FAQs

Medi-Cal is a California public health program that offers free or low-cost health coverage to California residents who meet eligibility requirements. California has been expanding Medi-Cal to a larger and more diverse group of people. Most recently, as of May 1, 2016, Medi-Cal now covers all low income children under the age of 19, regardless of immigration status.

To qualify for Medi-Cal, you must meet certain income, family size, and age requirements. For instance, you must have a certain income based on the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines.

We can help you find out if you may qualify for Medi-Cal. Enter your zip code and select your county. Then provide your household size and income to find out if Medi-Cal may be an option for you and/or your children.

You must qualify for Medi-Cal and live in a county where Kaiser Permanente provides Medi-Cal Managed Care services. You must also meet one of the following two requirements:

1. Have been a Kaiser Permanente member in the last six (6) to twelve (12) months, depending on the county where you live.
OR
2. Be an immediate family member living in the same home as a current Kaiser Permanente member.

You can apply for Medi-Cal at BenefitsCal.org. Or, you can complete an application by phone or in person at your nearest Local County Services Office.

You can apply any time during the year – there is no deadline for the Medi-Cal enrollment process.

If you applied through Covered California, contact Covered California. If you applied through the county, contact the Local County Services Office where you applied. Once your county determines you are eligible for Medi-Cal, you’ll get a 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 may then need to fill out additional paperwork to enroll into a Medi-Cal Managed Care plan.

If the county determines that you don’t qualify for Medi-Cal, your information will be sent to Covered California to be reviewed for financial assistance through Covered California. You will receive more information letting you know what your next steps are. You do not need to fill out another Covered California application.

To check on your transition status, call Covered California at 1-800-300-15061-800-300-1506.

Yes, families with higher incomes may find that only their children qualify for Medi-Cal coverage while the parents qualify to receive financial assistance on a Covered California health plan. Please contact your Local County Services Office or call Covered California at 1-800-300-15061-800-300-1506 for more information. If you’ve already completed an application for Medi-Cal, you will not have to fill out another application for assistance through Covered California.

Individuals who qualify for Medi-Cal will have no or low monthly premiums, no copays, and no out-of-pocket costs for most covered services.

Medi-Cal and Covered California both offer health coverage.  The maximum income an individual and/or family can have to be eligible for Medi-Cal is lower than for Covered California health plans. If you qualify for Medi-Cal, most of your health care will be free or low-cost to you and your eligible family members.

Families with higher incomes may find that their children qualify for Medi-Cal coverage while the parents qualify to receive financial assistance on a Covered California health plan.