Every long-term-care insurance policy sold in California has to be approved by the California Department of Insurance, which also publishes a consumer rate guide and holds CDI-regulated policies to the state's rate-stabilization and actuarial-review standards. CDI additionally keeps a public rate-increase history available to consumers (CDI, Long Term Care Insurance; CDI, Long Term Care Insurance Rate History).
None of that oversight means premiums are frozen — the Department of Health Care Services confirms that CDI does approve premium increases, including for policies issued under California's own Partnership Program (DHCS, Partnership Premium Increases).
Does California have a Long-Term Care Partnership program?
Yes, but no new Partnership policies are being sold right now. California is one of the four original Partnership states. Its program, the California Partnership for Long-Term Care, is run by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). It began before the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and follows its own rules rather than the NAIC-based DRA model most states use. DHCS says that currently no Partnership-approved insurance companies are selling policies, though non-Partnership long-term care policies are available. Existing California Partnership policies aren't affected.
No reciprocity: California doesn't take part in Partnership reciprocity. A Partnership policy bought in another state doesn't receive Partnership asset protection from Medi-Cal, and a California Partnership policy may not be honored by other states.
Because Medi-Cal's asset limit returned on January 1, 2026, the protection a policy can offer matters again. A non-Partnership policy still pays its benefits, which can preserve savings and delay or avoid the need for Medi-Cal.
Sources and official resources
- California Department of Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance
- DHCS: California Partnership for Long-Term Care
- DHCS: Medi-Cal Changes (asset limits)
- New York State Partnership for Long-Term Care: State Partnership Programs and Reciprocity map
- U.S. Code: 42 U.S.C. § 1396p (liens, estate recovery, transfers of assets, Partnership disregard)
Rules and figures change. Confirm current details with the agency before you act.