Provides that an individual shall not become ineligible under the EPIC program due to an increase in social security benefits or a public or private pension where such increase does not exceed the CPI.
Ayes (12): Ball, Farley, Grisanti, LaValle, Robach, Zeldin, Valesky, Diaz, Addabbo, Avella, Kruger, Stavisky
Ayes (12): Ball, Farley, Golden, LaValle, Robach, Zeldin, Valesky, Diaz, Addabbo, Avella, Stavisky, Hassell-Thompson
Ayes (33): DeFrancisco, Alesi, Bonacic, Farley, Flanagan, Fuschillo, Golden, Griffo, Hannon, Lanza, Larkin, LaValle, Little, Marcellino, Nozzolio, Robach, Saland, Seward, Young, Krueger, Breslin, Dilan, Duane, Gianaris, Montgomery, Oppenheimer, Parker, Peralta, Perkins, Rivera, Stavisky, Stewart-Cousins, Squadron
Excused (2): Johnson, Diaz
BILL NUMBER:S254
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the elder law, in relation to eligibility under the program for elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To allow seniors to retain their eligibility in the EPIC program if they have previously qualified but are no longer eligible because of an increase in a public or private pension or social security benefit.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Adds a new paragraph (i) to section 242 of the elder law to allow an individual to remain eligible for the EPIC program if they were previously eligible but are no longer solely due to an increase in a public or private pension or in social security benefits. Increase amount cannot exceed consumer price index.
JUSTIFICATION: The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program assists seniors with the financial burden of prescription drug costs. The EPIC program provides thousands of seniors with a vital service by paying a portion of their prescription drug costs. Residents of New York state who are 65 or older with an annual income up to $35,000 (single) or $50,000 (married) are eligible.
It would be unfair to punish seniors who were previously eligible for EPIC but are no longer eligible solely due to a cost of living adjustment. As these income adjustments are minimal, they should not hinder the eligibility of seniors currently enrolled in the program.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: S.1454/A.6646 of 2009/2010; Referred to Finance S.511-A/A.7923-A of 2007/2008; Referred to Senate Finance Committee/Passed Assembly 2005-06: A.302 - Passed Assembly 2003-04: A.1429 - Ways & Means 2001-02: A.5149 - Passed Assembly
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Minimal as this will apply to seniors previously determined eligible.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 254 2011-2012 Regular Sessions IN SENATE (PREFILED) January 5, 2011 ___________Introduced by Sens. MAZIARZ, ALESI, DeFRANCISCO, FUSCHILLO, GOLDEN, GRIFFO, LARKIN, LITTLE, SALAND -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to eligibility under the program for elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 242 of the elder law is amended by adding a new paragraph (i) to read as follows: (I) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BECOME INELIGIBLE BASED UPON INCOME SOLELY BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN EITHER A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PENSION OR AN INCREASE IN SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AS PROVIDED UNDER FEDERAL LAW WHERE SUCH INCREASE DOES NOT EXCEED THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (ALL ITEMS UNITED STATES CITY AVERAGE) FOR SUCH YEAR. S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01654-01-1
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