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MEDICAL SERVICES POLICY MANUAL, SECTION E

E-530 Treatment of Resource Changes

The term “burial space”, as used here, applies to conventional burial plots, gravesites, crypts, mausoleums, urns, vaults, caskets, and other repositories which are customarily and traditionally used for the remains of deceased persons. Additionally, the term also includes necessary and reasonable improvements upon such burial spaces including headstones, markers, plaques, and arrangements for opening and closing the gravesite for burial of the deceased. The value of burial spaces for the individual, his spouse or any member of the individual’s immediate family will be excluded from resources. The term “immediate family”, as used here, applies to the individual’s children (minor and adult), including adopted children and stepchildren, his brothers, sisters, parents (natural or adoptive), and the spouse of those individuals. Dependency or living in the same household are not factors. If a burial space item is included in a contract or policy which accrues interest, the interest retained is excluded from both income and resources as it increases the value of the excluded burial space. This exclusion is in addition to the burial fund exclusions specified in item “b” below. If a burial contract or policy (item “b” below) separately identifies a burial space from the other items in the contract or policy, the amount for the burial space may be allowed in addition to the $1500 burial fund exclusion. For example, an individual has a $2700 burial contract which lists $900 for the casket and $400 for the gravesite. A total of $1300 may be excluded from resources under the burial space exclusion. The remaining $1400 will be applied to the $1500 burial fund exclusion. b. Burial Funds and Other Burial Arrangements Burial funds are defined as revocable or irrevocable burial contracts, burial trusts, other burial arrangements, cash accounts, or other financial instruments (documents which have a definite cash value) clearly designated for burial expenses. Property other than listed above will not be considered “burial funds.” The individual and his spouse can have an exclusion of $1500 each of funds specifically set aside for their burial arrangements. This exclusion is in addition to the burial space exclusion.