May Ross, MSW, MASM
Resource Specialist/Social Worker
Community Resource Center for Aging (CRCA)
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
At CRCA we have worked with many individuals who could benefit from being enrolled in Medi-Cal but had no idea what it is, how it can help, how to qualify or how to apply for this assistance.
One caller was a 70-year-old who needed to use catheters for the rest of his life. He couldn’t afford the co-payments required by Medicare. He was low-income and could apply for Medi-Cal but didn’t know what it was and how it worked with Medicare. We discussed the benefits, his concerns and helped him secure an appointment with a local eligibility worker who helped him apply for and obtain Medi-Cal.
Another caller was concerned about how to care for a parent who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The parent met the Medi-Cal eligibility requirements but they were unfamiliar with it. Medi-Cal provides access to in-home supportive care resources that can decrease the worry of a parent that is alone while others are at work.
What is Medi-Cal?
Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid health care program that pays for a variety of medical services for children and adults with limited income. Low-income seniors (age 65) with Medicare can also qualify for Medi-Cal that can provide additional health insurance coverage, in-home care support and even assisted living/nursing home if the need arises.
How can it help?
For seniors needing extra help to stay safely at home, Medi-Cal acts as a secondary insurance to Medicare for those who qualify. Medi-Cal will pay for Medicare premiums and co-pays that can provide needed additional income to low-income seniors. Medi-Cal also provides dental, vision and hearing aid coverage that Medicare often does not cover.
How to qualify?
Medi-Cal applicants must have an annual income of no more than $20,121 (individual) or $27,214 (household of two). For larger households, visit Covered California at coveredca.com for eligibility.
Applicants can own the home they are living in and own a car. There is no asset test for eligibility. Prior to July 2022, applicants could not have more than $2,000 in total assets and from July 2022 to December 2023, there was an individual asset limit of $135,000. On Jan. 1, 2024, the cash asset limit was eliminated.
How to apply for Medi-Cal?
Covered California provides the most convenient way to apply for Medi-Cal. Visit the Covered California website at coveredca.com or call them at (800) 300-1506. There is no cost for this service.
Those who are unsure if they qualify are encouraged to call us at (818) 949-4033 and speak with a resource specialist. We can help!