Insurance Code section 789.8

(a)

“Elder” for purposes of this section means any person residing in this state who is 65 years of age or older.

(b)

If a life agent offers to sell to an elder any life insurance or annuity product, the life agent shall advise an elder or elder’s agent in writing that the sale or liquidation of any stock, bond, IRA, certificate of deposit, mutual fund, annuity, or other asset to fund the purchase of this product may have tax consequences, early withdrawal penalties, or other costs or penalties as a result of the sale or liquidation, and that the elder or elder’s agent may wish to consult independent legal or financial advice before selling or liquidating any assets and prior to the purchase of any life or annuity products being solicited, offered for sale, or sold. This section does not apply to a credit life insurance product as defined in Section 779.2.

(c)

A life agent who offers for sale or sells a financial product to an elder on the basis of the product’s treatment under the Medi-Cal program may not negligently misrepresent the treatment of any asset under the statutes and rules and regulations of the Medi-Cal program, as it pertains to the determination of the elder’s eligibility for any program of public assistance.

(d)

A life agent who offers for sale or sells any financial product on the basis of its treatment under the Medi-Cal program shall provide, in writing, the following disclosure to the elder or the elder’s agent:
If you or your spouse are considering purchasing a financial product based on its treatment under the Medi-Cal program, read this important message!
You or your spouse do not have to use up all of your savings before applying for Medi-Cal.
An annuity purchased on or after September 1, 2004, shall be subject to recovery by the state upon the annuitant’s death under the regulations of the Medi-Cal Recovery Program. Income derived from the annuity must be used to meet the annuitant’s share of costs and, if the annuitant is married, the income derived from the annuity may impact the minimum monthly maintenance needs of the annuitant’s community spouse. An annuity purchased by a community spouse on or after September 1, 2004, may also be subject to recovery if that spouse is the recipient of past or future Medi-Cal benefits.
An unmarried resident may be eligible for Medi-Cal benefits if he or she has less than (insert amount of individual’s resource allowance) in countable resources.
The Medi-Cal recipient is allowed to keep from his or her monthly income a personal allowance of (insert amount of personal needs allowance) plus the amount of any health insurance premiums paid. The remainder of the monthly income is paid to the nursing facility as a monthly share of cost.
COMMUNITY SPOUSE RESOURCE ALLOWANCE: If one spouse lives in a nursing facility, and the other spouse does not live in a facility, the Medi-Cal program will pay some or all of the nursing facility costs as long as the couple together does not have more than (insert amount of community countable assets).
MINIMUM MONTHLY MAINTENANCE NEEDS ALLOWANCE: If a spouse is eligible for Medi-Cal payment of nursing facility costs, the spouse living at home is allowed to keep a monthly income of at least his or her individual monthly income or (insert amount of the minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance), whichever is greater.
Under certain circumstances, an at-home spouse can obtain an order from an administrative law judge or court that will allow the at-home spouse to retain additional resources or income. The order may allow the couple to retain more than (insert amount of community spouse resource allowance plus individual’s resource allowance) in countable resources. The order also may allow the at-home spouse to retain more than (insert amount of the monthly maintenance needs allowance) in monthly income.
Many of your assets may already be exempt. Exempt means that the assets are not counted when determining eligibility for Medi-Cal.
ONE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE: One property used as a home is exempt. The home will remain exempt in determining eligibility if the applicant intends to return home someday.
The home also continues to be exempt if the applicant’s spouse or dependent relative continues to live in it.
Money received from the sale of a home can be exempt for up to six months if the money is going to be used for the purchase of another home.
REAL PROPERTY USED IN A BUSINESS OR TRADE: Real estate used in a trade or business is exempt regardless of its equity value and whether it produces income.
IRAs, KEOGHs, AND OTHER WORK-RELATED PENSION PLANS: These funds are exempt if the family member whose name it is in does not want Medi-Cal. If held in the name of a person who wants Medi-Cal and payments of principal and interest are being received, the balance is considered unavailable and is not counted. It is not necessary to annuitize, convert to an annuity, or otherwise change the form of the assets in order for them to be unavailable.
PERSONAL PROPERTY USED IN A TRADE OR BUSINESS.
ONE MOTOR VEHICLE.
IRREVOCABLE BURIAL TRUSTS OR IRREVOCABLE PREPAID BURIAL CONTRACTS.
THERE MAY BE OTHER ASSETS THAT MAY BE EXEMPT.
This is only a brief description of the Medi-Cal eligibility rules. For more detailed information, you should call your county welfare department. Also, you are advised to contact a legal services program for seniors or an attorney who is not connected with the sale of this product.
I have read the above notice and have received a copy.
Dated: _______________ Signature: ________________”
The statement required in this subdivision shall be printed in at least 12-point type, shall be clearly separate from any other document or writing, and shall be signed by the prospective purchaser and that person’s spouse, and legal representative, if any.

(e)

The State Department of Health Services shall update this form to ensure consistency with state and federal law and make the disclosure available to agents and brokers through its Internet Web site.

(f)

Nothing in this section allows or is intended to allow the unlawful practice of law.

(g)

Subdivisions (b) and (d) shall become operative on July 1, 2001.

Source: Section 789.8, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=INS§ionNum=789.­8.­ (accessed Apr. 24, 2025).

Last Updated

Apr. 24, 2025

§ 789.8’s source at ca​.gov