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MRG UPDATED: JUNE 2011 75 CATEGORICAL FACTORS MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM NOTE: See REFERENCE MEDICALLY NEEDY INCOME AND FEDERAL POVERTY LEVELS for a chart displaying the Medicaid Levels and Federal Poverty Levels. The A/R may spend down income to become eligible for Medicaid. The A/R may also spend down income to become eligible for Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) or Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLIMB). However, the Medicare premium cannot be applied in whole or in part to reduce excess income. At the time of application, the applicant is encouraged to make a choice to apply the Medicare Premium to their spenddown to attain Medicaid eligibility OR to forego Medicaid eligibility for eligibility in the Medicare Savings Program. The advantages and disadvantages of both programs must be fully explained. An A/R may switch between spenddown and Medicare Savings Program; however, in the interest of accuracy and administrative efficiency, the A/R is encouraged to select and remain in one of the two programs. Eligibility for the MSPs must be determined even if an applicant does not indicate that he or she is applying for the MSP on the DOH-4220 or LDSS-2921. NOTE: The ACCESS NY Supplement A does not have to be completed if the person is applying for MSP only. If applicants are applying for MSP-only they may complete DOH-4328 (Medicare Savings Program Application). There is no resource test for persons applying solely for MSP and who are not Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI). However, if they are also applying for Medicaid with a spenddown, or they do not know what program to apply for, they must apply using the DOH-4220. The Low Income Subsidy (LIS) program, also known as “Extra Help”, is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help low income Medicare beneficiaries pay for prescription drug costs associated with their Medicare Part D benefits. (See RESOURCES THIRD PARTY RESOURCES) Section 113 of the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) states that an application to SSA for the LIS program for Medicare Part D benefits will be used to initiate an application for benefits under the MSP.