Long Term Care

Long-Term Care (LTC) Medi-Cal pays for care received in a hospital or nursing facility which lasts or is expected to last at least one full calendar month after the month of admission. If you reside in a nursing home (also known as long-term care facility) or need nursing home care, Medi-Cal could pay for all or part of the care and services you receive.

Covered Services

Nursing Home and Convalescent Care
Comprehensive Preventive Care
Primary and Specialty Care
Office Visits
Vision and Dental Care
Mental Health Services
Hospitalization
Prescription Medicines

Basic Eligibility Requirements

You must reside in California.
You must provide verification of income and any other necessary information if requested.
Currently assets are only considered for certain LTC applicants. However, starting January 1, 2026, assets such as bank accounts, a second vehicle, and homes, will be considered to determine eligibility for individuals who:
- Are aged 65 and older
- Have a disability
- Live in a nursing home
- Household income is too high to qualify under federal tax rules

Additional information on Property limitations

You must be receiving or expected to receive care for at least 30 days after the month of admission in a:
- Hospital
- Skilled Nursing Facility
- Intermediate Care Facility (ICF)
- Convalescent Home

Income Requirements

Single Person:

There is no income limit, but most of your income will be used to pay the nursing facility where you reside.

Married Persons or RDP:

Special rules may apply that allow the spouse/RDP at home to keep additional income that belongs to the person in Long-Term Care

Estate Recovery

Estate Recovery applies to individuals who receive Lont-Term Care Medi-Cal.

Click Estate Recovery Program for more information.

Citizenship/Immigration Requirements

Currently, all California residents who meet eligibility requirements receive full scope Medi-Cal benefits regardless of immigration status.

Beginning January 1, 2026, adults 19 years and older with an unsatisfactory immigration status (UIS), that apply on or after January 1, 2026, will receive restricted Medi-Cal, if eligibility criteria is met.

Beneficiaries with UIS who applied for Medi-Cal before January 1, 2026, and were found eligible, will continue receiving Full-Scope Medi-Cal from January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026. Starting on July 1, 2026, they will transition to Full-Scope Medi-Cal with No Dental. All primary care services and medications will remain covered, except dental services.

Children (0–18) and pregnant persons remain eligible to apply for full-scope MC regardless of immigration status.

Renewal Requirements

Your Medi-Cal eligibility must be reviewed at least once a year.

Apply On-Line with BenefitsCal

The easiest and quickest way is to apply online at BenefitsCal.

Apply By Phone

You can apply by phone. Call the Customer Service Center (CSC) (866) 613-3777 to have an application mailed to you.

Apply In Person

You can apply In person at any Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) District Office or outreach site.

Find the LA County services and facilities that serve your area

Applicants for Long-Term Care must answer “Yes” to the question “Do you need help with long-term care or home and community-based services?” on the application.

If you are residing in a Nursing Facility: Applications are available at most Nursing Homes throughout Los Angeles County.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are a single person, eligible to Long-Term Care Medi-Cal and reside in a nursing home, you may keep $35 from your income for personal expenses plus any Medicare or insurance premiums (medical, dental, etc.) The remainder of your income will be used to pay the nursing home or Long-Term Care facility.

If you are married or in a registered domestic partnership, eligible to Long-Term Care Medi-Cal and reside in a nursing facility while your spouse/RDP lives at home, you can designate some or all your income to your spouse/RDP at home. The amount you can designate depends on the income of your spouse/RDP. For more details on how much income you can designate to your spouse/RDP at home, please ask your eligibility worker.

Yes.

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