Missouri Senate OKs bill to up asset cap for Medicaid

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Senators have voted to increase how much money aging, blind and disabled Missourians on Medicaid can keep in assets.

Senators passed the legislation 29-1 Tuesday, but it heads back to the House because of Senate changes.

Aging, blind and disabled Missourians on Medicaid currently can’t keep more than $1,000 in assets such as savings, or $2,000 for married couples. Republican Sen. Bob Dixon said that contributes to a cycle of dependency.

The legislation would raise limits to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for married couples beginning in July 2017. That would increase annually until the limits hit $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for couples in 2021.

Senators voted 24-7 to defeat an amendment for a broad expansion of who is eligible to receive benefits through the Medicaid health-care program.