Health and life insurance
Doug Zirpel has been a health insurance broker in the Central Valley since 1979. Call or text Doug to talk through health and life insurance for you and your family, one-to-one.
Medicare and Medi-Cal together
If you have Medicare with Medi-Cal (Medicaid), sometimes called “Medi-Medi”, or Medicare with LIS (Low Income Subsidy) for prescription assistance, Doug can review the plans available to you and help you choose.
Extra Help with prescription costs
The Medi-Cal spend-down
If you need Medi-Cal coverage and your income is above the Medi-Cal income guidelines, you may still qualify through a Medi-Cal spend-down for aged, blind and disabled (ABD) individuals. This program allows you to deduct certain medical expenses from your income so that you can qualify for ABD Medi-Cal. If you have medical expenses that significantly reduce your usable income, you may qualify.
The spend-down program may also be called a medically needy program or the Medi-Cal Excess Income Program. Contact your local Medi-Cal office to learn whether a spend-down is available to you and the rules for applying.
When your Social Security goes up. A cost-of-living increase can push some seniors’ income over the limit, so they lose the full Medi-Cal benefit that pays their Medicare Part B premium. Contact your Human Services Agency (HSA) caseworker and get the spend-down amount needed to remain on full Medi-Cal before your Social Security check comes up short. Families and children, please share this with parents and relatives.