250% Program

Effective April 1, 2000, there is a new program for the working disabled whose family income is below 250% of the FPL. Working disabled persons will be able to buy into the Medi-Cal program by paying monthly premiums. The premiums will be based on a sliding scale based on countable income. The premiums will range from $20 to $250 monthly.

To be eligible for the 250% program, an individual must:

• Continue to meet the federal definition of disability as used in Social Security disability cases;
• Except for earnings, be eligible to receive SSI/SSP disability benefits; and
• Have net family income less than 250% of the FPL.

In California, in the 250% program, the disabled individual’s state, federal or private disability income is exempt. Also, the disabled individual’s resources in the form of employer or individual retirement arrangements authorized under the Internal Revenue Code are also exempt.

Note: A working disabled person who is eligible for the 250% program is likely to be already receiving Medi-Cal, often with a share of cost. In most circumstances, that individual will be better off if he/she receives Medi-Cal under the 250% program. This is so because disability income is exempt in the 250% program (as well as some resources as stated above) and because the premium an individual is required to pay in the 250% program is likely to be less than the share of cost that individual would have to pay in the MN program.