(a) The principal and interest of a 529 savings plan shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of any asset or resources test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary whose eligibility is not determined using MAGI-based financial methods.

(b) The qualified distributions from a 529 savings account shall be excluded from consideration for purposes of any income test to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits with respect to an applicant or beneficiary.

(c) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:

(1) “529 savings plan” means a qualified tuition program that satisfies the requirements of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(2) “MAGI-based financial methods” means income calculated using the financial methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and as added by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as originally enacted and as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent amendments.

(d) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 121, Sec. 2. (AB 1785) Effective January 1, 2019.)