Jane Dotson
Medi-Cal is the name for the Federal Medicaid Program in California. It offers free or low-cost health coverage for Californians who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of their immigration status. Medi-Cal and Covered California use the same application, so once you apply, you will find out which program you qualify for. In this article, we will discuss how to apply for free medical insurance in California through Medi-Cal and Covered California.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the program | Covered California |
| Website | www.coveredca.com |
| Phone number | Not found |
| Not found | |
| Address | Not found |
| Documents required | Not found |
| Eligibility criteria | Low-income Californians, pregnant women, former foster youth, children who don't qualify for Medicaid coverage, and certain special populations |
| Cost | Free |
| Application methods | Online, in-person, by mail, or on the phone |
| Application timing | Anytime throughout the year |
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What You'll Learn
- Medi-Cal: California's free or low-cost health coverage for eligible low-income residents
- Covered California: Apply for health plans online or make changes to your current plan
- Medi-Cal for pregnant women: Free or low-cost healthcare during pregnancy
- Medi-Cal for former foster youth: Full-scope benefits for those in foster care on their 18th birthday
- Medicare Savings Programs: Help with paying for Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance fees
Medi-Cal: California's free or low-cost health coverage for eligible low-income residents
Medi-Cal is California's version of the Federal Medicaid Program, providing free or low-cost health coverage for eligible low-income residents. It covers most medical services, from maternity to substance use, and is available to Californians who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status.
Applying for Medi-Cal can be done in four ways: online, in person, by mail, or on the phone. The application process requires information about the applicant and their family members, which helps the local agency determine eligibility. The process takes about half an hour to complete, and applicants are advised to have the necessary documents on hand before starting.
There are over 90 eligibility categories for Medi-Cal, and applicants can include individuals or families. Those who qualify may receive comprehensive health coverage for themselves and their families at no or low cost. This includes free or low-cost health care coverage for pregnant women and coverage for former foster youth up to age 26. Additionally, individuals residing in or requiring nursing home care may be eligible for Medi-Cal to pay for all or part of the care and services received.
For those who do not qualify for Medi-Cal, there may be other options for coverage. Covered California, for example, offers health plans for those who do not fall under Medi-Cal's eligibility categories. In some cases, Medi-Cal coverage can also be added to an existing insurance plan, where Medi-Cal will pay for any additional services it covers.
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Covered California: Apply for health plans online or make changes to your current plan
If you are based in California and are looking to apply for a health plan or make changes to your current plan, Covered California is California's official Health Insurance Marketplace. It offers a range of health and dental options for small businesses and individuals.
Applying for a Health Plan
You can apply for a health plan online, by phone, or in person at one of the hundreds of enrollment centers across the state. The online application takes about half an hour to complete, and you can save your application and return to it later if needed. Before starting your application, ensure you have the necessary documents on hand for a seamless enrollment process. You can also make an appointment to get free, confidential help with your application by phone or in person.
Special Enrollment Periods
Outside of the normal open-enrollment period, you can still enroll in a Covered California health insurance plan if you have experienced a major life change, such as:
- Losing your Medi-Cal, employer-sponsored, or COBRA coverage
- Turning 19 or 26 and aging out of a child-only or parent's plan, respectively
- Moving within California and gaining access to a new Covered California health insurance plan
- Experiencing a natural or human-caused disaster declared as a state of emergency in California
- Gaining citizenship, permanent residency, or another lawfully present status in the US
- Losing your dependent or your status as a dependent due to divorce, legal separation, dissolution of domestic partnership, or death
- Experiencing the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child
Special enrollment periods typically last 60 days from the date of the major life change, and your coverage will usually start on the first day of the following month after you select a plan.
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is California's Federal Medicaid Program, offering free or low-cost health coverage for those who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status. You can apply for Medi-Cal anytime throughout the year online or through Covered California. Most applicants who enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through Medi-Cal health plans, which provide the same health benefits as Covered California at a lower or no cost.
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Medi-Cal for pregnant women: Free or low-cost healthcare during pregnancy
If you're pregnant and live in California, you may be eligible for free or low-cost health care coverage through the state's Medi-Cal program. Medi-Cal is the name for the Federal Medicaid Program in California, and it provides comprehensive health coverage for eligible individuals and their families.
