to $1,529 and two persons up to $2,060 per month. This benefit does not consider the money you have as assets (like in the bank, or investments), only the income you receive. This benefit also allows for a reduction to your income by the amount you pay in insurance premiums. Not all insurance premiums, but premiums for health insurance, prescription drug coverage insurance, dental insurance, and long term care insurance. So if you have dental insurance for $34 per month and health insurance for $219 per month, your income could be up to $1,782 per month and you would still be eligible for this benefit. The same is true for couples. If you both have dental, and that same health insurance premium, your income could be closer to $2,566 per month and still be eligible. There are many individuals and couples who may be eligible for this benefit in our community.

This recertification means you have to inform them of your financial situation again, including your income, your expenses and for some benefits, your assets. These programs include: Slimb/QI-1 (the one we talked about above), EPIC, Food Stamps, HEAP, and Low Income Subsidy (LIS), to just name a few. For the time it takes to complete the annual form, you get a year’s worth of benefits.

If you look back to your approval letter for this program, you will see the Department of Health & Human Services letterhead. Most individuals don’t remember or notice the name until they get the recertification forms.

I am always cautious in advising completing forms and mailing them back to someone without understanding what it is and why, so I am glad you asked. Always call for more information if you are unsure about the requests, to the agency or another professional in our area.

Senior Life Matters is a community based program sponsored by Lutheran Jamestown. For questions and concerns or to reach Janell Sluga, GCMC, call at 716-720-9797 or email SLM@lutheran-jamestown.org.