Medi-Cal is California’s state Medicaid Managed Care Program. It provides low-income residents of California with access to a range of services that includes medical and dental care, long-term residential care, supportive services and necessary medical supplies. The program primarily serves seniors, disabled individuals and those with temporary conditions including pregnancy. Seniors who wish to receive funding for assisted living must apply under either the Assisted Living Waiver or the Multipurpose Senior Services Program.
Eligibility for these waivers depends on several factors. Seniors must need regular nursing care while being capable of living safely within an assisted living facility. Income requirements for this program stipulate that individuals may not have a monthly income exceeding $1,242 or assets valued at more than $2,000, and couples may not have a monthly income exceeding $1,682 or assets exceeding $3,000
Assisted Living Waiver
The Assisted Living Waiver program provides seniors who are living in assisted living facilities with financial assistance and supportive services including nurse visits, nonmedical transportation, medical care and dental care. Although the cost of services provided by the assisted living facility are covered under this program, seniors are required to pay for room and board.
To apply for the Assisted Living Waiver, seniors can contact their nearest care coordination agency in person or by telephone.
Multipurpose Senior Services Program
Medi-Cal’s Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) also provides support to seniors residing in assisted living facilities. The MSSP is similar to the Assisted Living Waiver in that it provides support to seniors in assisted living facilities who require a nursing home level of care. However, this waiver program is also available to seniors who have chosen to continue living at home and require access to home health care. Seniors who participate in the MSSP are assessed to determine their needs and have services assigned to them as required. The program provides a range of assistance including nurse visits, respite care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, case management and nonmedical transportation.
There are only 12,000 seniors accepted into this program, which means the waiting list can get rather long. Eligibility requirements for MSSP are the same as for the Assisted Living Waiver, and seniors are generally asked to reapply annually.
To learn more about the application process, seniors can contact the California Department of Health Care Services at (707) 565-4700.