If you have low income and assets, you may qualify for help with some of your Medicare costs.
Medi-Cal
California’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, pays for certain care Medicare doesn’t, and helps pay the cost-sharing for the benefits and services Medicare does cover.
Medi-Cal pays for “medically necessary” health care such as:
- Physician visits
- X-ray and laboratory tests
- Hospital and nursing-home care
- Home health care
- Certain prescription drugs excluded as a Medicare Part D benefit
- Prosthetic and orthopedic devices
- Hearing aids
- Medical equipment
- Ambulance services
- Hospice care
- Dental services through its Denti-Cal program
A HICAP counselor can help you determine if you may qualify for Medi-Cal benefits and give you the contact information for your local Medi-Cal office.
Medicare Savings Programs
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) also pay for some of Medicare’s cost-sharing, such as the Medicare Part B monthly premium. Extra help with Medicare’s Part D prescription drug costs is available as well.
Medicare offers several Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) that assist people with low income and assets: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), Qualified Individual (QI) and Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI). California also offers the 250% California Working Disabled (CWD) program.
You must meet certain income and asset limits to qualify for these programs, which are administered by Medi-Cal.
A HICAP counselor can help you determine if you are eligible and assist you in the application process.
Part D Extra Help
You may also qualify for the Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) Program.
The Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program helps pay for a portion of Part D prescription drug plan costs, including Part D premiums, deductibles and copayments. Depending on your income and assets, you may qualify for the full subsidy or a partial subsidy.
A HICAP counselor can help you determine if you are eligible and assist you in the application process.
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