When faced with a sudden serious illness or accident, or planning for long term care, OC Elder Law can help navigate the process of finding quality care. We can help you determine the best options for care and how to qualify for Medi-Cal to help finance them.
Sometimes, a sudden illness or deteriorating health might require you to receive services at a skilled nursing facility. In California, nursing homes can exceed $8,000 per month. Individuals can face this high-cost care unless they have long-term-care insurance coverage or qualify for Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal is a state benefit that can help seniors with low income or limited resources afford short-term and long term nursing home care. Special rules govern Medi-Cal eligibility and it is best to speak to an attorney to determine if you qualify. However, eligibility primarily depends on the amount of income and resources a person has.
Medi-Cal classifies property as “exempt” and “non-exempt”. Some resources are exempted and do not count in determining eligibility including your home, if it’s your primary residence, and your vehicle. Nonetheless, you must meet the Medi-Cal income limit of $2,000 for an individual. If your spouse is in need of nursing home services, you, as the community spouse can keep up to $119,220; but, your spouse, as the institutionalized spouse must only keep $2,000 in a separate account.
OC Elder Law has experience using many strategies to help clients qualify for the Medi-Cal if they are over the eligibility requirements. However, qualifying for the benefit is only half of the battle. When a Medi-Cal recipient passes away, Medi-Cal wants to get paid back. At OC Elder Law we can help you, a friend, or a family member qualify for the benefit while protecting their home and any other assets they might have from Medi-Cal recovery.
Seek appropriate counsel before you apply for and seek to qualify for Medi-Cal. We can give you – and your family – peace of mind during a difficult and uncertain time. When dealing with Medi-Cal, legal advice is something you cannot afford to go without.