Medi-Cal Planning Tips

Countable vs. Non-Countable

When you submit an application for Medi-Cal Long Term Care benefits, your assets fall into two categories: countable and non-countable. Only your countable assets are part of the equation for determining whether you’ll qualify. Medi-Cal planning is the process of legally preserving as many of your assets as possible by working within the rules to shift those assets from the “countable” category into the “non-countable” category prior to submitting your Medi-Cal application. In this way, you can qualify for benefits while salvaging at least a portion of your property and savings for the future use by your spouse or other family members.

Is Medi-Cal Planning Legal and Ethical?

Those who don’t understand Medi-Cal planning often express concerns about whether it’s a legal and ethical way to qualify for benefits. The truth is, the Medi-Cal program itself has built-in rules that allow for the preservation of assets. Medi-Cal planning attorneys spend a great deal of time learning these rules and keeping up with changes in the law so that they can help their clients apply the rules in a way that allows clients to preserve as much of their hard-earned savings as possible. Transactions that occur as part of the Medi-Cal planning process are disclosed on a client’s Medi-Cal application, and nothing is hidden. Medi-Cal planning attorneys take care to ensure that the strategies they use to help their clients are supported by the law and are communicated clearly to all the parties involved.

For more information on Medic-Cal Long Term Care eligibility or the Medi-Cal planning process, you’ll want to talk to an experienced and qualified Medi-Cal planning attorney such as Tim Murphy.  To schedule an appointment, simply call our office at (916) 437-3500.