Gov. Newsom proposes ‘asset test’ for low-income and disabled Medi-Cal applicants. What does that mean?

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 30, 2025 6:14 PM PT | Karen Garcia

[E. Pluribus Unum]

• Facing higher healthcare costs, Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing adding an “asset test” for applicants for Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services.
• The test would mean Californians would not be eligible if their assets total more than $2,000.

Millions of Californians who rely on Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services could lose eligibility under a proposal requiring recipients to prove their assets total less than $2,000.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent revised budget proposal highlighted a stark $37.6 billion increase in funding costs associated with Medi-Cal between the 2024 and 2025 fiscal year, compared to $17.1 billion in the 2014 through 2015 fiscal year.

The dollar amount needed to fund the program is expected to continue rising over the next several years. The cost has been driven up by a surge in enrollment, pharmacy costs and higher managed care costs, according to the budget proposal.

The Medi-Cal caseload reported an increase of 12.7 million recipients between 2019 and 2020 to 15 million in 2024 through 2025.

Medi-Cal is the state’s health care program that provides free or low-cost health coverage for those who qualify, specifically low-income adults and families, seniors and individuals with disabilities. In-Home Supportive Services provides in-home assistance to eligible aged, blind and disabled people as an alternative to out-of-home care.

Newsom has proposed tackling the rising costs of the programs by reintroducing what is called the “asset test” to limit eligibility for the Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services programs.

What’s the ‘asset test’?

For decades, low-income seniors and those with disabilities had to pass the “asset test” to be eligible for Medi-Cal and In-Home Supportive Services programs. That meant that a single applicant couldn’t qualify if they had assets valued more than $2,000. The limit for a couple was $3,000.

To determine whether someone had $2,000 or not,...

[Jim W N]

I think he actually said, “Acid Test...”

What horrors will the Left have in mind next?

[butlerweave]

Illegal Aliens ? LOL

[Racketeer]

The Gavin types want to know everything about you but do not want you, whom they serve, to know anything about them.

[SaxxonWoods]

“What does that mean?”

Hide all your money in your mattress.

[Candor7]

If you drive an old beat up TESLA Muskmobile..you are disqualified !

[BenLurkin]

Gavin Newsom is a greasy worm.

[SkyDancer]

Illegals still get it all free.

[know.your.why]

The headline "Gov. Newsom proposes"...you know its going to be moronic. Did he do the gruesome shoulder shimmy?



Does he even know how creepy he allows himself to get?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Does he even know how creepy he allows himself to get? Cocaine jitters.

[Regulator]

For about 1/6 of what the Mexicans in the state legislature are currently telling him he has to spend on their relatives, he could just build clinicas in Mehico and take care of Los Enfermos there.

But, Truth Is, Gav-Gav needs them here: they’re the Rat shock troops, and the future of the Rat party. Without them, he’s got no support.

[gloryblaze]

My blocker blocks that paper, but is this a misprint? Two grand in assets? That is such a pittance that it would have to be verified every week. Anyone that poor has to be starving on the sidewalk, with no question about paying for care.

?????????????????

[aimhigh]

A full time caregiver for a month would exceed $2,000.

[hanamizu]

Two grand in assets? Anyone that poor has to be starving on the sidewalk...

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Unless it’s a real beater, owning a car would disqualify you.

[Sacajaweau]

That’s a ridiculous amount. What if they are saving for a car. or trying to put a kid through college..Even community colleges are not cheap.

[Ex-Con777]

What’s the going value on a shopping cart and family sized tent?

EC

[dljordan]

How about an asset test on the illegals skippy?

[PrairieLady2]

Actually, the 2k in assets is federal law. All except your vehicle and your home. But you can’t have cash or cash producing assets over 2k.

If you are elderly and you die, you must give up your house and assets to the state to pay back midicaid for your healthcare. Your family doesn’t have first dibs in your house, even if you built it or your great, great granddaddy built it.

[Patriot777]

Queer as a $3 bill.

[gloryblaze]

The federal $2000 limit is for SSI, but eligibility for SSI guarantees it for Medicaid..