{
  "id": 1565117,
  "title": "‘There is nothing else’: Californians face eviction as insurer cancels assisted living benefit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/there-is-nothing-else-californians-face-eviction-as-insurer-cancels",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-17T21:23:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/health-net-assisted-living-benefit-california-5debdae1dc9384aa4c705e2b226d3bea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Four weeks ago, Matt Johnstone learned that his health insurance company, Health Net, was eliminating its assisted living benefit. This meant his 89-year-old father, who lives in a board-and-care facility in North Hollywood and has dementia, would have to find a new place to live very soon. Both Johnstone and his brother cannot afford the roughly $6,000 per month for the facility, and they cannot provide around-the-clock care at home due to their own health issues. If Health Net's program ended, their father could end up homeless. Due to privacy concerns, CalMatters is not publishing the father's name. Health Net, one of the largest Medi-Cal insurers in the country, is set to cancel assisted living benefits at the end of the year, according to documents and provider interviews. Around 3,500 Medi-Cal patients, most of whom are elderly and have cognitive issues like dementia, depend on Health Net to cover assisted living costs. Other insurers like CalViva Health and Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley have also announced their intention to discontinue the benefit. Senior advocates and family members fear people may become homeless or be transferred to hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Pauline Shatara, deputy director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, warns that some assisted living facilities have already reported residents being sent to emergency rooms. This situation could lead to a disaster, she stated. The assisted living benefit is an optional Medi-Cal program that can be opted in by insurance plans and discontinued annually. The program is part of California's effort to improve Medi-Cal services by stabilizing high-cost users who frequently end up in emergency rooms. Assisted living support covers most of the 24-hour service costs at board-and-care homes, memory care facilities, or larger group settings, while residents pay for room and board.",
  "summary": "Four weeks ago, Matt Johnstone received a call from the board-and-care facility in North Hollywood where his 89-year-old father lives. Health Net, the insurance company that pays for his care, was eliminating its assisted living benefit, meaning he would have to move out soon. Johnstone panicked. His father has dementia and needs around-the-clock care. Neither Johnstone nor…",
  "key_points": [
    "Health Net cancels assisted living benefit for Medi-Cal patients",
    "3,500 elderly patients with cognitive issues affected",
    "Fear of homelessness or hospitalization for affected residents"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "‘There is nothing else’: Californians face eviction as insurer cancels assisted living benefit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/there-is-nothing-else-californians-face-eviction-as-insurer-cancels-1565216",
        "published": "2026-08-17T20:51:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}