Does anyone here know a lot about MediCal health insurance for

[truedelphi]

People in California?

It is my understanding that many people who are not currently insured will visit the California exchange, and if their income is low enough, and they are not offered insurance through work, they will get insurance through MediCal.

I spent today cleaning out the closet. Among other items I came across was a brochure sent to this household some years ago (circa 2008-2009) when we qualified for MediCal.

Here is what it says in the brochure, sent by Health and Human Services:

"When a Medi-Cal beneficiary is 55 years of age or older at the time of death, the State will collect from his/her estate the cost of Medi-Cal services received including insurance premiums paid an d payments made to managed care on or after the 55th "birthday."

The brochure goes on to detail exclusions, such as if your spouse has survived your death, they won't go after the estate until the spouse has also died. And they exclude a household where a child survives a parent AND IS UNDER THE AGE of 21.

So is this still in place?

Again, this is not something I found out about by watching Fox news, or the RW Denouncers. It is right there inside the brochure issued by California Dept of Health and Human services.

On edit: here is a diary over at DailyKos that mentions some similar concerns: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/17/1248425/-Medicaid-Estate-Recovery-ACA-Unintended-Consequences

[grasswire]

1. I'm no expert, but I think that's probably true.

...which makes a person wonder what all the screaming is from the right, if the benefits are recouped after the recipient dies.

[truedelphi]

2. To my way of thinking, then,

Anyone who believes the statement, "If you can't afford the premiums, they will be subsidized," is believing false advertising.

They are not offering you a subsidy, not a subsidy at all, but a guldarn loan, which they will recoup once you die.

The monthly premium for a couple who are in their late fifties is close to one thousand dollars a month, So once this couple is on this "subsidy" system for a good eight or ten years, a sizeable amount of their assets will be taken from them upon their death.

[grasswire]

5. excellent point that should be public conversation

I suggest that we bring it up to some knowledgeable people.

That makes two points that need clarification. The one I made, and the one you made.

[truedelphi]

6. I got pointed to this discussion when

I mentioned the problems we are discussing over at DailyKos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/17/1248425/-Medicaid-Estate-Recovery-ACA-Unintended-Consequences

[Cleita]

3. What I do know is most of the doctors and clinics in my county don't

want to take it. I believe the hospitals have to. Hopefully the MediCal offered through the ACA has been improved and the fee schedules updated. But I don't know for sure.

[truedelphi]

4. That is really a big concern.

It would be so great if all the doctors out there had to take a certain percentage of MediCal patients, so that the more charitable doctors weren't swamped.

[stopbush]

7. There are many restrictions to qualifying for MediCal. it serves the lowest incomes of the low.

For instance, you can own only one car if you're on MediCal. Total assets (countable property) for a family of 4 cannot exceed $3300. Assets are determined by adding up the value of your "real property" - land, buildings, mobil homes or life estates, and "personal property" - jewelry, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, cars, trucks, houses, mortgages and other property.

The fact is that most people with lower incomes will NOT qualify for MediCal because their assets are too high. They will end up in the exchanges, where their very low incomes will earn them a subsidy that gets them insurance for free, and insurance that is probably better than MediCal.

Unfortunately, when they apply through Covered CA, their income level will automatically initiate a process to determine if they qualify for MediCal. They will not be able to actually shop for insurance in the exchange until the state has determined they don't qualify for mediCal.

[truedelphi]

8. Yes, I get all that.

After all, back in 2008 or 2009, after the med bankruptcy, we were on MediCal.

My concerns are related to the language of the brochure regarding the State's Recouping of a person's assets should they be over 55 on the day they die. (I repeat the section of the brochure that I am concerned about inside the OP.)

[truedelphi]

9. Here is the short version of my query:

What's Unfair Is The ONLY People Who Have To pay back their medical insurance premium subsidy are those who get Obamacare via Medicaid.

Those who got a subsidy without going on Medicaid, don't have to pay back the subsidy.

And if you apply for health insurance, which we are all "supposed to," and you are poor, you are put into MediCal, (or MediCaid if you live in another state.) No choice about it.