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Facts About:  | MEDI-CAL | MEDI-CAL.CA.GOV | CA MEDI-CAL | Calfornia Medi-Cal Insurance | Medicaid

Medi-Cal.ca.gov is California's Medicaid program. This is a public health insurance program which provides needed health care services for low-income individuals including families with children, seniors, persons with disabilities, foster care, pregnant women, and low income people with specific diseases such as tuberculosis, breast cancer or HIV/AIDS. Medi-Cal is financed equally by the State and federal government.

MEDI-CAL pays for many health care services for certain needy residents of California. MEDI-CAL is supported by federal and state taxes. This pamphlet tells you how to apply, about benefits, your choices for getting services, how to use the permanent plastic California Benefits Identification Card (BIC) or the paper MEDI-CAL card, and your appeal rights if you feel you are treated unfairly or do not get what you are entitled to get by law.

You may be eligible for MEDI-CAL benefits regardless of sex, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status. Your local County Welfare Department (CWD) manages MEDI-CAL eligibility determinations.

How Can Medi-Cal Help You?

The Medi-Cal program assists Californians in various family and medical situations. When you apply, the information you provide on your Medi-Cal Application and any required verification (proof) will be used to determine which program(s) you qualify for, and which program is best for you and your family.

Medi-Cal - How to Apply

Call or visit your local County Social Services office and ask for a Medi-Cal application.

If you need help filling out the forms, call the county social services agency.

Mail or take your application with the required verifications (proof) to the nearest social services agency in your county. If you don’t have all your verifications, or are not sure of what you need, please send what you have. You can send the rest later. The sooner the social services agency receives your application, the sooner your case may be processed and your Medi-Cal benefits can begin.
 
If you get SSI/SSP payments, your Social Security administration office automatically sets up Medi-Cal for you. No separate application for Medi-Cal is needed. You will get your Medi-Cal card (BIC) in the mail.

If you get CalWORKs payments, the county social services agency automatically sets up Medi-Cal for you. No separate Medi-Cal application is needed. You will get your Medi-Cal card (BIC) in the mail.