The kind of Medi-Cal ALW requires, and how to check yours

The Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) needs full-scope Medi-Cal with no monthly share of cost. A Medi-Cal card alone doesn't show either one. The county Medi-Cal office can confirm both. Ask, then write the answers down.

Check whether ALW may fit

Important: No single number on a website can tell you whether someone qualifies for Medi-Cal. Income, assets, household and spouse rules are decided by the county, and Beta can't change a county decision or give individual legal or financial planning advice.

Three words to know

Full-scope means coverage for the full range of Medi-Cal services, not only emergencies. "Restricted-scope" isn't enough for ALW.

Share of cost is a monthly amount some people must pay before Medi-Cal pays, like a deductible. For ALW there must be none.

Renewal is the county's yearly check. An unanswered renewal notice can stop coverage, and the ALW application with it.

What to ask the county

Call the county Medi-Cal office. The number is on the person's Medi-Cal notice. Write the answers down with the date.

• Is the Medi-Cal active right now, and is it full-scope?
• Is there a monthly share of cost? If so, how much?
• When is the next renewal, and are any documents missing?
• Is there a spouse or domestic partner on the case?
• If the person is in a nursing home now, or recently left one: does their Medi-Cal change when they move?

If everything comes back active, full-scope and with no share of cost, tell Beta's ALW team. Keep the renewal date where you'll see it.

If there's a share of cost

Some Medi-Cal groups have no share of cost. One is the Aged, Blind and Disabled program, for income at or under 138% of the federal poverty level. From April 1, 2026, that is $1,836 a month for one person and $2,490 for two. Above it, a share of cost may apply. A benefits specialist can say whether the person fits a group with no share of cost. No one can promise that a share of cost will go away.

Paying a home doesn't remove a share of cost, and a home's promise to accept "whatever income you have" isn't a Medi-Cal decision. No ALW rule requires SSI (Supplemental Security Income).

The Medi-Cal asset limit

Since January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal counts assets again for some Medi-Cal groups. ALW has no separate asset test of its own.

Through June 30, 2027, the limit is $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 for each extra person in the household, up to 10 people. From July 1, 2027, under SB 164, the limit is $21,000 for one person and $31,000 for two, plus $1,550 for each extra person, up to 10 people.

Not every Medi-Cal group uses the same method. Some assets may not count, a spouse at home may have protections, and giving assets away can have consequences. The rules change on July 1, 2027, so check again before then. Open the DHCS asset-limit FAQ ↗

When to get a benefits specialist

Talk to a benefits specialist or a qualified legal resource first if any of these apply:

• the person has a spouse (Medi-Cal may protect a spouse who stays at home)
• assets are near the limit, or there is a trust or property
• something was given away
• a share of cost hasn't been resolved
• a termination notice is pending

Each county page lists the county Medi-Cal office and the county aging and disability office, which can point you to benefits counseling.

Keep the Medi-Cal notice, the Benefits Identification Card (BIC) and the county case number handy. Don't send them by ordinary email. Beta tells you how to share documents when they're needed.

Checked, or not sure? Ask for a call, and Beta's ALW team will go over the answers with you.