California Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing an "asset test" for seniors to prove eligibility for Medi-Cal healthcare benefits for low-income Californians in response to a budget shortfall. To qualify, people would have to possess less than $2,000 in assets to qualify.
The assets included in the test would be salary, money in a bank account, cash on hand, a second car, home value and retirement funds. Applicants with more than $2,000 in assets would be ineligible for Medi-Cal.
Disability Rights California, a nonprofit, said the proposal would do "tremendous harm" to Californians.
"While we understand the reality of budget shortfalls and that cuts will sometimes be necessary, the priorities and reality of this May revision are even worse than what we imagined," the group said in a statement. "It demonstrates a continued willingness on the part of the governor to sacrifice the health and human services of California’s people, particularly the disabled, poor, and elderly populations of this abundant state."
The group added that the asset test "effectively demands extreme poverty in order to continue receiving critical healthcare."
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The assets included in the test would be salary, money in a bank account, cash on hand, a second car, home value and retirement funds. Applicants with more than $2,000 in assets would be ineligible for Medi-Cal.
Disability Rights California, a nonprofit, said the proposal would do "tremendous harm" to Californians.
"While we understand the reality of budget shortfalls and that cuts will sometimes be necessary, the priorities and reality of this May revision are even worse than what we imagined," the group said in a statement. "It demonstrates a continued willingness on the part of the governor to sacrifice the health and human services of California’s people, particularly the disabled, poor, and elderly populations of this abundant state."
The group added that the asset test "effectively demands extreme poverty in order to continue receiving critical healthcare."

Gavin Newsom proposes $2,000 asset eligibility test to control soaring state Medi-Cal costs
Gavin Newsom's budget proposal includes reinstating an asset test for Medi-Cal to address rising costs with the program for low-income, disabled and elderly Californians.