‘There is nothing else’: Californians face eviction as insurer cancels assisted living benefit
- Health Net plans to end its Medi-Cal assisted living benefit at the end of the year, affecting about 3,500 patients who use the coverage to pay for assisted living care.
- Many of the affected members are elderly and have cognitive conditions such as dementia, according to senior advocates and family members.
- The benefit helps pay most of the 24-hour service costs at board-and-care homes, memory care facilities and similar settings, while residents still pay room and board.
- Health Net said affected members will keep coverage through their current authorization dates and may be transitioned to nursing homes, back home with in-home support, or into other programs.
- State officials said they will work with Health Net to ensure member protections and continuity of care, while advocates warn that some residents could become homeless or cycle through emergency rooms and facilities.
Health Net, one of the largest Medi-Cal insurers, is ending its assisted living benefit for members at the end of the year. The change affects roughly 3,500 people, including many older adults who rely on the program to cover assisted living costs.
Families and advocates say the cut could force some residents out of board-and-care homes and memory care facilities. In the case described in the report, one family said its father, who has dementia, could not safely be cared for at home and could not afford the facility without insurance coverage.
Health Net said members will continue receiving services through their current authorization periods and that it is working on individualized transition plans. The company said internal data did not show better outcomes from the program, while state officials said they would work to protect members and maintain continuity of care. Advocates said the decision may leave some people without stable housing or push them into emergency rooms and other facilities.
“别无他法”：加州居民在保险公司取消辅助生活福利后面临搬离
Health Net 作为加州 Medi-Cal 的大型保险机构之一，计划在今年年底停止向会员提供辅助生活福利。受影响的大约有 3500 人，其中包括许多依赖该项目支付辅助生活费用的老年人。
家属和倡导者表示，这一调整可能迫使一些住户离开寄宿护理和记忆护理机构。报道中的一名家属说，他患有痴呆症的父亲无法安全地在家接受照护，而且如果没有保险支付，也负担不起机构费用。
Health Net 表示，会员在现有授权期限内仍可继续获得服务，公司正在制定个别转介方案。该公司称内部数据未显示该项目带来更好的结果；州政府官员则表示将努力保护会员权益并维持照护连续性。倡导者认为，这一决定可能让部分人失去稳定居所，或被迫在急诊和其他机构之间转移。