Apply for Medi-Cal

<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>Apply for Medi-Cal | CA.gov</title> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="Author" content="State of California" /> <meta name="Description" content="Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost health coverage for Californians who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status. Most applicants who apply and enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through Medi-Cal health plans." /> <meta name="Keywords" content="California, government, Medi-Cal, Medicaid, Medical Insurance, Government Assistance, Poverty" /> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="True" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="320" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0" />  <meta name="title" content="Apply for Medi-Cal | CA.gov" /> <meta name="last-modified" content="2024-11-21" />  <link href="https://www.ca.gov/departments/217/services/37/" rel="canonical" />  <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="California State Portal" /> <meta property="og:type" content="website" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.ca.gov/departments/217/services/37/" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Apply for Medi-Cal | CA.gov" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost health coverage for Californians who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status. Most applicants who apply and enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through Medi-Cal health plans." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.cdt.ca.gov/cdt/CAgovPortal/images/cagov-social-image.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="CA.gov logo over a scenic photo of a California beach" />  <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta property="twitter:url" content="https://www.ca.gov/departments/217/services/37/" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Apply for Medi-Cal | CA.gov" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost health coverage for Californians who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status. Most applicants who apply and enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through Medi-Cal health plans." /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn.cdt.ca.gov/cdt/CAgovPortal/images/cagov-social-image.jpg" />  <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin /> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.cdt.ca.gov" crossorigin />   <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.cdt.ca.gov/cdt/statetemplate/6.4.1/css/cagov.core.min.css" integrity="sha256-ZBxc9vOxgmVhJsrXWWcvEN6iGIZgEXXS0Ir1i2ZWeLU=" crossorigin="anonymous" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/custom.min.css?vJKX1" id="main-stylesheet" /><script src="https://cdn.cdt.ca.gov/cdt/statetemplate/6.4.1/js/cagov.core.min.js" integrity="sha256-e675J/VKorpekjw24pAfI7kxIF5TwFmKBfDOyX1PI10=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="/js/custom.min.js?dv001ax" type="module"></script>  <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="100x100" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png" /> <link rel="icon" sizes="192x192" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-192x192.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="180x180" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="152x152" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114x114" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/images/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/images/apple-touch-icon.png" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" />   <script> (function (w, d, s, l, i) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push({ 'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' }); var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? '&l=' + l : ''; j.async = true; j.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; f.parentNode.insertBefore(j, f); })(window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-PZGPNNV'); </script>   <script defer src="https://alert.cdt.ca.gov" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> </head> <body class="primary"> <header id="header" class="global-header fixed"> <div id="skip-to-content"> <a href="#main-content">Skip to Main Content</a> </div>  <div class="utility-header" data-nosnippet> <div class="container"> <div class="flex-row"> <div class="social-media-links align-items-start"> <div class="official-collapsible-content"> <button type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#collapseOficial" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseOficial" class="btn-official mt-1 gray-900 color-black-hover"> <span class="underline">Official California website</span> <span class="ca-gov-icon-caret-up" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="ca-gov-icon-caret-down" aria-hidden="true"></span> </button> <div class="collapse" id="collapseOficial"> <div class="font-size-13 gray-900 p-y ps-1 pe-2"> <span class="bold" >California government websites use .ca.gov </span ><br />A .ca.gov website is part of California’s government. