Exempt Ohio ABLE account funds from Medicaid Estate Recovery

SB 296 amends Ohio law to exempt funds held in state-run ABLE accounts from being collected under the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program. This change directly affects individuals with disabilities who use these accounts to save money for qualified disability expenses without fear of losing those savings after their death. The bill also clarifies that money in these accounts is protected from legal garnishment and does not count as income or resources when determining eligibility for state-funded public assistance programs. By removing the risk of estate recovery, the legislation aims to encourage more people to utilize ABLE accounts for long-term financial planning.