How to Qualify and Apply for Medi-Cal

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The steps below will help you understand how to apply for Medi-Cal and get care through Kaiser Permanente for yourself or your child.

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1. See if you and/or your family may qualify for Medi-Cal.

You may qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medi-Cal based on your income, family size, and age.

What is free or low-cost health coverage?

Fill out your information below to find out if your household income falls within the Medi-Cal guidelines. If it does, you may be eligible to get your Medi-Cal health care through Kaiser Permanente. If your household income does not fall within the Medi-Cal guidelines, you may still qualify for other federal financial assistance programs to help you afford your health care.

NOTE: The information provided is for reference only. Final eligibility is determined by your county of residence for Medi-Cal and by the Department of Health Care Services for Covered California federal financial assistance.

Number of people in your household:

All the family members who live with you. If you file taxes, this means everyone on your tax return.

Expected annual income:

2. Find out if Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal is available in your area.

3. How to Complete your Medi-Cal application.

In PersonApply at your Local County Services Office, where you can get personal help completing your application.

By Mail Obtain a Medi-Cal application, available in English and other languages, through CoveredCA.com/medi-cal. Send completed and signed application to the address provided.

By PhoneTo apply over the phone, call Local County Services Office.

Online Apply online at BenefitsCal.org.

In addition to completing your Medi-Cal application, you may be asked to provide additional documents such as:

Identification
Proof of residency (you must live in the state in which you apply)
Household income

4. Receive approval for Medi-Cal.

Your Medi-Cal application will be reviewed by the county to determine if you qualify for Medi-Cal.

This could take up to 45 days. To check on the status of your application, contact your Local County Services Office.

Once your paperwork has been reviewed and approved, you’ll receive a packet in the mail with your Medi-Cal ID card called a Benefit Identification Card (BIC) from the county. Once you receive your BIC you can start using your Medi-Cal benefits.

You must choose a health care plan and/or provider within 30 days of receiving your packet. If you do not choose a plan and/or provider within 30 days, one will be assigned to you. The health care plans and/or providers available to you depend on what county you live in.

After you’ve been approved for Medi-Cal, you may be able to choose Kaiser Permanente as your Medi-Cal managed care plan. Follow the steps below to enroll in Kaiser Permanente:

5. Choose Kaiser Permanente as your health care plan and/or provider.

If Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal is available in your area and you meet one of the following criteria, you can choose Kaiser Permanente as your plan and/or provider:

Either have or had coverage with Kaiser Permanente in the last 6 to 12 months (coverage period depends on your county), OR if you have an immediate family member who is currently a Kaiser Permanente member.

What is an immediate family member?

Immediate family member
An immediate family member is a family member who lives in the home of a current Kaiser Permanente member and is one of the following:

Spouse (including Domestic Partners)
An unmarried dependent child under age 21
A disabled dependent over the age of 21
Married/Stepparents of children under age 21
Foster child or stepchild
Legal guardian
A grandparent, parent, guardian or other relative who applied on behalf of a child under 21 is eligible to enroll in KP as a qualified family addition based on having the same Medi-Cal Case Number as the child.

6. Receive a new-member packet from Kaiser Permanente once you’re enrolled.

If you qualify to have Kaiser Permanente as your health care plan and/or provider, it can take an additional 30 days to become enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal.

Please continue to bring your Medi-Cal BIC to your appointments even after you receive your Kaiser Permanente ID card.

How to Qualify and Apply for Medi-Cal

1. See if you and/or your family may qualify for Medi-Cal.

What is free or low-cost health coverage?

2. Find out if Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal is available in your area.

3. How to Complete your Medi-Cal application.

4. Receive approval for Medi-Cal.

5. Choose Kaiser Permanente as your health care plan and/or provider.

6. Receive a new-member packet from Kaiser Permanente once you’re enrolled.

Looking for more information?

Questions about Medi-Cal with Kaiser Permanente?

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