SNAP and the Medical Expense Deduction - Recent DTA SNAP Guidance; Tips for MassHealth Recipients

FoodSNAP
09/13/12

 

We get frequent calls/emails from clients and community based groups about the scope of medical expenses a SNAP household can claim to increase their SNAP benefits. The medical expense deduction is available to SNAP applicants and recipients who are elderly (60 years or older) or disabled and receive a disability-based benefit (adult or child). If a SNAP recipient incurs $35.01 or more in medical expenses, he or she gets the standard $90 medical expense deduction. If more than $125.01, the SNAP recipient can claim actual expenses.
 
There are important medical-related expenses often overlooked that can be claimed to increase SNAP:
  • Travel to and from doctors, health clinics, drug stores - at the federal mileage rate or using taxis or public transport
  • Over-the-counter drugs, health care supplies, vitamins, hearing aid batteries, dental care, etc 
  • MassHealth drug co-payments and services not covered by MassHealth, like adult dental and private transportation
  • Unpaid medical bills can be averaged over a certification period (or the remaining months of a certification period.)  
Attached is a flier explaining the typical medical expenses that MassHealth (Medicaid) recipients may incur even though they have health coverage. Don't assume your clients do not have medical expenses they can claim for SNAP benefits just because they get MassHealth! And here's a link to a wealth of source materials on the SNAP medical expense deduction and MLRI's flier explaining the scope of medical expenses allowed generally with a check list to review for clients. /node/38872
 
DTA recently issued Hotline Q&As on how to treat on-time medical bills in calculating the medical expense deduction for SNAP. DTA's August 2012 Policy Hotline gives a number of examples of how one-time (or non-recurring) medical expenses can be used for the medical deduction. As you can see from the examples in the Q&A, it is often better to average one-time medical expenses over a longer period (the remaining months in the certification period) versus a one-month deduction in order leverage the monthly $90 standard medical deduction for a longer period. As long as the outstanding bill was not used before for a SNAP medical expense deduction, and there is no third party reimbursement anticipated, it can be claimed for the medical expense deduction.  Be sure to ask your clients about outstanding unpaid medical bills!  Here's the DTA guidance: /content/hotline-812
 
If you have questions about the SNAP medical expense deduction, give MLRI a call! 

REMINDER:  The Next Food SNAP Improvement Coalition meeting is Tuesday, September 25th from 10 to Noon, St Francis House, Boston. 

 

Attachment Size
MassHealth Medical Deduction SNAP-CLE Sept 2012-final_0.pdf (95.19 KB) 95.19 KB