Eligibility
To qualify for Medi-Cal, you must meet certain income and residency requirements. Low-income Californians and certain special populations may qualify, regardless of their immigration status. This means that even if you are not a legal resident of California, you may still be eligible for coverage during your pregnancy and for one year after.
Coverage
Medi-Cal offers various free or affordable programs to get pregnant individuals covered right away. Full-scope Medi-Cal provides complete coverage before, during, and after pregnancy. It automatically includes prenatal care, labor and delivery services, and postpartum care for a year after pregnancy, plus all other medically necessary care, dental, and mental health services.
How to Apply
You can apply for Medi-Cal anytime throughout the year online or through Covered California. Applying online takes about half an hour, and you can save your application and come back to it later if needed. Make sure you have the necessary documents on hand before starting your application to ensure a seamless enrollment process.
Additional Information
It's important to note that individuals with higher incomes enrolled in Share of Cost Medi-Cal (less than 1% of members) may need to incur certain healthcare costs before Medi-Cal pays for medically necessary goods and services. However, as of July 1, 2022, all monthly premiums were reduced to $0, meaning that most individuals in Medi-Cal will receive the same health benefits as Covered California at a lower or no cost.
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Medi-Cal for former foster youth: Full-scope benefits for those in foster care on their 18th birthday
In California, the Medi-Cal program offers free or low-cost health coverage for those who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of their immigration status. The Former Foster Youth (FFY) program, formerly known as the FFCC Program, is a part of Medi-Cal that provides health coverage for former foster youth up to the age of 26. To be eligible, the applicant must have been in Foster Care on their 18th birthday. This requirement includes youth that exited federal or state foster care from any state in the United States, as well as those who had their Medi-Cal terminated when they turned 21.
If you were receiving Foster Care with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in Los Angeles County, your FFY Medi-Cal eligibility will automatically continue once you exit foster care. If you exited foster care in another state and meet the FFY requirements, you may apply by completing the MC 250A-LA application form. You can apply online, by phone, or in person. If you are already receiving Medi-Cal under another program, you can be automatically enrolled in the FFY program without completing the MC250A-LA application.
There are no income or resource tests for FFY eligibility, and income is not considered. Applicants are not required to provide proof that they were in foster care placement on their 18th birthday; they can self-attest to their foster care placement on their application. Youth eligible for FFY Medi-Cal are exempt from a MAGI determination, and all income is disregarded for this group. Additionally, there is no share-of-cost, and there are no additional forms required.
FFY applicants can apply through the CalHEERS system, and their applications will be processed through CalSAWS. Aid code 4M must be used for FFY MC applicants, and their applications must be approved immediately, with a 30-day reasonable opportunity to verify their eligibility.
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Medicare Savings Programs: Help with paying for Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance fees
In California, Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are not insurance plans but programs that help lower your Medicare premiums and other healthcare costs, including prescriptions. These programs are run by MassHealth, but you do not need to be on MassHealth to apply. If your income is at or below 225% of the Federal Poverty Level, you may qualify for an MSP. To apply for the Medicare Savings Programs by mail, fill out the application and follow the instructions. You can also fill in and submit the Medicare Savings Programs application online using any version of Adobe Acrobat, including the free version of Adobe Reader.
If you have limited income, the Medi-Cal Program provides comprehensive health coverage to you and your family for free or at a low cost. If you need health benefits, you can apply for Medi-Cal anytime throughout the year online or through Covered California. Medi-Cal is the name for the Federal Medicaid Program in California.
If you are pregnant, Medi-Cal may provide you with free or low-cost health care coverage during your pregnancy. If you reside in a nursing home or need nursing home care, Medi-Cal could pay for all or part of the care and services you receive. The Former Foster Youth program provides Medi-Cal coverage up to age 26 for youth who were in Foster Care on their 18th birthday.
Additionally, Medicare Savings Programs help pay for your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. You may still qualify for these programs in your state even if your income or resources are higher than the federal limits listed. Some states don't count certain types or specific amounts of income or resources when deciding who qualifies.
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Frequently asked questions
You can apply for free or low-cost medical insurance in California through the Medi-Cal program. You can apply for Medi-Cal online or through Covered California.
Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid health care program. It provides comprehensive health coverage for children and adults with limited income and resources.
Eligibility for Medi-Cal is based on several factors, including income. To qualify, your income should be up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for adults and up to 266% FPL for children.
