Medi-Cal Information
Medi-Cal is a healthcare program, financed jointly by the federal government and the state of California, that is designed to provide medical assistance for needy and low-income people. The Medi-Cal program is administered through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Eligibility Programs:
Eligibility for Medi-Cal is managed through the County Welfare Department. Medi-Cal benefits may be available to people who fall into the following program categories:
Public Assistance
- People who are aged 65 or older, blind, disabled, and receiving support through the Supplemental Income/State Supplementary Program (SSI/SSP) are automatically eligible for Medi-Cal.
- People receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Available to those who have minor children who are financially needy and have only the support or care of one parent due to absence, death, incapacity, or unemployment of the second parent.
Medically Needy (MN)
- People are considered Medically Needy if they are 65 years old or older, blind, disabled, or meet the requirements for AFDC.
- Medically Needy people may not need or want a cash grant due to the amount of their income or property. They are provided with Medi-Cal benefits by paying or promising to pay a "share of cost" for each month.
Medically Indigent
- Pregnant women not connected with an AFDC program.
- Refugees in the US less than 12 months.
- People under 21 years of age not living with parents.
Special programs
- Pregnant women who cannot afford to pay for medical care for themselves or their infant. Under the Presumptive Eligibility program, pregnant women can receive immediate temporary benefits through Medi-Cal.
- Children under 18 years of age and born before September 30, 1983.
- Minor Consent Program -- People under age 21 who are unmarried and living with parents may receive confidential medical services no matter what their citizenship or immigration status.
- Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program for children under the age of 21.
- Amnesty Aliens -- People who are amnesty aliens and also blind, disabled, and under 18 or over 65 years old may be eligible for full Medi-Cal benefits. Those amnesty aliens who are not blind or disabled and between 18 and 65 years old may be eligible for restricted Medi-Cal benefits during the first five (5) years of their legalization.
Eligibility Requirements
- California residency.
- Income -- People may be eligible for Medi-Cal at any income level. The higher the income, the more must be paid before Medi-Cal provides assistance.
- Property and Assets
- Limits for property and assets are determined on a monthly basis.
- Dwelling and furnishings as well as personal items and one vehicle per household are not included in the limit.
- $2000 in property and assets is allowed for a single person. More is allowed for a person who is married or has a family.
- Choice of providers
- In designated areas, Medi-Cal recipients may choose their own providers (providers are not obligated to accept Medi-Cal patients) through use of your Benefits Identification Card (BIC)
- Choice of a health care plan
- In some areas the State has contracted with various health care plans to provide health care services to Medi-Cal recipients.
- People who choose a health care plan must choose a provider from the plan's provider list.
- Under the plan, a person will receive all of the regular Medi-Cal services.
- With some plans, there may be additional services not available through the regular Medi-Cal programs.
- As a plan member, a person does not have any co-payments.
- Further Information
Public Social Services Department (Welfare) (562) 761-2261 District Office for Long Beach South Santa Fe Avenue Long Beach,California. Health and Human Services Department (562) 570-4000 Grand Avenue Long Beach, California 90815 Perinatal Access Program (562) 570-4171 Health and Human Services Department or (562) 570-4304 Grand Avenue Long Beach, California 90815
