Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal Qualification
Issues regarding the elderly and disabled are complex. Now, Federal and State laws have changed drastically and finding answers to your questions can be difficult. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions.
1. How Can We Help You? It is a very emotional time when faced with the illness of your spouse or aging parent. Getting the best care for your loved one is critical. Yet, the fear of how to pay for that care can be overwhelming, causing you to take no action at all. You do not have to be alone when making these decisions. Like the hundreds of clients before you, we help you understand all your options for getting Medi-Cal while protecting assets. It is what we do. Here are a few simple answers to frequently asked questions.
2. How Do I Apply? Please do not rush to fill out a Medi-Cal application. In most cases, Medi-Cal eligibility can be obtained retroactively for up to 3 months. In fact, we often see avoidable mistakes made by applying too soon, even if you think you meet Medi-Cal eligibility already. So, please do not allow anyone to apply for Medi-Cal until you have received one-on-one legal guidance from our office. Planning should be done before the Medi-Cal application. Where it is necessary, we can help develop a comprehensive plan to meet Medi-Cal’s spend-down requirements while protecting assets.
2011 Asset and Income Eligibility Levels*
Income
| APPLICANT | SPOUSE |
|---|---|
| Income must be less than $2,022 per month. | Keeps all income. |
| “Countable assets” limited to $2,000 or less. | “Countable assets” limited to $113,640. |
Note: Minimum income for spouse to live on is $2,841.
Assets
| APPLICANT | SPOUSE |
|---|---|
| “Exempt assets” plus... | “Exempt assets” plus... |
| “Countable assets” limited to $2,000 or less. | “Countable assets” limited to $113,640. |
*Effective Jan. 1, 2012
Most of the time, our comprehensive plans will include our services for filing the Medi-Cal application also.
3. Will Medi-Cal Take My House Or Car? A car of any value will not be counted as an asset. As for a home which was previously exempt under the old law, the new Medi-Cal laws count a home of greater than $750,000 in value as a countable asset, requiring spend-down, in most cases.
4. If My Spouse Needs Medi-Cal, What Can I Protect? Assets exempt from Medi-Cal include: a prepaid burial plan and burial plot; personal effects and furnishings; irrevocable pre-paid funeral plan of any value and life insurance with cash value up to $2,500. Countable assets for the spouse may equal $113,640, while the ill spouse may keep $2,000. While most income of an ill person must be paid to the nursing home, an unlimited amount of income belonging to the spouse may be kept.