Improving Medicaid Buy-In Programs for Working Individuals with Disabilities

Medicaid is an important source of health insurance for low-income individuals with disabilities. For some individuals with disabilities, services offered under Medicaid, such as assistance with daily living activities, allow them to work. However, even minor increases in income or assets can result in a loss of Medicaid and as a result, individuals may pass up promotions, limit the hours worked each week, or forgo work entirely to ensure their incomes do not surpass program eligibility limits.

To address this problem, Congress enacted legislation to allow states to permit working persons with disabilities to buy-in to the Medicaid program. Forty-five states have established Medicaid buy-in programs, yet many states do not take advantage of the significant flexibility available to them.

Join the Bipartisan Policy Center on September 22 as we discuss the history and current state of Medicaid buy-in programs for working individuals with disabilities, and how federal policymakers could improve Medicaid buy-in programs to create greater opportunities for people with disabilities who choose to work.