CareSource pledges to support Kansas ABLE Savings Program

L to R: Solomon Parker the  Director of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Program Strategy at CareSource, Ashlea Lantz the Senior Policy Advisor at The Harkins Institute, Sara Hart Weir the Executive Director of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities and Tom Treacy the Deputy Assistant for the Kansas State Treasurer on  Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023 at the Disability Roundtable at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence, Kansas.

CareSource, a nationally recognized leader in health care, has donated $25,000 to support the Kansas ABLE Savings Program. This donation bolsters the Kansas State Treasurer’s Office’s efforts to improve awareness of ABLE's resources for those in the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) community impacted by the IDD waitlist in Kansas.

“We're proud to support this innovative program that not only provides a financial platform for individuals with disabilities in Kansas but also shines a national spotlight on the state's efforts to support people with disabilities who are on the waitlist," said Chad Moore, president of CareSource in Kansas. "We believe this initiative will truly empower Kansans with disabilities, providing them with financial literacy and reinforcing their ability to take charge of their futures.”

Currently, more than 5,200 individuals with IDD are waiting for services in Kansas. The Stephen Beck Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014, provides a savings and spending tool specifically for individuals with disabilities and their families.

ABLE accounts offer a way for people with disabilities to save beyond the typical $2,000 asset limit set by benefit programs like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), without risking their eligibility. These accounts can receive contributions on an after-tax basis from any source, such as the account owner, their family and friends, organizations, or employers, with an annual limit of $17,000. Earnings from ABLE funds grow tax-deferred and are tax-free if used for qualified disability expenses.

The Kansas State Treasurer’s Office, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities (KCDD) have partnered to promote the ABLE Savings Plan. Together, they will spearhead new educational resources for self-advocates, family members and caregivers; host a series of webinars for disability stakeholders, including Kansas providers, Community Developmental Disability Organizations, managed care organizations and disability organizations; and conduct a Kansas ABLE Tour across the state in 2024.

CareSource’s contribution provides a financial incentive to an individual with disabilities, serving as a catalyst for the establishment and active engagement of an ABLE account.

"The ABLE Savings Program empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing both financial literacy and a tangible incentive to start saving for their futures," said Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson. "We are optimistic that our collaboration with KDADS and KCDD, bolstered by the backing of companies such as CareSource, will unify us in creating positive change and fostering a sense of empowerment in the lives of Kansans."

“This initiative is more than a program; it's a movement. By teaming up with KDADS and Treasurer Johnson, and working alongside companies, like CareSource, we are meeting the IDD community where they are [in Kansas] through this ABLE Tour” said Sara Hart Weir, KCDD executive director. “There are over 5,200 individuals on our IDD waitlist, waiting over ten years for services, and a vast majority are unaware of ABLE. To genuinely aid our IDD community, we need to educate self-advocates, family members and caregivers that ABLE accounts are a life-changing financial tool that cannot only help people with disabilities save for the future but also utilize funds from an ABLE account for daily expenses right now, without ever jeopardizing one’s Medicaid.”

CareSource Kansas, LLC was formed to offer programs and products in the state of Kansas. CareSource opened an office in Topeka in 2021. Already, the organization awarded more than $500,000 to community-based organizations combating food insecurity, offering workforce development programming, supporting Kansans who need complex medical care and fighting poverty.

For more, visit HealthierKansas.com