Cal. Welf. and Inst. Code § 14006.4
"NOTICE REGARDING STANDARDS FOR MEDI-CAL ELIGIBILITY
If you or your spouse is in or is entering a nursing facility, read this important message!
You or your spouse do not have to use all your resources, such as savings, before Medi-Cal might help pay for all or some of the costs of a nursing facility.
You should be aware of the following to take advantage of these provisions of the law:
UNMARRIED RESIDENT
An unmarried resident is financially eligible for Medi-Cal benefits if they meet income requirements. Resources, including property and assets, are not considered in determining Medi-Cal eligibility.
If an unmarried resident is financially eligible for Medi-Cal reimbursement, they are allowed to keep from their monthly income a personal allowance of (insert amount of personal needs allowance) plus the amount of health insurance premiums paid monthly. The remainder of the monthly income is paid to the nursing facility as a monthly deductible called the "Medi-Cal share of cost."
MARRIED RESIDENT
If one spouse lives in a nursing facility, and the other spouse does not live in a nursing facility, the Medi-Cal program will pay some or all of the nursing facility costs as long as the couple together meets income requirements. Resources, including property and assets, are not considered in determining Medi-Cal eligibility.
If a spouse is eligible for Medi-Cal payment of nursing facility costs, the spouse living at home is allowed to keep a monthly income of at least their individual monthly income or (insert amount of Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance), whichever is greater. Of the couple's remaining monthly income, the spouse in the nursing facility is allowed to keep a personal allowance of (insert amount of personal needs allowance) plus the amount of health insurance premiums paid monthly. The remaining money, if any, generally must be paid to the nursing facility as the Medi-Cal share of cost. The Medi-Cal program will pay remaining nursing facility costs.
Under certain circumstances, an at-home spouse can obtain an order from an administrative law judge that will allow the at-home spouse to retain additional income. That order may allow the at-home spouse to retain more than (insert amount of Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance) in monthly income, if the extra income is necessary "due to exceptional circumstances resulting in significant financial duress."
An at-home spouse also may obtain a court order to increase the amount of income that they are allowed to retain. You should contact a knowledgeable attorney for further information regarding court orders.
Note: For married couples, the income limit ((insert amount of Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance) in (insert current year)) generally increase a slight amount on January 1 of every year.
This is only a brief description of the Medi-Cal eligibility rules, for more detailed information, you should call your county welfare department. You will probably want to consult with the local branch of the state long-term care ombudsman, an attorney, or a legal services program for seniors in your area.
I have read the above notice and have received a copy.
Dated: ______ Signature: _________"
Ca. Welf. and Inst. Code § 14006.4