Affordable and accessible medical care is integral to living a quality, healthy lifestyle, especially if you require long-term care. Medi-Cal, or California’s Medicaid program, helps eligible users afford healthcare so they can focus on other aspects of their lives. While many people can apply and receive coverage by navigating the process themselves, a Culver City Medi-Cal planning lawyer may prove beneficial in getting the coverage you need.
At Cox Law Group, we are compassionate lawyers who understand life’s challenges and its many stages. Long-term healthcare is a stage many Californians must face, but not everyone has a plan for ensuring they can afford care.
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This is why we stand side by side with our clients, helping them navigate the application process, preserve assets, and create an overall plan for continuing care. We can do this in either English or Spanish, depending on your family’s needs.
Medi-Cal is a low-cost or no-cost healthcare program in California, similar to the federal Medicaid program. In California, the Department of Health Services manages Medi-Cal. Approximately 15.2 million Californians are covered under Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal may cover medical expenses, including, but not limited to:
To qualify for Medi-Cal in California, you must meet certain criteria. Generally, you must have income up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL), and your specific income limit depends on family size. For example, the income limit for a family of one is $21,597, while for a family of five it is $51,957.
If you live in Culver City, you would apply at the Rancho Park District Office at 11110 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064.
Medi-Cal is designed to provide healthcare coverage to low-income or no-income families. Generally, the provisions of the Medi-Cal program are consistent with the Federal Medicaid program, and it must provide adequate health care to qualifying individuals. Recently, the state government passed AB-2208, which made changes to eligibility requirements, including:
If you are denied Medi-Cal coverage, it can be disheartening, especially if you have a pile of medical bills and expenses to cover. Luckily, you can request a Medi-Cal Fair Hearing to appeal the decision. Your lawyer can represent you at your hearing as well as ensure you file a complaint within the 90-day period of receiving your Notice of Action (NOA).
If you are low-income or have lost your income, then you may want to consider Medi-Cal coverage to help fund your medical needs. However, to meet eligibility requirements, you must meet certain criteria. This is when it may be beneficial to hire a Medi-Cal planning lawyer.
Your lawyer can help review and fill out your application, as well as help you with the following aspects of your Medi-Cal planning case:
There are many ways a Medi-Cal planning lawyer can help you with your case. Adequate medical coverage is a basic need, and access to Medi-Cal is a right if you meet the requirements.
The new law for Medi-Cal in California improves eligibility by making Medi-Cal more accessible, providing retroactive coverage, and increasing cost-sharing on the part of the program. For example, the new law limits out-of-pocket costs to $0.01 for eligible individuals, standardizes the application process, and provides 3 months of retroactive coverage.
The 3-month rule applies to Medi-Cal by allowing for three months of retroactive coverage for eligible individuals who have unpaid medical bills. Basically, an applicant can receive Medi-Cal coverage for up to three months prior to the month in which they submitted their application. The rule also allows a three-month grace period for undocumented adults to re-establish eligibility.
How much money you can have in the bank and still qualify for Medi-Cal is difficult to determine because it depends on total assets. This is considered an asset limit, and refers to the countable assets you may own, like cash, bank accounts, and second homes and vehicles. The limit is $130,000 for one person and $65,000 for each additional individual living in the household.
There is no specific age at which you lose Medi-Cal, but if you are dependent on a parent’s plan, you may lose it at 26 years old and must apply for your own plan. Generally, age impacts eligibility requirements for applicants. Children under 19 are covered, and eligible adults 19-64 are covered with specific requirements. Adults 65+ are covered based on income.
Long-term healthcare requires strategic planning and knowledge of the Medi-Cal program. At Cox Law Group, we have experience navigating the application process, helping clients meet eligibility requirements, and appealing denials if necessary. Contact us today for a consultation and learn more about how we can help you with your Medi-Cal planning case.
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