July 2001 Dollar-For-Dollar" Reciprocity
Between CT and IN Partnership Programs Due to legislation passed by each state several years ago and recent approval by the federal government's Center for Medicaid and State Operations, (formerly the Health Care Financing Administration), reciprocity now exists between Connecticut's and Indiana's Medicaid programs for granting Medicaid Asset Protection. The Connecticut and Indiana reciprocity agreement is the first of its kind in the country, and represents the first step in portability of the Medicaid Asset Protection benefit. Achieving reciprocity has proven to be a monumental task. It required legislation in both states, a written and signed agreement between the two states' Medicaid programs, and finally, federal approval.
Under this agreement, Indiana Partnership policyholders who move to Connecticut will be able to receive dollar-for-dollar Medicaid Asset Protection if they apply to Connecticut's Medicaid program. The same is true for Connecticut Partnership policyholders who relocate to Indiana and apply to Indiana's Medicaid program.
Implications for your clients and the Connecticut Partnership: While the insurance benefits under the Partnership always have been portable, the Medicaid Asset Protection feature was recognized only by the state where the policy was purchased. The Connecticut and Indiana agreement now makes the Medicaid Asset Protection portable in a dollar-for-dollar manner between these two states.
What do I tell my clients and prospects? The agreement between Connecticut and Indiana is an exception to the rule. Connecticut Partnership publications will be updated to include the following language. We encourage you to use this language when discussing the issue with your clients and prospects.
The exception is Connecticut has a reciprocal agreement with Indiana that allows Connecticut Partnership policyholders to receive dollar-for-dollar Medicaid Asset Protection if they apply to Indiana's Medicaid program and vice versa for Indiana Partnership policyholders. Discussions are underway with the other two Partnership states (California and New York), but there are no guarantees that any additional agreements beyond the one between Connecticut and Indiana will be implemented.
For more information contact:
OPM.CTPartnership@ct.gov
(860) 418-6318