SENATE BILL No. 819

 

 

October 19, 2005, Introduced by Senator SWITALSKI and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

 

 

 

     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. (1) 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 shall only be

 

disregarded if all of the following apply:

 

     (a) The annuity is commercially issued by a company licensed

 

in the United States and issued by a licensed producer.

 

     (b) The annuity is irrevocable.

 

     (c) The annuity is purchased by a medical assistance

 

applicant, medical assistance recipient, or his or her spouse

 


solely for the benefit of the medical assistance applicant, medical

 

assistance recipient, or his or her spouse.

 

     (d) The annuity is actuarially sound and returns the principal

 

and interest within the annuitant's life expectancy.

 

     (e) The annuity payments are in substantially equal monthly

 

payment amounts starting with the first payment and continuing

 

through the term of the annuity payout.

 

     (2) The department of community health has first priority to

 

recover the costs of medical assistance paid on behalf of the

 

medical assistance applicant or recipient from the remaining

 

principal of the annuity upon the death of the annuitant.

 

     (3) An annuity not meeting the criteria described in this

 

section is considered a transfer of an asset for less than fair

 

market value and is subject to divestment penalties as outlined by

 

the department.