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HB 992

Medicaid estate recovery; prohibit application of to obtain funds from ABLE accounts.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Shane Aguirre and 19 co-sponsors

Mississippi bill prohibits Medicaid from recovering costs from ABLE accounts of disabled individuals, exempting disability savings from state estate collection practices.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 992

Legislative bill overview

HB 992 would prohibit Mississippi's Medicaid program from pursuing estate recovery against ABLE accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience accounts). These are tax-advantaged savings accounts designed for individuals with disabilities and their families. The bill creates a carve-out exempting ABLE account funds from the state's authority to recoup Medicaid expenditures from beneficiaries' estates after death.

Why is this important

Medicaid estate recovery allows states to recover long-term care costs from deceased beneficiaries' assets, which can significantly deplete family savings and inheritance. ABLE accounts are specifically designed to help disabled individuals build financial security without losing means-tested benefits, making them crucial for financial independence. This bill addresses a conflict between federal disability policy goals and state Medicaid cost-recovery practices that could undermine the purpose of ABLE accounts.

Potential points of contention

  • State budget impact: Restricting estate recovery reduces Medicaid revenue recovery, increasing costs to the state general fund or requiring budget reallocation from other programs
  • Fairness concerns: Creates differential treatment where ABLE accounts are protected but other estate assets remain subject to recovery, raising questions about equitable application of debt collection
  • Federal-state coordination: The bill interprets federal ABLE account protections, which could conflict with existing federal Medicaid estate recovery guidelines and state recovery authorities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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