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MassHealth EOM 24-03 March 2024 Page 3 of 5 Elimination of Asset Test for MSPs Effective March 1, 2024 The asset test for MSP benefits will be eliminated effective March 1, 2024. Applications or renewals (MHBI, MHBI-R, SACA-2, SACA-2-ERV, and SACA-2-UND) processed in MA21 after March 1, 2024, will not be subject to an asset test to determine eligibility for MSP. No changes are being made to the asset limits for MassHealth benefits or coverage types. Applicants may reapply for an MSP if they were denied for being over the asset or income limit before March 1, 2024, to see if they qualify. MSP Benefit Start Dates QMB coverage begins on the first day of the calendar month after the MassHealth eligibility determination date. No retroactive coverage is available. SLMB or QI coverage begins with the month of application and may be retroactive up to three months before the month of application if the applicant qualified during the retroactive period. MSP Annual Renewal People who applied with a Medicare Savings Programs Application (MHBI) will be selected for renewal annually. Selected people will receive the Medicare Savings Programs Renewal Application (MHBI-R). All financial resources are self-attested. Renewals will be processed in MA21, like the MHBI application. MSPs Are Not Health Coverage MSPs are not insurance plans and do not provide healthcare coverage. They are programs designed to help lower the costs of Medicare insurance coverage. MSPs are always combined with Medicare and do not offer any additional coverage or services that Medicare does not provide. Full MassHealth programs like MassHealth Standard and CommonHealth are health insurance programs that provide healthcare coverage and can be used alone or combined with Medicare coverage. Unlike MSPs, full MassHealth coverage includes additional coverage and services not offered by Medicare. Some people may qualify for Medicare, an MSP, and full MassHealth coverage. HSN People who are enrolled in an MSP also receive benefits from HSN. HSN pays for some health services provided by acute care hospitals or CHCs for certain low-income, uninsured, or underinsured patients. If a person is eligible for an MSP, and they get care from a hospital or CHC, HSN can be a secondary payer for copays or deductibles billed by the hospital or CHC.