Can someone explain to me why my niece can't get MediCal?

Maybe this requires someone versed in California laws.

She's just turned 22 and is unemployable. She is emotionally disabled and needs serious help, and the truth of this is finally beginning to dawn on her.

She needs to see a doctor, not just for treatment but for proof that she is disabled. If she gets that, maybe she can get some aid from the state. But currently she is eligible for absolutely no health "benefits."

Catch-22.

I am not sure where you are, but I bet there is someone out there that can help your niece find the way if she is willing to go for help.

Social Security will pay for evaluation and the doctor. Also her HS records (She's only 4 years out) should suppport her disability claim.

Qualifying for disability benefits requires more than just having a disability, It means that the disability prevents you from doing any substantial work. It's all based on not being able to work.

Good luck. The insurance should not effect her ability to apply for benefits.

The legislature in cal passed a law to assign $$$ to help persons with mental health problems. She should go to the county mental health program of her county and get help there.
The law was recently passed and depends on taxes on persons with income over $1,000,000 so there shouldn't be any fiscal problems. I cannot remember the name of the Law, it is recent. Check the Mental Health department in Ca. for info. Part of the purpose of the law is to help person that are low income in prevention, treatment, education, etc.
Has she gone to the Department of Welfare that is the Dept. of social Services.? They should be able to help her.
If the mental health dept. determines she is not mentally capable of working because of her condition she could apply for SSI.
Hope she can be helped.
Social Services personnel sometimes are tight fisted as if their $$$ came from their pockets. There is a crunch in Ca. now, but the source of funds for the new law is taxes of people whose income is over one million $$$
wish I could help more but I am not in Cal presently... am a past member of a county mental health board and worked in the process of implementing the law.

In cal there is an organization with alliance at the national level ... the name was recently changes, previously it was called The National Mental Health Association. Cannot remember the nnew name. Look in the telephone book directory for associations and organizations. The purpose of the org is helping people with mh problems through education, advocacy, ettc.
check also in the internet, there is a lot of info.
hope you can help. Mental Health is very important, and most probably she needs treatment.

Please go to the NAMI California website -- there will be a lot of links and numbers to call. Your county Mental Health department will have programs available, and if you think she is a danger to herself or to others, take her to a hospital emergency room. You could also contact your county Public Guardian's office for advice. She may need to be placed under LPS Conservatorship so she can get the care and help she needs. County offices can help her apply for Medi-Cal and then SSI, where she can get Medicare after 2 years. My ex-husband who has manic-depressive illness is under conservatorship with SSI/SSDI and stable after many difficult years. It's awesome that your niece has people who care about her -- a lot of people with mental illnesses are not so lucky. -- Wanet

I think there is an asset test - more than $2000 in the bank, or even in an IRA retirement account. I think to get medicaid you have to spend your money first. Maybe that's the problem.

Her assets include a bed and a well-used laptop. And her clothes.

the paper work is a bitch - find out why she was denied and fix it

as are things like headaches, back problems, insomnia, and a multitude of other illnesses/syndromes that are not immediately visible.

It's always been hard to get on medi-cal and SSI.

It sucks, but that's how our system is set up.