NATCHEZ &045; Under House Bill 1434, full Medicaid benefits will be cut Sept. 15 for an estimated 65,000 poverty-level, aged and disabled (PLAD) Mississippians.

But many of those recipients will still qualify for important benefits under Medicaid’s Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries program, according to information from the state Division of Medicaid.

Medicaid will continue to pay Medicare premiums, deductibles and co-insurance for aged and disabled persons living at home with Medicare and with income less than $776 for individuals ($1,048 for couples).

For PLADs with incomes from $776 to $1,048 for individuals ($1,048 to $1,406 for couples), Medicaid will pay the Medicare Part B monthly premium of $66.60.

Prescription drug coverage for PLADs will be provided by Medicare for individuals enrolled in the new Medicare Discount Card program.

Individuals may enroll in the drug program online at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

The Division of Medicaid is preparing a waiver request to allow some patients with chronic diseases to continue Medicaid coverage under a restructured benefit package.

Some resources are not counted in the $4,000 per individual/$6,000 per couple income limits used to determine Medicaid eligibility for those who are 65 or over or disabled.

For instance, one home may be excluded, if it serves as a person’s primary place of residence. And, up to two vehicles and all household goods are excluded.

Burial plots, personal property with an equity of less than $5,000 and the cash value of some whole life and all term life insurance policies are not counted.

Individuals can contact the Medicaid Regional Office nearest them for information on how to apply for benefits. Applications can be taken over the phone.

In Natchez, the telephone number for the Medicaid Regional Office at 116 Canal St. is 445-4971.

Information on Medicaid programs is also available online at www.dom.state.ms.us.