Groups that work with the family's of ill or dependent seniors have a big responsibility. Their caretakers/helpers are in an emotionally fragile and stressed out place, worrying about how to help their loved one and get them the best services and support available. Medi-Cal Advisor Group, for all of these reasons and more, must be avoided.
A few months ago this organization kept all of our money even after being presented with proof from the County of San Diego Health & Welfare Agency (Dept of Social Services) that they were not only lying to us, but that they never even contacted them on our behalf as promised.
I've waited this long to write the review for a few reasons. One was to calm down enough to write a measured review, and the second, was because they told us (in writing) that an appeal of the County's decision was futile and they would not do it. This, even though it was discussed as an option when they were 'selling' us on their services. At the time of writing this I can report that we, independently filed an appeal, had the meeting with the judge and we have succeeded in our efforts. The appeal was the *only* way to get the County to fix the issues being faced. Medi-Cal Advisor Group lied, they were wrong and they were lazy.
When Medi-Cal Advisor Group was originally contacted by us, from a referral, we let them know that we had already successfully navigated the Medi-Cal system and gotten the person we were helping approved for benefits. What we needed help with was getting her approved for the Assisted Living Waiver Program (ALWP). This was done verbally and in writing via email. They claim a 100% success rate in doing this (again, it was written in email by Jennifer Marcks, our contact person, so they cannot refute this. They took our money and sent email updates about their contact (phone and email) with the County office listed above. We added them as an Authorized Representative for this purpose.
In the late summer/early fall of 2024 they stopped responding to emails and were not sending updates. When we finally sent them an email (and vm) saying they needed to respond or we'd file a complaint is when they responded. They claimed that they got her 'share of cost' reduced and that this was the best they could do. The 'share of cost' needs to be $0 in order to apply for the ALWP and, again, they claimed at the beginning that they were 100% successful at this. When we told them that this was not a fulfillment of the agreement they sent their very vague commitment outline which, obviously, is their 'out' when they screw up/don't do any work/fail at their jobs. When I reminded them that our agreement, again in writing, was to get the 'share of cost' with the County to $0, they didn't respond. When they were shown proof from the County that they did not do all that they had claimed, that the County - on their own, reevaluated the finances and lowered the share of cost and that the County had them on record exactly once when the County told them that they (and not Medi-Cal Advisor Group) had lowered the share of cost, they disappeared.
This company fails at their job, at their promise, with the elderly, with the help they should be offering caretakers of the elderly who believe in them and hire them. Most importantly, for them and all companies that exist to scam the vulnerable, they fail at being human beings.
Stay away from this organization at all costs. The County system may be daunting, but we found many polite and caring agents that took time to explain things and help us. Exactly what this group promised, and failed, to do. I'm sure there are reputable and caring agencies out there that can help, but this isn't one of them. Run. read more