Medi-Cal and California nursing-home care
A careful starting point for coverage, eligibility, share of cost, estate recovery, and planning questions.
California calls its Medicaid program Medi-Cal. Eligibility rules and dollar limits change. Confirm the current rule with the county, DHCS, or a qualified California adviser before transferring assets or signing an admission agreement.
Start with four separate questions
- Does the applicant meet the current clinical level-of-care rules?
- Does the facility participate in Medi-Cal and have an available Medi-Cal bed?
- How will income and any share of cost be handled?
- Do spouse, home, transfer, lien, or estate-recovery rules apply?
Do not create a penalty by improvising
Gifts, changes in title, trusts, property transfers, and private-pay admission terms can have consequences. Keep statements, deeds, insurance information, benefit letters, and five years of transaction records available for review.
Where to verify
Use the California Department of Health Care Services and your county eligibility office. HICAP offers free Medicare counseling at 1-800-434-0222.