Important Facts About Medi-Cal: Resource Asset Rules

These are general federal guidelines. The specific rules in your state may differ somewhat.

In order to be eligible for Medi-Cal benefits a nursing home resident may have no more than $2,000 in “countable” assets.

The spouse of a nursing home resident—called the ‘community spouse’— is limited to one half of the couple’s joint assets up to $99,450 (in 2006) in “countable” assets (see Medi-Cal, Protections for the Healthy Spouse). The $99,450 figure changes each year to reflect inflation.

All assets are counted against these limits unless the assets fall within the short list of “noncountable” assets. These include:

1. personal possessions, such as clothing, furniture, and jewelry;
2. one motor vehicle;
3. the applicant’s principal residence, provided it is in the same state in which the individual is applying for coverage.
4. prepaid funeral plans and a small amount of life insurance; and
5. assets that are considered “inaccessible” for one reason or another.