Medi-Cal Resource Limits for Long Term Care
The following property is generally exempt and therefore not counted in determining Long Term Care Medi-Cal eligibility:
- The home: totally excluded, if it is the principal residence. The applicant must state an “intent to return to the home.” Includes mobile home, houseboat, or an entire multi-unit dwelling as long as any portion serves as the principal residence of the applicant. (See "Your Home & Medi-Cal" for more information)
- Other real property: may be excluded if it is used in whole or in part as a business or means of self-support (you should see an attorney if you have other real property).
- Household goods and personal effects: totally exempt.
- Jewelry: for a single person, wedding, engagement rings and heirlooms, and items of jewelry with a net market value of $100 or less are totally exempt; for spouses, there is no limit on exempt jewelry for determining the institutionalized spouse’s eligibility.
- One car is generally exempt if used for the benefit of the applicant/beneficiary or if needed for medical reasons.
- Whole life insurance policies with a total face value (also called “combined death benefit”) of $1,500 or less.
- Term life insurance: totally excluded.
- Burial plots: totally excluded, includes headstone, crypts, etc.
- Prepaid irrevocable burial plan of any amount and $1,500 in designated burial funds. These designated funds must be kept separate from all other accounts.
- Cash surrender value or balance of pension funds, IRAs and certain types of annuities (you should see an attorney if you are considering buying an annuity—call CANHR for a referral).
- Up to $2,000 in cash reserve, e.g. in savings, checking, etc., for the Medi-Cal applicant.
- Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) for 2010: the spouse at home can keep the first $109,560 in assets (up from $104,400 in 2008), and may be able to keep more if his/her income is below the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA). For 2010 this amount is $2,739. Average Private Pay Rate (APPR) for 2010 is $6,311.
For more information, contact CANHR at 800-474-1116 (consumers only)
Page Last Modified: May 4, 2010
