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charges are currently owed. The remaining $100 can be applied to the next deductible period, as long as it is still owed. b. Paid or written off sometime during the current deductible period. Medical bills written off through bankruptcy proceedings are not allowed as a medical expense to meet a deductible. Example 5 Frank and Estelle apply for Medicaid on March 1, requesting that their deductible period begin January 1. Their deductible for the period January 1 through June 30 is $340. In April, they had a ten-year-old medical bill of $300 written off. They can count the $300 toward the January through June deductible because it was written off during the deductible period. c. Paid or written off sometime during the deductible period that immediately precedes and borders on the current deductible period. These bills can be used even if they were paid after the person met the deductible in the prior period. Example 6 Jeffrey is in his second deductible period. He did not meet his deductible in the prior period, which borders on the current period. He has a bill that was written off in the prior period. He can apply this bill to his current deductible.

Example 7 Malcolm is in his second deductible period which began March 1. He did not meet his deductible in the prior deductible period, which immediately preceded the current deductible period. He has a medical bill that he paid in February of the year prior. He may not apply this toward his current deductible.

Example 8 In June, Norah met her first deductible period and was certified for Medicaid through August. After certification, and before the first deductible period ended in August, Norah paid for medical services that were not Medicaid covered services. Norah is in her second deductible period which began in September. Norah can apply these paid bills to the second deductible period that began in September. d. Paid or written off sometime during the three months prior to the date of application. This expense can only be used for the first deductible period. Balances cannot be carried forward to future deductible periods. Example 9 Sierra and Skyler apply for Medicaid on August 10, requesting that their deductible period begin on August 1. Their deductible for the period from August through January is $1500. On May 10 the couple had paid off a $2000 outstanding medical bill. They can use that expense to meet their deductible because it was paid in the three months prior to the date of their application. The remaining $500 cannot be applied to future deductible periods.

Example 10 Anna applied for Medicaid on July 25, with no request for any backdated months. Her deductible period is from July through December. She has paid her Medicare Part B premiums since she turned 65, seven years ago. She can use her Part B premium expense from the months of April, May, and June as paid medical expenses. See Process Help 12.14.2.4 Medicare Premium Payments for processing information.