HOUSE BILL No. 5826

 

March 7, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Kolb and referred to the Committee on Senior Health, Security, and Retirement.

 

     A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled

 

"The social welfare act,"

 

(MCL 400.1 to 400.119b) by adding section 107a.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 107a. In establishing financial eligibility for the

 

medically indigent, resources shall be disregarded according to

 

standards established for the related medical assistance program.

 

For determining eligibility for the medical assistance program

 

only, the value of an annuity as a resource will only be

 

disregarded if an irrevocable annuity is commercially issued by an

 

agent licensed in the United States and returns the principal and

 

interest in equal monthly payments starting with the first payment,

 

with the return of the principal and interest within the


 

purchaser's life expectancy. The department has first priority to

 

recover the costs of medical assistance paid on behalf of the

 

individual from the remaining principal of the annuity upon the

 

death of the annuitant. Any annuity not meeting the criteria

 

described in this section is considered a transfer of an asset for

 

less than fair market value and may be subject to divestment

 

penalties as outlined by the department.