Long-Term Care Medi-Cal in Santa Clara County

A directory listing, not an eligibility decision.

UniHealth can identify a possible match, but the responsible program makes the final decision.

What to know

Why it may fit: The responsible program reviews your circumstances and makes the final decision.
What to do next: Medi-Cal that pays for a nursing home stay. You pay most of your income to the nursing home each month and keep $35. If you are married, your spouse at home keeps some savings and income.
Who runs it: Santa Clara County / DHCS

What the program may consider

Medi-Cal financial rules
You live in a care facility or need that level of care
Marital and community-spouse protections

How to get it

Medi-Cal that pays for a nursing home stay. You pay most of your income to the nursing home each month and keep $35. If you are married, your spouse at home keeps some savings and income.

How to apply

California's one application for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and cash aid

Online it is BenefitsCal. On paper it is the SAWS 2 PLUS. One application can ask for several programs at once.

The same application can also ask for CalFresh Food, CalWORKs, Extra Help with Medicare drug costs, General Assistance, Aged, Blind and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Medi-Cal and 11 more.

OnlineBenefitsCal websiteApply online for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and cash aid, any time of day.
PhoneMedi-Cal health plan choice line (Health Care Options): 1-800-430-4263
PhoneHICAP free Medicare counseling: 1-800-434-0222Free, unbiased help with Medicare choices.
PhoneSanta Clara County benefits line: (408) 758-3800Apply or ask questions by phone, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FaxSanta Clara County benefits fax: (408) 295-9248
MailSanta Clara County benefits mail: P.O. Box 11018, San Jose, CA 95103
In personSanta Clara County benefits offices: 1867 Senter Rd, San Jose; 1330 W. Middlefield Rd, Mountain View; 379 Tomkins Ct, Gilroy

Getting help

Someone can apply for you

A resident who can make decisions signs, or names a person or organization on form MC 382. If the resident cannot decide, the spouse signs. With no spouse, a conservator or guardian signs. Otherwise a relative or someone who knows the situation, like nursing home staff, can sign. They also sign form DHCS 7068. In Santa Clara County, a name typed into a helper's own app does not count as your signature. Sign in ink, by phone with the county, or through an approved e-signing service.

You can name a person or an organization to act for you: ask for Appointment of Authorized Representative (MC 382).

What happens after you apply

Are you in the hospital and ready for a nursing home, but do not qualify for other Medi-Cal? The hospital case manager can ask the county for special coverage. A card takes at least a day.
Only for hospital patients who do not qualify for other Medi-Cal
The county
You, your spouse, or a representative applies for Medi-Cal. Say that you live in a nursing home. The county records the day it arrives.
The county
The nursing home tells the county and Social Security that you moved in. The county confirms you will stay at least 30 days. If you are single, nursing home cost rules start the first of the next month.
The program or provider
A doctor must write that you are expected to stay at least 30 days. This is not needed once you have stayed 30 days.
Only if you are married
Your doctor or clinician
The county checks income, savings and property. For nursing home care it can check bank records from the past 5 years. Your home does not count if you say you plan to go back to it.
The county
The county asks about money or property you gave away. Gifts made to qualify can delay coverage. You can show a gift was for another reason. Gifts made in 2024 or 2025 are not counted. Gifts under $14,440 in 2026 are not looked into. The county must consider hardship first.
The countyA helper can help with this
If something is missing, the county mails you a letter listing the papers it needs. Send them, or call the county if you need help getting them.
Only if the county cannot check something itself
The countyA helper can do this for you You get 10 days. If they do not arrive, the county asks again and gives 10 more days.
The county works out what the spouse at home keeps. In 2026, that is up to $162,660 in savings and property. The spouse in the nursing home can keep up to $130,000. A letter explains it. A court or a hearing can raise the amount.
Only if you are married and your spouse lives at home
The county
You get a letter that says yes or no. It shows what you pay the nursing home each month. You keep $35 a month. If you are married, part of your income can go to your spouse at home. In 2026, this can bring their income up to $4,067 a month.
The countyWithin 45 days, or 90 days if the state must decide about a disability. A pending court order can keep it open longer.
Put the savings the spouse keeps into the spouse's name only.
Only if you are married and your spouse lives at home
YouA helper can help with this By the end of the month that holds the 90th day after your approval letter.
If you are new to Medi-Cal, a plastic Medi-Cal card comes by mail. If the resident cannot make decisions, the representative can receive it. So can a spouse at home who acts for the resident.
The stateOnly you can do thisIt is mailed about 2 business days after approval.
Your Medi-Cal health plan covers the nursing home stay, even with a share of cost. If you are new, pick a plan within 30 days, or one is picked for you. If you have Medicare, this choice is yours alone. HICAP gives free, unbiased help.
The stateOnly you can do this
Each month, pay your share of cost to the nursing home. Medi-Cal pays the rest.
YouA helper can help with this
If you have Medicare, a Medicare drug plan covers your prescriptions, not Medi-Cal. You also get Extra Help with drug costs automatically. If you have no drug plan, Medicare picks one for you. Changing it is your own choice. HICAP gives free, unbiased help.
Only if you have Medicare
Medicare

What only you can do

Sign the application or form MC 382 if you can make decisions. If not, your spouse or representative signs, with form DHCS 7068.
If you are married, get a doctor's note that you will stay at least 30 days. Skip this if you already stayed 30 days.
Give the county the bank and property records it asks for.
If you are married, move the spouse's allowed savings into the spouse's name before the deadline.
Pay your monthly share of cost to the nursing home.
If you have Medicare, any Medicare plan choice is yours alone. HICAP gives free, unbiased help.
Report a discharge or other changes within 10 days.

How long it takes: The county must decide within 45 days, or 90 days if it must decide about a disability. For couples, moving savings takes about 90 more days.
You are enrolled when: You are enrolled when your approval letter shows what you pay the nursing home. Your Medi-Cal health plan must also be paying for the stay. For couples, the spouse's savings must also be in the spouse's name by the deadline.
To keep it: Renew once a year with a longer form for nursing home residents. A representative who acts for you signs form DHCS 7068 each time. Pay your share of cost every month. Report a move or discharge within 10 days. The spouse at home can add to their own savings later, unless Medi-Cal stops. Disagree with a county letter? Ask for a hearing within 90 days.

Can’t be combined with

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is only for people who live at home. If you plan to move home, you can apply for IHSS before you leave.

Coming changes

Starting January 1, 2027: For applications from January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal can pay bills from only 2 months back, not 3.
Starting January 1, 2027: Starting January 1, 2027, people without a qualifying immigration status leave Medi-Cal health plans. They get care from any provider who takes Medi-Cal.
Starting July 1, 2027: Starting July 1, 2027, the Medi-Cal savings limit drops to $21,000 for one person and $31,000 for a couple. Today it is $130,000 and $195,000. Renewals from then on use the new limit.
Starting July 1, 2027: Starting July 1, 2027, many adult refugees, asylees and some other immigrants are set to move to limited Medi-Cal. It covers mostly emergencies.
Starting January 1, 2028: Starting January 1, 2028, Medi-Cal long-term care has a $1,000,000 limit on home equity. Home equity is your home's value minus what you owe on it.

Choosing a Medicare plan is your decision. UniHealth does not choose, recommend, or enroll anyone in Medicare plans. For free, unbiased help, call HICAP at 1-800-434-0222.