How to Get Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal is the Medicaid program for California. It provides public health insurance and health care services for low-income individuals, seniors and those with disabilities. The program also provides services for individuals in foster care, pregnant woman and low-income individuals who have specific diseases such as HIV/AIDS and breast cancer. To get Medi-Cal, you must first be eligible for the program, and then submit an application.

Things You'll Need

• Proof of identification
• Financial records
• Computer
• Printer

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Determine whether you are eligible for the program. You are eligible for Medi-Cal if you are already enrolled in one of the following programs: In-Home Supportive Services, CalWorks, foster care or Adoption Assistance Program, Refugee Assistance or SSI/SSP. You are also eligible to apply for Medi-Cal if one or more of the following apply to you: you are disabled, blind, 65 or older, 20 or younger, pregnant, in a nursing or intermediate care home or on refugee status. You qualify if you are a parent or caretaker of a child under 21 whose parent is deceased or doesn't live with the child, whose parent is incapacitated, or whose parent is unemployed or under employed. You also qualify if you have been screened for breast or cervical cancer.

• 2

  Go to your local Medi-Cal county office to fill out an application for the program (see Resources). You can also download an application on California's Department of Health Care Services website (see Resources). Have available proof of identity, such as a driver's license, identification card, passport or alien status documents. Also, gather your financial information and calculate your total income or the income of the person for whom you are applying.

• 3

  Fill out the Medi-Cal application completely and truthfully, and give it to the office official. If you download the application, print the document and send it to a local office near your residence.

• 4

  Wait several weeks before calling the office to check on the status of your application.