Bill
HD 4896
Adds a MassHealth asset exemption: up to $10,000 value of a single personal, non-commercial vehicle excluded from assets, using state vehicle valuation, aiding eligibility.
HD 4896 — An Act to establish an exemption for personal vehicle value from the MassHealth asset limit
Overview
- Purpose: Create an asset exemption in MassHealth rules for the value of one personal vehicle, to help ensure vehicle ownership does not disqualify individuals from MassHealth eligibility due to asset tests.
- Key change: Adds a new exception to the MassHealth asset limits allowing up to $10,000 of the value of a single vehicle used for personal, non-commercial purposes to be excluded from assets counted for eligibility.
Key Provisions
- New statutory addition: Section 25 of Chapter 118E is amended by inserting after subsection (5) a new subsection (6).
- Exemption amount: Up to $10,000 of the value of a single vehicle.
- Vehicle scope: Applies to a vehicle owned and registered for personal, non-commercial use.
- Valuation method: The exemption value is determined by the valuation method established pursuant to section 1 of Chapter 60A of the General Laws (i.e., using the prescribed state valuation method for determining vehicle value).
- Limitation: The exemption covers only one vehicle (a “single vehicle”); does not apply to additional vehicles beyond that one.
- Application: The exemption is intended to be counted toward MassHealth asset limits, potentially allowing certain individuals to qualify or maintain eligibility when vehicle value would otherwise be counted as an asset.
Affected parties and impact
- Affects MassHealth applicants and current beneficiaries who own a single personal vehicle valued up to the $10,000 threshold.
- Intended effect: Reduce the likelihood that vehicle value disqualifies someone from MassHealth eligibility due to asset counting, thereby preserving access to MassHealth benefits for transportation-dependent individuals.
- Note: The bill does not alter MassHealth income rules or other asset exemptions; it specifically adds this vehicle-value exemption.
Procedural and Timeline Details
- Introduced: July 17, 2025 (House Docket No. 4896); Filed: July 8, 2025.
- Initial actions: Referred to the committee process (House Rules) on July 17, 2025; later actions include referral to Joint Rules and then to the Health Care Financing committee for consideration (reported and rules suspended on August 21, 2025).
- Senate action: Senate concurred on August 25, 2025, indicating agreement with the House-passed framework.
- General Court session: 194th General Court (2025-2026).
Notes
- This summary reflects the bill language as filed and the recorded legislative actions up to the Senate concurrence. The final form, implementation rules, or fiscal impact would be clarified in subsequent committee reports and any potential conference or enacted version.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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