Does Medi-Cal Charge You Back?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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If you fall below it, you're in Medi-Cal. If you're above it (up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level), you qualify for tax credits from Covered California to offset the cost of your monthly premium. But “

you're not required to pay that (Covered California) subsidy back when you die

,” Hernandez says.

Do you have to pay for Medi-Cal?

How much does Medi-Cal cost?​​​​ For many individuals who enroll in Medi-Cal,

there is no premium, no co-payment

, and no out of pocket cost. … In general, individuals in Medi-Cal will get the same health benefits available through Covered California at a lower cost.

Do you have to pay Medi-cal back?

The Medi-Cal program

must seek repayment from the estates of certain deceased Medi-Cal members

. Repayment only applies to benefits received by these members on or after their 55th birthday and who own assets at the time of death. If a deceased member owns nothing when they die, nothing will be owed.

How can I avoid Medi-Cal recovery?

Under the old law, this means that the only way to avoid recovery was to have nothing left in the Medi-Cal recipient's name at the time of death. For those who die on or after January 1, 2017, recovery is limited to

those estates that are subject to probate under California law

.

Can Medi-Cal take my house?

I. Can the State Take My Home If I Go on Medi-Cal?

The State of California does not take away anyone's home per se

. … For example, your home may be an exempt asset while you are alive, and not counted for Medi-Cal eligibility purposes.

What is the Medi-Cal income limit for 2020?

Qualifications: An individual earning under $17,237 a year or a family of four with an

annual household income less than $35,535

qualifies for Medi-Cal.

How much money can you have in the bank and still qualify for Medi-Cal?

You may have

up to $2,000 in assets as an individual or $3,000 in assets as a couple

. Some of your personal assets are not considered when determining whether you qualify for Medi-Cal coverage. For example, assets that do not count are: Your primary home.

Does Medi-Cal check your bank account?

While Medicaid agencies do not have independent access to a Medicaid recipient's financial statements, Medicaid does an annual update to make sure a Medicaid recipient still meets the financial eligibility requirements. Furthermore,

a Medicaid agency can ask for bank statements at any time

, not just on an annual basis.

What happens if you don't report income to Medi-Cal?

It carries a

potential county jail sentence of one

(1) year if charged as a misdemeanor, and a potential county jail sentence of sixteen (16) months, two (2) years or three (3) years if charged as a felony.

Do you have to repay Medi-Cal after your income increases?

Many of these people fear they will have to repay Medi-Cal for the months they were really ineligible for the no cost health . Do you have to repay Medi-Cal after your income increases and you were no longer eligible?

The short answer is usually not.

What assets are exempt from Medi-Cal?

Exemptions include

personal belongings, household furnishings, an automobile, irrevocable burial trusts

, and one's primary home, given the Medicaid applicant or their spouse lives in the home. California does not have a maximum home equity value limit like most states.

What is the monthly income limit for Medi-Cal?

Your family size: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Income limits for your family:
$12,880

$4,540

$12,760

Does Medi-Cal verify income?

No. This

program uses Social Security's countable income calculation to determine your income

. Additionally, the WDP Program does not count unearned income from private or public disability benefits (such as SDI, SSI, SSDI, STD, LTD ) when determining your countable income.

What is considered low income in California?

Family Size (Persons in Family/Household) Annual Family Income HUD Low Income Level

1

Federal Poverty Level*
1 $66,250 $12,880 2 $75,700 $17,420 3 $85,150 $21,960

Will I lose my Medi-Cal if I get married?

Unfortunately, when it comes to Medi-Cal,

there is no such thing as “separate property

.” Medi-Cal will count all of a spouse's separate assets when determining a married applicant's Medi-Cal eligibility. … Some couples will go through a divorce just to protect their separate assets!

How do I check my Medi-Cal eligibility?

How Do I Check My Medicaid Status?

Contact your local county social services office

to learn about your Medi-Cal status and eligibility. The California Department of Health Care Services has a full directory of each county's agency.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.