Utah Admin. Code R414-305-11 - Treatment of Annuities

(1) An individual must report any annuities in which either the individual or the individual's spouse has any interest at application for Medicaid, at each review, and as part of the change reporting requirements. Parents of a minor individual must report any annuities in which the child or either of the parents has an interest.

(2) For annuities purchased after February 7, 2006, in which the individual or spouse has an interest, the provisions in 42 U.S.C. 1396 p(c) apply. The eligibility agency shall treat annuities purchased after February 7, 2006, which do not meet the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 1396 p(c), as a transfer of assets for less than fair market value.

(3) With the exception of annuities that meet the criteria in Subsection R414-305-11(4), the eligibility agency shall count annuities in which the individual, the individual's spouse or a minor individual's parent has an interest as an available resource to determine Medicaid eligibility, whether they are irrevocable or non-assignable. The agency shall presume that a market exists to purchase annuities or the stream of income from annuities, which make them available resources. The individual may rebut the presumption that the annuity may be sold by providing evidence that the individual has been rejected by several entities in the business of purchasing annuities or the revenue stream from annuities, in which case, the agency may not consider the annuity as an available resource.

(4) For individuals eligible under the aged, blind, or disabled category of Medicaid, the eligibility agency shall exclude an annuity from countable resources in the form of the periodic payment if it meets the following requirements.

(a) The annuity is either an individual retirement annuity according to Section 408(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986 or a deemed Individual Retirement Account under a qualified employer plan according to Section 408(q) of the IRC; or

(b) The annuity is purchased with the proceeds from one of the following:

(i) As described in Sections 408(a), (c), or (p) of the IRC, a traditional IRA, accounts or trusts which are treated as a traditional IRA, or a simplified retirement account;

(ii) A simplified employee pension (Section 408(p) of the IRC); or

(iii) A Roth IRA (Section 408A of the IRC); and

(c) The annuity is irrevocable and non-assignable, the individual who was the owner of the retirement account or plan is receiving equal periodic payments at least quarterly with no deferral or balloon payments, and the scheduled payout period is actuarially sound based on the individual's life expectancy.

(d) If the individual purchases or annuitizes the annuities after February 7, 2006, the annuities must name the State as the preferred remainder beneficiary in the first position upon the individual's death, or as secondary remainder beneficiary after a surviving spouse or minor or disabled child.

(5) For family-related medically needy Medicaid programs, the eligibility agency shall count all annuities as resources if the individual can access the funds, even if the annuities qualify as retirement funds or plans.

(6) Annuities purchased on or after February 8, 2006, in which the individual or the spouse has an interest are a transfer of assets for less than fair market value unless the annuity names the State as the preferred remainder beneficiary in the first position, or in the second position after a surviving spouse, or a surviving minor or disabled child, up to the amount of medical assistance paid on behalf of the institutionalized individual.

(a) The State shall give individuals who have purchased annuities before applying for long-term care Medicaid, 30 days to request the issuing company to name the State as the preferred remainder beneficiary and to verify that fact to Medicaid.

(b) The individual must verify to the eligibility agency that the change in beneficiary has been made by the date requested by the agency.

(c) If the change of beneficiary is not completed and verified, the annuities are a transfer of resources and the eligibility agency shall apply the penalty period. If the eligibility agency has approved institutional Medicaid coverage pending verification, Medicaid coverage for long-term care ends and the penalty period begins the day after the closure date.

(7) The eligibility agency shall treat an annuity purchased before February 8, 2006, as an annuity purchased on or after February 8, 2006, if the individual or spouse take any actions that change the course of payments to be made or the treatment of the income or principal of the annuity. These actions include additions of principal, elective withdrawals, requests to change the distribution of the annuity, elections to annuitize the contract, or other similar actions. Routine changes and automatic events that do not involve an action or decision from the individual or spouse do not cause an annuity purchased before February 8, 2006, to be treated as one purchased on or after February 8, 2006.

(8) If a penalty period for a transfer of assets begins because the individual or the individual's spouse has not changed an annuity to name the State as the preferred remainder beneficiary of the annuity, the penalty period for a transfer does not end until the individual completes and verifies the change of beneficiary to the eligibility agency. The eligibility agency may not rescind the penalty period.

(9) If the individual or spouse does not provide all information about annuities for which they have an interest by the requested due date, the eligibility agency shall deny the application. The individual may reapply, but may not protect the original application date.

(10) The issuer of the annuity shall inform the eligibility agency of any change in the amount of income or principal being withdrawn from the annuities, any change of beneficiaries, or any sale or transfer of the annuity. The issuer of the annuity shall also inform the agency if a surviving spouse or a surviving minor or disabled child attempts to transfer the annuity or any portion of the annuity to someone other than the agency.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R414-305-11