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="settings-links ms-auto align-items-start pt-2"> <a href="#googtrans(en|es)" class="m-l-0 underline cursor-pointer" lang="es" hreflang="es" translate="no" rel="alternate" >Español</a > <a href="#googtrans(en|ko)" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" translate="no" rel="alternate" class="underline cursor-pointer" >한국어</a > <a href="#googtrans(en|tl)" lang="tl" hreflang="tl" translate="no" rel="alternate" class="underline cursor-pointer" >Tagalog</a > <a href="#googtrans(en|vi)" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" translate="no" rel="alternate" class="underline cursor-pointer" >Tiếng Việt</a > <a href="#googtrans(en|zh-TW)" lang="zh-hant" hreflang="zh-hant" translate="no" rel="alternate" class="underline cursor-pointer" >繁體中文</a > <a class="translate notranslate pos-rel top-minus-2" href="/translate/" ><span class="ca-gov-icon-globe" aria-hidden="true"></span ><span class="sr-only">Translate</span></a > </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="section-default"> <div class="branding"> <div class="header-organization-banner"> <a href="/"> <div class="logo-assets"> <img src="/images/CAgov-logo.svg?v7F3A" class="logo-img" alt="CA.gov official logo" /> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="mobile-controls"> <div class="mobile-control-group main-nav-icons"> <button id="nav-icon3" class="mobile-control toggle-menu" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="navigation"> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> <span class="sr-only">Menu</span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="navigation-search full-width-nav container"> <div id="head-search" class="search-container featured-search"> <div class="d-block d-lg-none"> <a href="/" class="drawer-logo-link first-level-link"> <img src="/images/CAgov-logo.svg?v7F3A" alt="CA.gov official logo" class="drawer-logo mb-4" /> </a> </div>  <div class="container"> <form id="Search" class="pos-rel" action="/search/"> <span class="sr-only" id="SearchInput">Custom Google Search</span> <input type="search" name="q" aria-labelledby="SearchInput" placeholder="Search" class="search-textfield" /> <button type="submit" class="gsc-search-button"> <span class="ca-gov-icon-search" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="sr-only">Submit</span> </button> <div class="close-search-btn"> <button class="close-search gsc-clear-button border-0 bg-transparent pos-rel" type="reset"> <span class="sr-only">Close</span> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div>  <nav id="navigation" class="main-navigation dropdown" aria-label="Main navigation"> <ul id="nav_list" class="top-level-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="first-level-link active" href="/services/"> Services </a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="first-level-link" href="/departments/"> Departments </a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="first-level-link" href="/about-california/"> About California </a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="first-level-link" href="/support/"> Get help </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </header>  <div id="main-content" class="main-content"> <main class="main-primary" id="main">  <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"GovernmentService","name":"Apply for Medi-Cal","description":"Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost health coverage for Californians who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status. Most applicants who apply and enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through Medi-Cal health plans.","serviceType":"By Mail|Online Service","url":"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Get-Medi-Cal/Pages/default.aspx","jurisdiction":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"State of California"},"availableChannel":{"@type":"ServiceChannel","servicePhone":{"@type":"ContactPoint","telephone":"800-541-5555","contactType":"Service Contact"}},"provider":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"GovernmentOrganization","name":"Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)","description":"The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is the backbone of the state’s health care safety net, serving nearly 15 million Californians – one-third of the state’s population. DHCS collaborates with federal, state, county, and other partners to ensure equitable access to quality health care, leading to a healthy California for all. As the state single state agency overseeing Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, DHCS provides health care to low-income individuals, children, older adults, and persons with disabilities. Medi-Cal covers physical and mental health, substance use disorder treatment, dental, pharmacy, and long-term services and supports. DHCS is also the single state agency for the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration for mental health and substance use disorder services","url":"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov","logo":"https://stateentityprofile.ca.gov/Uploads/logo-217-DHCS.png","areaServed":{"@type":"State","name":"California"},"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer service","telephone":"800-541-5555","url":"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Pages/contact_us.aspx","email":null},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/DHCS.CA","https://www.twitter.com/DHCS_CA","https://www.youtube.com/DHCS_CA"]}} </script>  <div class="section-understated"> <div class="container p-y-md"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-7"> <nav aria-label="You are here" class="breadcrumbs"> <ol> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/services/">Services</a></li> <li class="active">Apply for Medi-Cal</li> </ol> </nav> <h1 class="m-t-0 color-p2-darker">Apply for Medi-Cal</h1> <p> <a href="../../">Department of Health Care Services</a> </p> </div> <div class="col-lg-5"> <div class="pos-rel"> <img src="https://stateentityprofile.ca.gov/Uploads/service-37-Apply-for-Medi-Cal.jpg" loading="lazy" class="rounded-circle service-img width-300 height-300 pos-abs right-sm d-none d-lg-block" alt="" aria-hidden="true" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container p-y-md"> <div class="row p-y-lg"> <div class="col-md-9"> <a class="btn btn-primary btn-lg m-r-md m-b" href="https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Get-Medi-Cal/Pages/default.aspx" >Launch service</a > <a class="btn btn-outline-primary btn-lg m-r-md m-b" href="https://www.dhcs.ca.gov" >Department website</a > <a class="btn btn-outline-primary btn-lg m-r-md m-b" href="https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/Contacts.aspx" >Contact</a > <hr class="m-t-md" /> <h2 class="m-t-md">Description</h2> <p>Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost health coverage for Californians who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status. Most applicants who apply and enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through Medi-Cal health plans.