Ok, I think I understand now. I'm guessing your Mom is slightly above the poverty line?
* For people with incomes above 150% FPL, copayments for non-preferred drugs may be as high as 20 percent of the cost of the drug. For people with income at or below 150% FPL, copayments are limited to nominal amounts.[1] *
They include her husband's income, which is only social security and an extremely small pension that barely covers their food, utilities, mortgage, and property taxes. They don't, of course, take into account his medical expenses in the income calculation.
* For people with incomes above 150% FPL, copayments for non-preferred drugs may be as high as 20 percent of the cost of the drug. For people with income at or below 150% FPL, copayments are limited to nominal amounts.[1] *
[1]http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By...