The Medi-Cal program provides public health insurance to low-income people living in California.
The State of California Medi-Cal program is a public health insurance program that covers low-income families and is equally funded by the state and federal governments. Medi-Cal benefits include pediatric and maternity services, general and managed care and a prescription drug plan, as well as outreach and educational programs. There are income requirements to receive Medi-Cal insurance.
Qualifying for Medi-Cal
If you are the parent of a child under the age of 21 and unemployed, you may qualify for Medi-Cal.
If you receive income or funds from Social Security, CalWorks (previously called AFDC), Refugee Assistance, or Foster Care assistance programs, you may automatically qualify for Medi-Cal if you live in the state of California. You may also qualify for Medi-Cal if you are 65 years of age or older or if you are blind, disabled, under 21 or pregnant or live in a skilled nursing facility. You may qualify if you have been diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer or are a refugee under certain circumstances. If you are the parent of a child who is under 21, and you are underemployed, unemployed or incapacitated, you may qualify for Medi-Cal. If you are the caretaker of a child under 21, and the parent of the child is deceased or not living with the child, you may qualify for Medi-Cal.
Federal Poverty Levels
Pregnant women can be at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and still qualify for Medi-Cal.
The Department of Health Services uses Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) to gauge need-based Medi-Cal qualifications. The State has put out a chart with calculations for different programs and the required income status for each program. For instance, at the 100% poverty level, all persons will qualify for Medi-Cal. If a child aged 1-6 is at 133% of the FPL, the child still qualifies for Medi-Cal, and pregnant women and children to one year of age can be at 200% of the FPL and still qualify for Medi-Cal.
Income Levels for Medi-Cal
Low-income married couples without children may also qualify for Medi-Cal benefits.
The State of California uses Prorated FPL Income Standards and Property Levels to evaluate Mini Budget Units (MBU's) to determine whether someone can receive Medi-Cal. The MBU standard for the FPL for a single person is $851 monthly income and $3,000 or less in property. For a married couple without a child, the standard is $1,141 monthly income plus $3,000 or less in property. There is also a chart for children. A child with one parent can have $571 in monthly income and $1,500 in property and still qualify for Medi-Cal, and a child with two parents with an income of $447 and $1,050 or less in property also meets the standard. If you do not qualify for full Medi-Cal benefits, you may qualify for partial benefits, where you pay part of the premium and the state pays the rest. You can contact the California Department of Health Services for more information about income standards and property limits and Medi-Cal qualifications.
California Department of Health Services
1501 Capitol Avenue, Suite 71. 4001, MS 4067, P.O. Box 997417
Sacramento, CA 95899-7417
916-552-9430
dhs.ca.gov
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