Do You Qualify for Medi-Cal?
Elder Lawyer in Thousand Oaks, California
Medi-Cal is the Medicaid program for those residing in California. It provides health care services to people who have low income and asset levels and who meet certain qualifications. Individuals with children, people who are 65 years of age or older, and persons with disabilities are just a small number of people who may be eligible for Medi-Cal.
It is supported by federal and state taxes, and anyone can apply for benefits regardless of their sex, race, religion, etc. The state will determine which program you qualify for, and which program best suites you and your family using the information you provide on your application.
If you are interested in creating a Medi-Cal plan, please contact a Thousand Oaks lawyer from our firm!
Medi-Cal Planning
In order to qualify for Medi-Cal, a single person cannot own more than $2,000 in countable assets. If a nursing home resident has a spouse, then they may retain $117,920 in combined savings. The at-home spouse's savings account must contain $115,920, and the nursing home spouse may have $2,000 in savings. If a person's assets are more than Medi-Cal allows, they may ask the applicant to spend down before reapplying.
Spending down may rapidly deplete savings, however, and the at-home spouse may become financially insecure. Instead of spending down, one may gift assets or create certain types of trusts, if they pay careful attention to the Medi-Cal eligibility rules. For example, Medi-Cal penalizes gift made prior to application with what is called a period of ineligibility. There are other various legal ways to reduce your income and asset worth in order to remain eligible for Medi-Cal.
Plan ahead! Call our office today!
Do not wait until you are in desperate need of Medi-Cal. You can create a Medi-Cal plan now, for when you require nursing home or in-home care in the future. A lawyer at our firm has the ability to help clients plan for Medi-Cal, and may assist them in legally transferring assets while still maintaining their eligibility.
Contact our firm today at (805) 372-1507 if you have any questions,or wish to hire an estate planning attorney!