S.1932

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Engrossed Amendment as Agreed to by Senate)

 

SEC. 6012. DISCLOSURE AND TREATMENT OF ANNUITIES.

  • (a) In General- Section 1917 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396p) is amended by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f) and by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection:
  • `(e)(1) In order to meet the requirements of this section for purposes of section 1902(a)(18), a State shall require, as a condition for the provision of medical assistance for services described in subsection (c)(1)(C)(i) (relating to long-term care services) for an individual, the application of the individual for such assistance (including any recertification of eligibility for such assistance) shall disclose a description of any interest the individual or community spouse has in an annuity (or similar financial instrument, as may be specified by the Secretary), regardless of whether the annuity is irrevocable or is treated as an asset. Such application or recertification form shall include a statement that under paragraph (2) the State becomes a remainder beneficiary under such an annuity or similar financial instrument by virtue of the provision of such medical assistance.
  • `(2)(A) In the case of disclosure concerning an annuity under subsection (c)(1)(F), the State shall notify the issuer of the annuity of the right of the State under such subsection as a preferred remainder beneficiary in the annuity for medical assistance furnished to the individual. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as preventing such an issuer from notifying persons with any other remainder interest of the State's remainder interest under such subsection.
  • `(B) In the case of such an issuer receiving notice under subparagraph (A), the State may require the issuer to notify the State when there is a change in the amount of income or principal being withdrawn from the amount that was being withdrawn at the time of the most recent disclosure described in paragraph (1). A State shall take such information into account in determining the amount of the State's obligations for medical assistance or in the individual's eligibility for such assistance.
  • `(3) The Secretary may provide guidance to States on categories of transactions that may be treated as a transfer of asset for less than fair market value.
  • `(4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as preventing a State from denying eligibility for medical assistance for an individual based on the income or resources derived from an annuity described in paragraph (1).'.
  • (b) REQUIREMENT FOR STATE TO BE NAMED AS A REMAINDER BENEFICIARY- Section 1917(c)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396p(c)(1)), is amended by adding at the end the following:
  • `(F) For purposes of this paragraph, the purchase of an annuity shall be treated as the disposal of an asset for less than fair market value unless-
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    • `(i) the State is named as the remainder beneficiary in the first position for at least the total amount of medical assistance paid on behalf of the annuitant under this title; or
    • `(ii) the State is named as such a beneficiary in the second position after the community spouse or minor or disabled child and is named in the first position if such spouse or a representative of such child disposes of any such remainder for less than fair market value.'.
  • (c) INCLUSION OF TRANSFERS TO PURCHASE BALLOON ANNUITIES- Section 1917(c)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396p(c)(1)), as amended by subsection (b), is amended by adding at the end the following:
  • `(G) For purposes of this paragraph with respect to a transfer of assets, the term `assets' includes an annuity purchased by or on behalf of an annuitant who has applied for medical assistance with respect to nursing facility services or other long-term care services under this title unless
  • --
    • `(i) the annuity is--
      • `(I) an annuity described in subsection (b) or (q) of section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
      • `(II) purchased with proceeds from--
        • `(aa) an account or trust described in subsection (a), (c), or (p) of section 408 of such Code;
        • `(bb) a simplified employee pension (within the meaning of section 408(k) of such Code); or
        • `(cc) a Roth IRA described in section 408A of such Code; or
    • `(ii) the annuity--
      • `(I) is irrevocable and nonassignable;
      • `(II) is actuarially sound (as determined in accordance with actuarial publications of the Office of the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration); and
      • `(III) provides for payments in equal amounts during the term of the annuity, with no deferral and no balloon payments made.'.
  • (d) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to transactions (including the purchase of an annuity) occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act .
  • (b) STANDARDS FOR RECIPROCAL RECOGNITION AMONG PARTNERSHIP STATES- In order to permit portability in long-term care insurance policies purchased under State long-term care insurance partnerships, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall develop, not later than January 1, 2007, and in consultation with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, issuers of long-term care insurance policies, States with experience with long-term care insurance partnership plans, other States, and representatives of consumers of long-term care insurance policies, standards for uniform reciprocal recognition of such policies among States with qualified State long-term care insurance partnerships under which--
    • (1) benefits paid under such policies will be treated the same by all such States; and
    • (2) States with such partnerships shall be subject to such standards unless the State notifies the Secretary in writing of the State's election to be exempt from such standards.

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