</p> <p class="m-t-md"> <span class="bold">Phone:</span> <a href="tel:800-541-5555">800-541-5555</a> </p> <h3>Frequently Asked Questions</h3> <cagov-accordion> <details> <summary>How much does Medi-Cal cost? </summary> <div class="accordion-body"><p></p><p><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;">Effective July 1, 2022, all monthly premiums were reduced to $0. In general, individuals in Medi-Cal will get the same health benefits available through Covered California at a lower or no cost.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;">For individuals with higher incomes enrolled in Share of Cost Medi-Cal (less than 1 percent of members), the Medi-Cal member must incur certain health care costs before Medi-Cal will pay for medically necessary goods and services.</span></p></div> </details> </cagov-accordion> <cagov-accordion> <details> <summary>What health plans are available through Medi-Cal?</summary> <div class="accordion-body"><p><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;">DHCS contracts with 23 Medi-Cal managed care plans to provide medically necessary health care services. Your health plan options will vary depending on the county where you live. Every county's Medi-Cal health plans provide the same high-quality care at the same low or no cost. The directory of health plans available through Medi-Cal managed care is available online at </span><a href="https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/individuals/Pages/MMCDHealthPlanDir.aspx"><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:#0563C1;">Medi-Cal Managed Care: Health Plan Directory</span></a><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;">.</span></p></div> </details> </cagov-accordion> <cagov-accordion> <details> <summary>Where can I find more FAQs regarding Medi-Cal?</summary> <div class="accordion-body"><p><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;">See the </span><a href="http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Pages/Medi-Cal_CovCA_FAQ.aspx"><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:#0563C1;">full FAQ</span></a><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:blue;">.</span></p><a href="http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Pages/Medi-Cal_CovCA_FAQ.aspx"></a></div> </details> </cagov-accordion> <cagov-accordion> <details> <summary>Who is eligible for Medi-Cal?</summary> <div class="accordion-body"><p style="background:white;"><span>Low-income Californians and certain special populations may qualify for Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status</span><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:#3B3A48;">. Think you’re eligible? </span><a href="https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Get-Medi-Cal/Pages/default.aspx">Learn more</a><span style="font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:#3B3A48;">.</span></p></div> </details> </cagov-accordion> <hr class="m-t-md" /> <h3>Related services</h3> <p class="keywords"> <a href="../1236/" class="btn btn-default btn-sm me-2 my-2" >Access Care</a > <a href="../36/" class="btn btn-default btn-sm me-2 my-2" >Behavioral Health</a > <a href="../1120/" class="btn btn-default btn-sm me-2 my-2" >Find Substance Use Disorder Services</a > <a href="../1209/" class="btn btn-default btn-sm me-2 my-2" >Find a Dentist</a > <a href="../1237/" class="btn btn-default btn-sm me-2 my-2" >Medi-Cal Benefits</a > <a href="../1235/" class="btn btn-default btn-sm me-2 my-2" >Youth Behavioral Health</a > </p><h3>Keywords</h3> <p class="keywords"> <a href="/services/all/?q=government%20assistance+" rel="nofollow">Government Assistance</a ><span class="m-r-sm">,</span> <a href="/services/all/?q=medicaid+" rel="nofollow">Medicaid</a ><span class="m-r-sm">,</span> <a href="/services/all/?q=medical%20insurance+" rel="nofollow">Medical Insurance</a ><span class="m-r-sm">,</span> <a href="/services/all/?q=poverty+" rel="nofollow">Poverty</a ><span class="m-r-sm">,</span> <a href="/services/all/?q=medi-cal+" rel="nofollow">Medi-Cal</a ><span class="m-r-sm">,</span> </p>  <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","name":"FAQPage for \"Apply for Medi-Cal\"","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How much does Medi-Cal cost? ","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p></p><p><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;\">Effective July 1, 2022, all monthly premiums were reduced to $0. In general, individuals in Medi-Cal will get the same health benefits available through Covered California at a lower or no cost.</span></p><p><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;\">For individuals with higher incomes enrolled in Share of Cost Medi-Cal (less than 1 percent of members), the Medi-Cal member must incur certain health care costs before Medi-Cal will pay for medically necessary goods and services.</span></p>"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What health plans are available through Medi-Cal?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;\">DHCS contracts with 23 Medi-Cal managed care plans to provide medically necessary health care services. Your health plan options will vary depending on the county where you live. Every county's Medi-Cal health plans provide the same high-quality care at the same low or no cost. The directory of health plans available through Medi-Cal managed care is available online at </span><a href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/individuals/Pages/MMCDHealthPlanDir.aspx\"><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:#0563C1;\">Medi-Cal Managed Care: Health Plan Directory</span></a><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;\">.