​​​Steps to Medi-Cal​

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. This is a public health insurance program that provides free or low cost medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources. Visit each topic​ below to learn more about the Medi-Cal process: 

Are you Eligible?

Pregnant women, children, and disabled persons are allowed to have a higher income on the Federal Poverty Level scale and are urged to apply.​

How to Apply

• ​In person
• By mail
• By phone
• Online​

In Person: 

By Mail:

By Phone:

Online:

If you need additional help applying or have additional questions, you can contact a trained Certified Enrollment Counselor (CEC) for free. 

Search a list of local CECs or call (800) 300-1506. If you have already submitted an application online and haven’t been contacted yet, please don’t submit a duplicate application.

Verify your Eligibility

Due to the high volume of new applications, the process is taking longer than normal and the steps mentioned below may be done out of order if it will help in expediting coverage.

The process for verifying your Medi-Cal eligibility, from the time your completed application is received to when you receive your Benefits Identification Card (BIC), normally takes 45 days. The general process for verification is as follows:

1. Apply – complete the application, and submit either in person, by mail, by phone, or online
2. Receive a Notification of Likely Eligibility by mail
3. Your county's social services office may contact you by mail or by phone to request paper verification if income, citizenship, and other criteria cannot be verified electronically
4. Receive Final Notice of Action notifying you of whether or not you can receive Medi-Cal
5. Receive your BIC – when you receive your BIC in the mail, you are able to use the many Medi-Cal benefits available to you.

Enroll in a Plan

When you first qualify for Medi-Cal, you are covered under Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service. Depending on the county where you live, you may have to choose a health plan within 30 days. If you do not choose a health plan within 30 days, Medi-Cal will choose a health plan for you.

Go to the Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan Directory to find Managed Care Health Plan information for your county.

In some counties, you will be automatically enrolled in a health plan without having to select one. Please wait for your health plan “welcome packet" in the mail.

If you find multiple health plans listed, please explore each plan, and choose the one that suits you and your family's needs. You can enroll in a Medi-Cal health plan by phone. Call Medi-Cal Health Care Options Monday– Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at (800) 430-4263 (TTY: (800) 430-7077). Or enroll online at www.healthcareoptions.dhcs.ca.gov.

For people with both Medicare and Medi-Cal, Medi-Medi Plans are available in certain counties for voluntary enrollment. Medi-Medi Plans are Medicare Advantage plans that combine Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits into one plan. For a list of Medi-Medi Plans by county, and to find out how to enroll, visit the Medi-Medi Plan directory webpage.​

Start Using your Benefits

​Medi-Cal currently provides a core set of health benefits, including doctor visits, hospital care, immunization, pregnancy-related services and nursing home care. The Affordable Care Act ensures all Medi-Cal health plans offer what is known as Essential Health Benefits (EHB). These ten comprehensive services include the following categories:

1. Outpatient (ambulatory) services​
2. Emergency services
3. Hospitalization
4. Maternity and newborn care
5. Mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services, including behavioral health treatment
6. Prescription drugs
7. Programs such as physical and occupational therapy (known as rehabilitative and habilitative services) and devices
8. Laboratory services
9. Preventative and wellness services and chronic disease management
10. Children's (pediatric) services, including oral and vision care.

Review the Medi-Cal Health Benefits Chart to learn more about the services in each category. The Federal Healthcare.gov Glossary​ provides a definitions for all ​the terms used.

​Dental benefits are available as of May 1, 2014

​Dental benefits for adults 21 and older have been restored by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.** You can find a Medi-Cal dentist on the Medi-Cal Dental Provider Directory. For more information on children's dental services, visit the Medi-Cal Dental website.

The following benefits have now been restored:

• Exams and x-rays
• Cleanings
• Fluoride treatments
• Fillings
• Anterior (front teeth) root canals
• Prefabricated crowns
• Full dentures
• Other medically necessary dental services

• Individual and group mental health evaluation and treatment (psychotherapy)
• Psychological testing, when clinically indicated, to evaluate a mental health condition
• Outpatient service for the purposes of monitoring drug therapy
• Outpatient laboratory, drugs, supplies, and supplements
• Psychiatric consultation
• All specialty mental health services currently provided by County Mental Health Care Plans will continue to be available.

The following substance use disorder services are now available through Medi-Cal:

• Voluntary inpatient detoxification
• Intensive outpatient treatment services
• Residential treatment services
• Outpatient drug free services
• Narcotic treatment services