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Congress·In Committee·S. 1082

Sen. Barrasso Introduces Safeguarding Medicaid Act to Require Asset Testing for All Recipients

Safeguarding Medicaid Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill would require every person applying for or receiving Medicaid to pass an asset test, not just those qualifying based on age, blindness, or disability. Currently, many Medicaid applicants under the Affordable Care Act's expansion only need to show their income level. This change would add a wealth check for everyone.

    From policy text

    “on the basis of being aged, blind, or disabled”
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  • States would need to set up electronic systems to verify applicants' assets like bank accounts and property. Anyone whose resources exceed the limits used for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program — or a state-set amount — would be ineligible for Medicaid.

    From policy text

    “the test precludes eligibility for any individual whose resources (as determined under section 1613 for purposes of the supplemental security income program) exceed the maximum amount of resources that an individual may have and obtain benefits under that program, or such amount as the State shall establish”
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  • The asset verification requirement takes effect one year after enactment, with states allowed to request up to an extra year if they face economic hardship. The full resources eligibility test requirement takes effect two years after enactment.

    From policy text

    “the amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act”
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  • Pregnant and postpartum women, and children under 19, are protected from losing continuous eligibility due to the new asset test, ensuring these vulnerable groups keep their coverage during critical periods.

    From policy text

    “Nothing in this subparagraph shall affect the application of paragraph (6), (12), or (16) of this subsection (relating to continuous eligibility for pregnant and postpartum women and children under the age of 19).”
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  • The federal government would track how much money the asset checks save, and states must report detailed data on eligibility determinations and renewals. States that don't comply could be required to submit and carry out a corrective action plan.

    From policy text

    “the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall create a Federal tracking system of the savings in Federal expenditures on the Medicaid program”
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Healthcare

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Mar 14, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S1778-1779)

Mar 14, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 1 year of enactment

States must submit plans for electronic asset verification systems

States begin building systems to check bank accounts and other assets of all Medicaid applicants, not just elderly or disabled applicants

2 years after enactment

New resources eligibility test takes full effect

All Medicaid applicants and current recipients in every state must prove their savings and assets fall below the limit — people with more than roughly $2,000 in countable resources could lose coverage

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Safeguarding Medicaid Act

Bill NumberS 1082
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S1778-1779)

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(9)
R: 9

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.