Medi-cal – California’s Medicaid System
Medi-cal is a California state Medicaid system providing medical services for children and adults with limited income and assets. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) eligibility criteria for Medi-cal has been expanded to include 1 to 2 million new subscribers as of January 1st, 2014. Eligibility primarily considers ones income for single subscribers under the age of 65 with income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level (in 2014 that would mean an individual who earns $16,105 or less).
Find out if you qualify for Medi-cal based on your income
The Medi-cal program is required to provide minimum essential health benefits as mandated by the ACA:
- Ambulatory patient services.
- Emergency services.
- Hospitalization.
- Maternity and newborn care.
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment.
- Prescription drugs.
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices.
- Laboratory services.
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management.
- Pediatric services (including oral and vision care).
MEDI-CAL:
Click on the button below to find your local county Medi-Cal office where you can call or meet in person to apply for coverage
Steps to Applying for Medi-Cal
Click the button below to learn the steps needed to apply for Medi-Cal
Medi-cal Expansion
Medi-cal expansion includes more comprehensive benefits for mental health and substance use disorders:
- Individual and group mental health evaluation and treatment (psychotherapy).
- Psychological testing when clinically indicated to evaluate a mental health condition.
- Outpatient services for the purposes of monitoring drug therapy.
- Outpatient laboratory, drugs, supplies and supplements.
- Psychiatric consultation.
- Specialty mental health services currently provided by county mental health plans will continue to be available.
- Substance use disorder services benefits.
- Voluntary inpatient detoxification.
- Intensive outpatient treatment services.
- Residential treatment services.
- Outpatient drug-free services.
- Narcotic treatment services.
Effective May 1st, 2014 Medi-cal has been expanded to include dental services for adults. Generally vision care and speech therapy services are only reserved for children and youths under the of 21. Adults may be eligible for these services under certain circumstances.