California’s Medicaid program is called Medi-Cal. It’s available to low-income residents of California, including pregnant women, families with children and seniors. It provides access to free or low-cost healthcare, including medical treatment, dental care, long-term care, counseling services, medical supplies and devices, prescription medications and transportation services. Medi-Cal and its waiver programs are jointly funded by the state and federal governments.
While the basic state Medi-Cal plan doesn’t cover the cost of assisted living, there are two waiver programs that are in place to assist low-income seniors: the Assisted Living Waiver and the Multipurpose Senior Services Program. Seniors applying for either of these waiver programs must meet eligibility requirements, which include a full care assessment to determine their level of need. Applicants must have an income less than $1,242 (individual) or $1,682 (couple) per month and may not have more than $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple) in countable assets.
Seniors can apply for Medi-Cal benefits online or call (800) 300-1506.
Assisted Living Waiver
The Assisted Living Waiver provides low-income seniors residing in assisted living facilities with financial aid. In addition to paying for the cost of care, the program may cover additional services, such as medical care, dental care and transportation. The Assisted Living Waiver doesn’t cover room and board.
To apply for the Assisted Living Waiver, seniors can contact the Institute on Aging at (408) 474-0679 or visit or call any Care Coordinator Agency in the Riverside County area.
Multipurpose Senior Services Program
The Multipurpose Senior Services Program was created to reduce stress on the Medi-Cal system caused by an excessive number of seniors accessing care in nursing homes, which is considerably more expensive than other types of senior care in California. The program provides financial support and health care services to seniors who require a nursing level of care but are able to safely continue living at home or in an assisted living community. For seniors who reside in an assisted living facility, it pays for the cost of care services and may also provide additional services, such as nurse visits, physical therapy and transportation.
This program often has a long waiting list, as it only accepts 12,000 participants at a single time. Due to this waiting list, seniors typically have to be reassessed annually to determine if they’re eligible to continue receiving services.
To inquire about the application process or to be added to the waiting list, seniors can contact the California Department of Health Services at (800) 541-5555.