2012 Vermont Statutes
Title 33 Human Services
Chapter 19 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
§ 1982 Definitions

§ 1982. Definitions

As used in this subchapter:

(1) "Catamount Health" means the health benefit plan offered under 8 V.S.A. § 4080f.

(2) "Uninsured" means an individual who does not qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, the Vermont health access plan, or Dr. Dynasaur and had no private insurance or employer-sponsored coverage that includes both hospital and physician services within 12 months prior to the month of application, or lost private insurance or employer-sponsored coverage during the prior 12 months for the following reasons:

(A) the individual's private insurance or employer-sponsored coverage ended because of:

(i) loss of employment, including a reduction in hours that results in ineligibility for employer-sponsored coverage, unless the employer has terminated its employees or reduced their hours for the primary purpose of discontinuing employer-sponsored coverage and establishing their eligibility for Catamount Health;

(ii) death of the principal insurance policyholder;

(iii) divorce or dissolution of a civil union;

(iv) no longer receiving coverage as a dependent under the plan of a parent or caretaker relative; or

(v) no longer receiving COBRA, VIPER, or other state continuation coverage.

(B) College- or university-sponsored health insurance became unavailable to the individual because the individual graduated, took a leave of absence, decreased enrollment below a threshold set for continued coverage, or otherwise terminated studies.

(C)(i) The individual lost health insurance as a result of domestic violence. The individual shall provide the agency of human services with satisfactory documentation of the domestic violence. The documentation may include a sworn statement from the individual attesting to the abuse, law enforcement or court records, or other documentation from an attorney or legal advisor, member of the clergy, or health care provider, as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 9402. Information relating to the domestic violence, including the individual's statement and corroborating evidence, provided to the agency shall not be disclosed by the agency unless the individual has signed a consent to disclose form. In the event the agency is legally required to release this information without consent of the individual, the agency shall notify the individual at the time the notice or request for release of information is received by the agency and prior to releasing the requested information.

(ii) Subdivision (i) of this subdivision (C) shall take effect upon issuance by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of approval of an amendment to the Global Commitment for Health Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver allowing for a domestic violence exception to the Catamount Health premium assistance waiting period.

(3) "Vermont resident" means an individual domiciled in Vermont as evidenced by an intent to maintain a principal dwelling place in Vermont indefinitely and to return to Vermont if temporarily absent, coupled with an act or acts consistent with that intent. (Added 2005, No. 191 (Adj. Sess.), § 16; amended 2007, No. 70, § 15; 2007, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 25; No. 203 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. June 10, 2008.)