Thousands of Florida Residents Expected To Lose Eligibility for Medically Needy Program

As many as 37,000 Florida residents who have chronic illnesses could lose eligibility for the state's "medically needy" program, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. The medically needy program covers the cost of medical services for residents whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid but whose medical expenses represent a substantial share of their incomes. Prescription drug coverage for individuals in the medically needy program this year was transferred to Medicare. Because Medicare "covers the bulk of their drugs, most of them no longer will qualify as medically needy," the Sun-Sentinel reports. Some residents will still qualify for the medically needy program because they will still have high medical bills, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Although agencies have been sending letters to beneficiaries, some residents who are considered medically needy do not realize their coverage could end Dec. 31, according to state and federal officials. It is unknown how many medically needy residents will be affected by the change or how much they will be required to pay for medical services. Sybil Richard, assistant secretary for Florida Medicaid operations, said beneficiaries who have very high medical costs in 2007 might be able to requalify for the medically needy program in February, which will also make them eligible for additional Medicare drug benefit subsidies. However, health care advocates say they are concerned that applying and getting reapproved for the two programs could take at least two months and beneficiaries would have to pay thousands of dollars for care during that time. The Florida Transplant Survivors Coalition and other advocacy groups have started a petition asking state lawmakers to make it easier to qualify as medically needy (LaMendola, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 11/10).