ASSET DISREGARD

(a) To the extent allowed by the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub. L. No. 109-171) and other federal law, the executive commissioner, in adopting rules and standards governing the medical assistance program, shall allow for dollar-for-dollar asset disregard in determining eligibility for medical assistance for an individual receiving long-term care services if the individual is or was covered by a long-term care benefit plan providing coverage for long-term care that meets the applicable minimum benefit standards of the commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance under Subchapter C, Chapter 1651, Insurance Code, and other requirements for approval under the partnership for long-term care program. (b) The commission may not consider the resources of an individual who has used all or part of the individual's benefits under an approved plan to the extent those resources are the subject of a dollar-for-dollar asset disregard in determining: (1) eligibility for medical assistance under the medical assistance program; (2) the amount of medical assistance provided; or (3) any subsequent recovery by this state from the individual's estate for medical assistance provided to the individual. (c) The commission may not provide to an individual eligible for medical assistance under this section those medical assistance services covered under the medical assistance program that are also covered by the individual's benefits under the approved plan until the individual has fully exhausted the individual's benefits under the plan.