DHCS issued guidance to the counties on how to treat certain disaster assistance payments for MAGI and Non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs. Existing rules remain applicable for non-MAGI cases (see ACWDL 92-08, MEPM Article 9M, 22 CCR §§ 50481, 50535.5). In MAGI Medi-Cal cases, most disaster assistance in federally recognized disasters are exempt as income depending on the source of payment:
- Payments from charitable organizations are considered gifts and are excluded from the tax household’s gross income.
- Payments from insurance are exempt as income in federally declared disaster areas, while insurance payments in non-federally declared disaster areas may count depending on whether they are taxable.
- Payments from federal or state government sources that are based on need are exempt, as are payments in qualified disasters from federal, state, or local government.
When a Medi-Cal beneficiary is temporarily living out of county due to displacement from disaster, the county must help that beneficiary with the Office of the Ombudsman. DHCS ACWDL 15-36 (11/9/15).