June, 2003
Well, if my recent mental state is any indication, summer is here. What is it about warm weather and longer days that makes it harder to concentrate? Lately, I've been feeling like a kid who can hardly wait for school to get out for summer vacation. Somehow, I imagine that I'm not the only one who is feeling the need for a break. I bet there is a State Legislator or two out there who is wishing they could take a little vacation too.
Well, from the looks of things in Sacramento it will be a while before they will have time to enjoy the weather. The Governor has released his May Revise of the State Budget and the proposed cuts to Medi-Cal are still a hot topic for people with disabilities and seniors.
Protection and Advocacy, a disability rights law firm has asked for our assistance in getting the word out regarding budget cuts that threaten the Medi-Cal Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level (A&D FPL) program. This program provides Medi-Cal with no share of cost to individuals in California who are seniors (age 65 or older) or people with disabilities and who have "countable" income below a specific amount. "Countable income" just means that there are only certain sources of income that the Medi-Cal program can count to determine eligibility for the program. The A&D FPL program currently provides Medi-Cal to 80,000 seniors and people with disabilities.
Currently, in order to qualify for the program an individual must have "countable income" at or below $979 and a married couple, if both apply, must have countable income at or below $1344. (If only one member of the couple applies for this program, he or she would qualify if the couple's total countable income is at or below $1579 a month). However, if the proposed cut is approved, the eligibility income limit for the program will be reduced to $757 for an individual beginning November 1, 2003. Those of you who receive Social Security will recognize that as the Supplemental Social Security Income/ State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP) grant level.
I know, I know, all these acronyms and numbers...this is cruel and unusual punishment. An example might help. Right now, a person with a disability or senior would have free Medi-Cal (i.e. with no share of cost) as long as the person's countable income is under $980. If these cuts take effect, a person whose countable income is $758 ($1 over the SSI/SSP grant level) would be required to pay $158 of his/her income each month in order to be eligible for Medi-Cal to pay their medical expenses.
If these cuts are implemented, the only people who would be eligible for no share-of-cost Medi-Cal under the A&D FPL program are persons who are eligible for, but elect not to receive, SSI/SSP benefits or those who receive Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) benefits. No one should be forced to choose between food, shelter and medical care and if these cuts are instituted, that is what people would be forced to do.
So, what can you do about it? Turn the heat up in Sacramento! Tell the Governor, your State Senator and Assembly Member not to cut the A&D FPL program. Tell them how losing Medi-Cal would hurt you or someone you care about. Will you have to choose between filling your prescriptions and eating or paying rent?
If you want to write a letter and you need help or aren't sure how to get a hold of your Senator or Assembly Member, Call Protection and Advocacy at 1-800-776-5746 and say I need help with my letter about keeping the Aged and Disabled Medi-Cal program.
You can also contact PAI through their website: www.pai-ca.org.
As always, if you have any questions, contact me at (831) 757-2968 or ddallimore@cccil.org via email.