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SNAPCERTIFICATION MANUAL –SECTION 6000 6500 Medical Deduction 6525 Calculation of Actual Medical Expenses

The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 contained a specific provision that prevents SNAP and other assistance programs from reducing benefits because of the Medicare Discount Drug Card. However, the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) contained no similar provision for the new Medicare Part D Program. As a result, no standards or prorated credit amounts will be included in the household’s SNAP budget. See SNAP 6524. 6524.2 Medicare Approved Drug Discount Cards SNAP Manual 01/01/2021 This section of policy has been deleted effective 11/01/11.

6525 Calculation of Actual Medical Expenses SNAP Manual 01/01/2021 To calculate a medical deduction, the eligibility worker must anticipate the household’s actual monthly medical costs through a series of steps. Each individual declared cost must be anticipated separately. Item A: Monthly Expenses – See SNAP 6521.1.

These are the medical costs the household expects to have each month during the upcoming certification period. In the case of an annual review or a reported change, these are the medical costs the household expects to have each month during the remaining months of the certification period.

Item B: Periodically Recurring Expenses – See SNAP 6521.2.

Periodic expenses are those expenses paid by the household less often than monthly. Item C: One-Time Expenses – See SNAP 6521.3.

One-time expenses are those that are not anticipated to recur. Examples are dentures, hearing aids, and hospital stays. Costs like prescription drugs are not normally considered to be one-time expenses. One-time expenses not being paid in installments may either be averaged forward over the period of certification or deducted in the month incurred. The household makes this decision. If a one-time expense is being paid in installments, the amount of the installment will be considered a monthly expense and handled as such. Take care not to allow one-time expenses in the budget twice.