“There is nothing else”: Californians face eviction as insurer cancels assisted living benefit
- Health Net plans to end an assisted living benefit for Medi-Cal members at the end of the year, affecting about 3,500 patients who rely on it for care costs.
- The benefit helps pay the majority of 24-hour care at board-and-care homes, memory care facilities and similar settings, while residents still pay room-and-board charges.
- Families and senior advocates say some residents could lose housing or be forced into hospitals, nursing homes, or back home without adequate support.
- Health Net says members will keep receiving care through their authorization dates and may be transitioned to other settings or programs based on individual needs.
- State officials say they will communicate with Health Net to protect members and continuity of care, while advocates argue protections are insufficient.
Health Net, one of the largest Medi-Cal insurers in the country, is ending assisted living coverage for members at the end of the year. The change affects roughly 3,500 low-income or disabled Californians, many of them elderly and some with dementia or other cognitive conditions.
The benefit pays most of the cost of 24-hour care in board-and-care homes, memory care facilities, and similar settings. Families say they cannot afford the monthly costs on their own, and some worry their relatives could become homeless or end up cycling through hospitals and nursing facilities.
Health Net says affected members will continue receiving care through their current authorization periods and can be moved to other services if eligible. The company says internal data did not show better outcomes from the program, while the California Department of Health Care Services says it will work with the insurer to ensure member protections and continuity of care.
“别无选择”：随着保险公司取消辅助生活福利，加州居民面临被驱逐风险
Health Net 是美国最大的 Medi-Cal 承保机构之一，已决定在今年年底前停止为会员提供辅助生活福利。此举将影响约 3,500 名依赖该福利支付照护费用的加州低收入或残障居民，其中不少是老年人，也有人患有失智症等认知障碍。
这项福利主要支付寄宿护理机构、记忆护理机构及类似场所的全天候照护成本。家属表示，他们无力自行承担每月费用，并担心亲人会失去住所，或在医院和护理机构之间反复转移。
Health Net 表示，受影响会员在当前授权期内仍可继续获得照护，并在符合条件时转入其他服务。该公司称内部数据未显示该项目带来更好的结果；加州卫生保健服务部则表示，将与保险公司合作，确保会员保护和护理连续性。