SB 75 - Medi-Cal for All Children
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Children under 19 years of age are eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits regardless of immigration status, as long as they meet the income standards. DHCS is working with CWDA, county human services agencies, Covered California, advocates, and other interested parties to identify and provide Medi-Cal coverage to all children under 19 with qualifying income.
If your child is under the age of 19 they are eligible for full-scope benefits no matter what!
Basic Information
Under current federal law, immigrants with satisfactory immigration status are restricted to emergency, limited-scope health services in accordance with Section 1011 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) . Two-thirds of funding is distributed evenly among states and the remaining one-third is allocated to states with the greatest percentage of undocumented immigrants. California has an estimated 2.5 million undocumented immigrants who make up approximately 6% of the state’s population with the majority residing in Los Angeles County.
With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), undocumented immigrants were excluded from purchasing coverage on the Covered California exchange and receiving federal subsidies. While the ACA excluded the undocumented, it opened up limited-scope services to childless adults who were otherwise eligible for Medi-Cal aside from their immigration status.
Undocumented immigrants and certain other immigrants without satisfactory status who meet all other Medi-cal program requirements may qualify for limited or restricted scope Medi-cal coverage, which includes emergency services and pregnancy related services, SB 75 now will grant full-scope Medi-Cal to children under the age of 19 who do not have satisfactory immigration status in the state of California, as long as they meet the income standards. Two populations will be impacted by the expansion:
- Undocumented children in limited-scope Medi-Cal aid codes (MAGI and non-MAGI) due to their immigration status and;
- Undocumented children not in a Medi-Cal aid code that must be identified at the local level.
Who is eligible?
All children under 19 years of age who are eligible for Medi-Cal even if they are unable to establish satisfactory immigration status are now eligible for full-scope benefits.
Benefits
- Your child gets medical care, vision exams, dental care, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services that are available under Medi-Cal.
- If you move, be sure to tell your child’s Medi-Cal eligibility worker so your child does not have any problems seeing a doctor.
- Your child will be provided a Medi-Cal card (called a Benefits identification Card or BIC).
- Your child will receive full-scope benefits that are NOT restricted to emergency-only services.
How do I enroll in the Medi-Cal for All Children Program?
Questions?