4 Things to Look For When Determining Medi-Cal Eligibility

If you are looking to qualify for Medi-Cal benefits, there are several things you can do to ensure you qualify. First, you should understand the income and asset limits that Medi-Cal requires. Medi-Cal does not count all of your assets, but there are certain types that it will look at. You should also be aware of ABLE accounts, which you can use to save money without being counted by Medicare.

Types of Income Used to Determine Eligibility

If you are wondering which Medi-Cal eligibility income sources are used to determine said eligibility, you should first know that Medi-Cal only counts countable resources when determining your income. Countable resources include cash, savings accounts, and investments. These assets may be in a bank or a credit union. They also include the contents of your safe deposit box. Other assets include stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. These investments can be in brokerage accounts, stock certificates, bond funds, deferred annuities, and the cash value of whole life insurance policies.

While income-based Medi-Cal counts most types of income, Supplemental Security Income and some retirement contributions are excluded. In addition, people with disabilities can have as much money as they want to save. These limits are expected to be removed by the year 2024.

SSI is Automatically Enrolled in Medi-Cal

The first step to determining if you qualify for Medi-Cal is to see if you qualify for SSI benefits. If so, you may be eligible to enroll in the program. If you do, you can receive the first cash payment from SSI. If you qualify for Medi-Cal, you must be enrolled during the General Enrollment Period, which runs from January 1 to March 31. Once enrolled, your monthly benefit check will automatically reflect an upward adjustment. If not, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty until your coverage begins. However, you can qualify for a late enrollment penalty waiver if you meet certain conditions.

In addition to applying for Medi-Cal, you may be eligible for Medicaid coverage if you qualify for SSI. The SSI criteria for eligibility differ by state. Some states automatically enroll SSI recipients in Medicaid coverage, while others require you to apply separately.

Working Disability Program

In California, the Working Disability Program (WDP) allows working disabled individuals to qualify for Medi-Cal. These individuals pay a low monthly premium based on their net countable income. They enroll through their local county welfare department. To qualify, applicants must be disabled and have a federal disability definition for at least one year. In addition, they cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity.

To qualify for the MBI-WPD program, an individual must be disabled under the age 65. The SSA determines the level of disability for people receiving SSDI and SSI benefits. The Medicaid Buy-In Program also accepts this determination for Working People with Disabilities. However, if the SSA has not determined the level of disability, individuals must have their application reviewed by the New York State Disability Review Team. To learn more about the process, contact your local social services district.

To apply for Medi-Cal, individuals must contact their local Medicaid regional office and provide documentation of their income, hours worked, and resources. The worker will review the application and advise the applicant on necessary additional information.

Medically Needy Pathway

To qualify for the Needy Pathway program, you must spend some of your income on medical expenses. This is similar to the deductible in insurance policies. You must meet this amount within a month, three months, or six months. Depending on the state, you may have to meet this limit more than once.

The Medically Needy pathway helps lower your income to make qualifying for Medi-Cal and Medicaid easier. This program considers the cost of medical expenses and helps you pay them off. In some cases, it can also include the cost of Medicare premiums.