Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal provides programs of comprehensive medical services for California residents.

Information

Medi-Cal and You: An informational pamphlet

Eligibility

Generally, public assistance recipients, pregnant women and children under 21 years of age are eligible for Medi-Cal benefits. All residents of California may qualify for Medi-Cal. If you are residing in California and plan to remain permanently, you may be eligible for one of the Medi-Cal programs. You can prove that you are a California resident with one of the following:

California driver's license
California identification (ID) card
Lease or rent receipt
Utility or telephone bill
Letter from family or friends
Letter from an employer
Alien registration card

NOTE: You do not need to be a citizen to receive Medi-Cal benefits. Many California residents who are not U.S. citizens are eligible for Medi-Cal. Groups covered by Medi-Cal include:

Families receiving CalWORKs (formerly AFDC)
Low-income families who choose not to receive CaLWORKs
Families leaving CalWORKs due to earnings or receipt of child support
Pregnant women
Children in low income families
People who are disabled, aged (65 years or older) or blind
Many different types of immigrants

Income and property rules

Your monthly income and the value of any other property (such as a bank account) must be below the level allowed for Medi-Cal eligibility. The amount of income allowed by Medi-Cal depends upon your individual situation.

Some kinds of income and property are exempt (not counted). Examples of exempt income include SSI, CAPI and CalWORKs cash benefits. Exempt property includes your home (if you live in your home), at least one motor vehicle, your household furnishings and personal property.

The following groups can now receive Medi-Cal regardless of the family's property:

Children age 1-5 with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level
Children age 6-18 with income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level
Pregnant women and children under 1 year of age with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

How to apply

If you wish to apply in person, you may go to one of the following Alameda County Social Services Agency public contact offices Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and Noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

You may apply for Medi-Cal by mail, please call (510) 777-2300 or 1-800-698-1118(toll free) to request a Medi-Cal Mail -In Application and Instructions booklet. Remember, whether you take your application to the SSA or you mail it, you should not pay anyone to help you with the completion of this application.

Please contact the Health Insurance Benefits Coordinator at (510) 383-2898 for FREE help with your Medi-Cal Application.