Share of Cost – End of Senior Penalty
Governor Newsom and our State Legislature have finalized the 2019-2020 budget and in it is much good news for our state’s older adults. One of the top wins is the end of the senior penalty in the Medi-Cal program; other wins include the expansion of many key programs serving and supporting older adults. This good news, on top of the executive order for creating a statewide Master Plan for Aging, marks a great start to this fiscal year and our new Governor’s term.
The elimination of the senior penalty means that approximately 27,000 more seniors and people with disabilities will be eligible for free Medi-Cal. Starting no sooner than January 1, 2020, California will increase the Aged and Disabled Medi-Cal income eligibility limit to 138% FPL to match that of other Medi-Cal programs. This a huge win that CHA and many advocates statewide have been fighting for for years.
Source: California Heath Advocates