Increases income eligibility levels in the EPIC program

4 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• David Carlucci
• Jeffrey D. Klein
• Diane J. Savino

BILL NUMBER:S6734

Title of bill

An act to amend the elder law, in relation to eligibility levels in the elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage program

Purpose or general idea of bill

Increases the income limits in the EPIC program to $75,000 for single and $100,000 for married couples. Also, excludes social security income from income threshold determinations.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1: Subdivision 3 of section 241 of the elder law is amended to exclude social security income from income threshold determinations under the EPIC program.

Section 2: Subdivision 2 of section 242 of the elder law is amended to allow for the increase in the limits of income for the elderly covered under the EPIC program to $75,000 for individual enrollees and $100,000 for married enrollees.

Section 3 and 4: Amends section 248 of the elder law to reflect the increase in the limits of income for the elderly covered under the EPIC program to $75,000 for individual enrollees and $100,000 for married enrollees.

Section 5: Effective date.

Justification

In 2012, prescription medication prices rose 3.6%, twice the 1.7% inflation rate.* Such an increase is extremely problematic considering the vast majority of seniors in New York are living on fixed incomes. New York seniors deserve relief from these rising prescription medication costs. The EPIC program can help combat these rising costs. However, currently, the eligibility requirements for EPIC are capped at $35,000 for an individual enrollee and $50,000 for married enrollees. These eligibility requirements can easily be expanded to assist even more New York seniors. This legislation will expand the income threshold to $75,000 for an individual enrollee and $100,000 for married enrollees and exclude social security income from the income calculations. This legislation is absolutely necessary to help senior citizens in New York afford their prescription medication during a time where prices are double the inflation rate.

Prior legislative history

None

Fiscal implications

Based on a recent fiscal analysis prepared by the New York State Department of Health for the Independent Democratic Conference, this expansion will help cost $2.07 million in 2014-2015.

Effective date

Immediately.

* Dennis Cauchon, "Drug prices jump again while other health costs decline: The upward trend in the price of prescription drugs is in sharp contrast to other health costs," USA Today, February 2013, available at http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/13/ price-of-a-prescription-rising-again/1918099/(citing the Bureau of Economic Analysis).