California’s Medi-Cal program provides medical care through a form of public health insurance to eligible low-income individuals including seniors, pregnant women, families with children and people with disabilities. Many enrolled individuals receive care at no cost, while some pay a low monthly premium.
To qualify for Medi-Cal, seniors may need to meet one or more of these requirements:
- Earning less than $16,395 annually as an individual or $22,108 as a married couple
- Having assets valued at less than $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a married couple (not including a home, one vehicle or personal items)
- Being over age 65, blind or disabled
- Enrolling in a refugee assistance program
- Receiving Supplemental Security Income
- Living in a community setting such as a nursing home or intermediate care facility
As recipients of Medi-Cal, seniors receive the following essential health benefits:
- Doctor’s visits
- Hospitalization and emergency services
- Mental and behavioral health treatment
- Occupational and physical therapy
- Prescription drugs
- Chronic disease management
- Wellness services
- Laboratory services
Thousand Oaks residents interested in enrolling in Medi-Cal can apply in person at the
Ventura County Office,
online or
by mail.
Assisted Living Waiver Medi-Cal recipients may qualify for an assisted living waiver designed to help keep seniors out of nursing homes and in the community. Services provided through the ALW include care coordination, assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, eating and dressing, short-term skilled nursing, meals and transportation services.
To qualify for the waiver, a senior must be assessed as requiring the level of care provided in a skilled nursing facility but be able to live safely in a residential care or adult residential facility with the provided support services.
The ALW isn’t available in Ventura County, so Thousand Oaks residents must be willing to relocate to an assisted living facility in one of the 15 participating counties. Those closest to Thousand Oaks include Los Angeles, Kern, Orange, Riverside and San Bernadino. The waiver isn’t an entitlement program, so applicants may be placed on a waitlist before receiving services.
To apply for the waiver, Medi-Cal members can contact the closest
Care Coordination Agency and schedule an assessment to evaluate their care needs.