Safeguarding Medicaid Act

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.