Nebraska Department of Insurance
THE NEBRASKA HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION, COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE (NICA) PROGRAM
MARCH 2004 NICA NEWS
ISSUES
Telephone Scam Warning
Scam artists are again turning up around the country, bilking "notch babies." The notch refers to the difference between Social Security benefit computations for people born after 1916, compared to people born in earlier years. Everyone born after 1916 receives lower benefits as a result of the change. Recently, in Colorado Springs, someone called an 86-year old woman, informing her that she is a notch baby and was due a $25,000 settlement from Social Security. All she had to do is send the caller a check for $400. Seniors in Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma were also recent targets of similar telephone scams. Reportedly, some of the callers allege having a grant from the federal government to contact notch victims who--they falsely claim--are now entitled to receive $25,000 lump sums and/or $400 increases in their monthly Social Security checks. Scams over the telephone, through the mail or in-person are becoming more common. It is very important to protect personal information. Be especially careful if the call, letter, or visit is unsolicited. If a beneficiary is concerned, he or she should call the local Social Security office or 1-800-772-1213.
Counseling about Medicaid
Nebraska SHIIP staff and volunteers frequently receive questions about Medicaid eligibility guidelines. SHIIP produces two brochures about Medicaid eligibility - a trifold brochure on Medicaid eligibility and the Part B Premium Assistance (QMB) program and a trifold brochure on the Spousal Impoverishment Protection Act, which helps protect some income and assets of the spouse of a person in a nursing home. Volunteers doing outreach should let beneficiaries know about the availability of these programs, but only state Health and Human Services caseworkers can determine eligibility. Included in the SHIIP manual is information on the variety of Medicaid programs available in the state, and details about certain health insurance policies whose premiums are disregarded when the state determines income eligibility.It is important that while volunteers and staff can inform beneficiaries of the options available to them, all clients should be referred to the nearest Health and Human Services office. (Listed in Manual Section M). SHIIP cannot advise on how to dispose of assets, such as insurance policies with large cash values, in order to obtain eligibility for Medicaid assistance. Individuals with questions such as these should consult with their caseworker, or an estate-planning or elder law attorney for assistance. The Nebraska State Bar Association (402-475-7091) can provide the names of individuals who specialize in these fields. SHIIP Volunteers should actively seek to educate beneficiaries in their community about the QMB program, which could save low-income seniors $799 per year in Medicare premiums, and the Spousal Impoverishment Act. Detailed information on both these program is available in SHIIP Manual Section I.
| 2004 INCOME GUIDELINES (per month) | SINGLE | COUPLE |
| 100% Medicaid | $796 | $1,061 |
| Part B Premium Assistance (QMB) | $1,067 | $1,425 |
Spousal Impoverishment Protection Act. In 2004, the spouse at home gets to keep half of all countable assets up to $92,760, or at least $18,552; and after the monthly income is split, the minimum amount the spouse at home is able to keep per month is $1,562.