Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal is a program in the state of California that provides free or low-cost health coverage for children and adults with limited income and resources. Medi-Cal covers low-income adults, families with children, seniors, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, children in foster care and former foster youth up to age 26.

Eligibility

Eligibility for Medi-Cal is based on a number of factors, including income, family size, disability and others. The program is funded jointly by the state and federal government.

Services

Medi-Cal provides a core set of health benefits, including doctor visits, hospital care, immunization, pregnancy-related services and nursing home care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) ensures all Medi-Cal health plans offer what is known as Essential Health Benefits (EHB). These ten comprehensive services include the following categories: Ambulatory patient services, Emergency services, Hospitalization, Maternity and newborn care, Mental health and substance use disorder services, Prescription drugs, Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices, Laboratory services, Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management, and Pediatric services.

Application

Applications for Medi-Cal can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at a local county office. Once an application is submitted, it will be reviewed and eligibility will be determined based on the information provided.

See Also

• Medicaid
• Healthcare in California
• Affordable Care Act