Glossary term
Share of Cost
SOC
The monthly amount a Medi-Cal beneficiary must pay or accrue toward their own medical bills before Medi-Cal pays for covered services. Calculated as income above the program's maintenance need level.
Share of Cost trips families up because it is not a premium. It is the amount of their own income a beneficiary must put toward care each month before Medi-Cal begins to pay. A high Share of Cost can make Medi-Cal coverage effectively unusable, which is why the A&D FPL program and careful income planning matter.
Related terms