</span></p>"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where can I find more FAQs regarding Medi-Cal?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:windowtext;\">See the </span><a href=\"http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Pages/Medi-Cal_CovCA_FAQ.aspx\"><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:#0563C1;\">full FAQ</span></a><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:blue;\">.</span></p><a href=\"http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Pages/Medi-Cal_CovCA_FAQ.aspx\"></a>"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who is eligible for Medi-Cal?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p style=\"background:white;\"><span>Low-income Californians and certain special populations may qualify for Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status</span><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:#3B3A48;\">. Think you’re eligible? </span><a href=\"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Get-Medi-Cal/Pages/default.aspx\">Learn more</a><span style=\"font-family:'Segoe UI',sans-serif;color:#3B3A48;\">.</span></p>"}}],"provider":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"GovernmentOrganization","name":"Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)","description":"The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is the backbone of the state’s health care safety net, serving nearly 15 million Californians – one-third of the state’s population. DHCS collaborates with federal, state, county, and other partners to ensure equitable access to quality health care, leading to a healthy California for all. As the state single state agency overseeing Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, DHCS provides health care to low-income individuals, children, older adults, and persons with disabilities. Medi-Cal covers physical and mental health, substance use disorder treatment, dental, pharmacy, and long-term services and supports. DHCS is also the single state agency for the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration for mental health and substance use disorder services","url":"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov","logo":"https://stateentityprofile.ca.gov/Uploads/logo-217-DHCS.png","areaServed":{"@type":"State","name":"California"},"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer service","telephone":"800-541-5555","url":"https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Pages/contact_us.aspx","email":null},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/DHCS.CA","https://www.twitter.com/DHCS_CA","https://www.youtube.com/DHCS_CA"]}} </script>  </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="section-understated"> <div class="container py-4 pb-5"> <cagov-feedback data-endpoint-url="https://feedback.innovation.ca.gov/sendfeedback"> </cagov-feedback> </div>  </div> <aside class="p-b-md p-t-sm section-standout site-footer"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="h4 w-100 brd-bottom brd-highlight p-b" role="heading" aria-level="2"> About </div> <a href="/about/about-this-website/" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> About this website </a> <a href="https://calcareers.ca.gov/" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16" >State careers </a> <a href="https://data.ca.gov/" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16" >California data </a> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="h4 w-100 brd-bottom brd-highlight p-b" role="heading" aria-level="2"> Support </div> <a href="https://www.sco.ca.gov/ppsd_cpod.html" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> State directory </a> <a href="/support/technical-help/" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> Technical help </a> <a href="/contact/" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> Contact </a> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="h4 w-100 brd-bottom brd-highlight p-b" role="heading" aria-level="2"> Campaigns </div> <a href="https://registertovote.ca.gov/" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> Register to vote </a> <a href="https://saveourwater.com/" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> Save our water </a> <a href="https://www.caiso.com/informed/Pages/Notifications/Default.aspx" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> Flex alert </a> </div> <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="h4 w-100 brd-bottom brd-highlight p-b" role="heading" aria-level="2"> Alerts </div> <a href="https://www.chp.ca.gov/Pages/Amber-Alert.aspx" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> Amber alert </a> <a href="https://calalerts.org/" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> Cal alerts </a> <a href="https://myhazards.caloes.ca.gov/" class="d-block no-underline m-y font-size-16"> My hazards </a> </div> </div> <a href="/website-accessibility-certification.html" class="no-underline font-size-14 d-block m-t-md" ><span class="ca-gov-icon-certificate" aria-hidden="true"></span>Website Accessibility Certification</a > </div> </aside>  <footer id="footer" class="global-footer"> <div class="container"> <div class="d-flex"> <a href="https://www.ca.gov" class="cagov-logo"> <img src="/images/cagov-logo-flag-gradient.svg?v7F3A" alt="CA.gov icon" style="aspect-ratio:43/27" loading="lazy" /> </a> <ul class="footer-links"> <li> <a href="/legal/conditions-of-use/">Conditions of use</a> </li> <li> <a href="/legal/privacy-policy/">Privacy policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/legal/accessibility/"> Accessibility</a> </li> <li> <a href="/about/sitemap/">Sitemap</a> </li> </ul> <p class="text-right copyright"> © <span id="thisyear"> <script> document.getElementById('thisyear').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) </script> </span> State of California </p> </div> </div> <button class="return-top"> <span class="sr-only">Back to top</span> </button> </footer> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Apply for Medi-Cal | CA.gov