Medi-Cal

What is Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.  

This is a public health care coverage program for low-income families and individuals who live in California, including families with children, seniors, persons with disabilities, foster care youth, pregnant women, and low-income people with specific diseases such as tuberculosis, breast cancer, or HIV/AIDS.

Medi-Cal Resources

• Please visit BenefitsCal if you need to create or access your online account.
• You can find information on the Affordable Care Act & Medi-Cal Q&A here.
• If you need more information on what you might be eligible for, go to Medi-Cal Eligibility and Covered California.    

If you are a California resident with low or no income, you may be eligible for Medi-Cal. This includes the following:

• Low-income individuals
• Families with Children
• Seniors
• Persons with disabilities
• Foster care
• Pregnant women
• Individuals with diseases such as tuberculosis, breast cancer or HIV

The Medi-Cal program has different eligibility requirements that fall under two categories: MAGI and Non-MAGI. 

†Effective January 1, 2024, property will no longer be counted in the Medi-Cal eligibility determination.

MAGI and Non-MAGI Medi-Cal benefits are split into two categories of eligibility: Full Scope and Restricted. The table below applies to both.

*Effective January 1, 2024, adults age 26 to 49 will qualify for full scope Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status, if they meet all other eligibility requirements.

You can use this tool to see if you are potentially eligible for Medi-Cal: Am I eligible?

• To see if you may qualify for Medi-Cal benefits, you can also click here: Do you qualify for Medi-Cal?
• If you are not eligible for Medi-Cal, we can help refer you to affordable private health insurance offered by Covered California.
• For other health care programs click below: 
  • Medi-Cal Access Program (MCAP)
  • California Children's Services
  • Genetically Handicapped Persons Program (GHPP)

• Online

To apply for Medi-Cal and other programs, please visit BenefitsCal. We recommend you create an account that will allow you to return to your information at a later time if needed.

You may also apply at Covered California.

• By phone

To apply by phone, please call (510) 272-3663.

• By mail

To apply for Medi-Cal by mail, you can send your Medi-Cal application to an Alameda County Social Services Agency office.

To request a Medi-Cal application to mail in and Instructions booklet, please call (510) 272-3663 or 1-800-698-1118 (toll free).

You may also click here for a Medi-Cal Printable Application. Fill-and-print PDF forms may be completed online and printed to hardcopy to be signed and mailed.  Translated forms can be found here.

If applying for Medi-Cal and other programs, such as CalFresh, CalWORKs, and/or Refugee Cash Assistance, use Form SAWS 2 Plus.

• In person

If you wish to apply for Medi-Cal in person, you may go to one of the Alameda County Social Services offices. Our offices are open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

• Get assistance with applying for Medi-Cal at HealthyAC.org

Required Documentation:

You may be asked to provide certain documentation before your Medi-Cal can be approved if the information cannot be verified electronically. The eligibility worker will tell you what proof is needed. You may apply without the proof, but you may have to provide it later. 

It may be easier to process your application if you have the following ready: 

• Proof of income - Pay stubs, Social Security award letter, child support and alimony, unemployment/disability stubs, or veteran benefits 
• Proof of residency - Rent or mortgage receipt or utility bill 

You may also be asked to provide information about: 

• Resources - Checking and savings account statements, savings bonds, stock certificates, retirement accounts, vehicle registration 
• Proof of ID 

What Happens Next?

If you are approved for Medi-Cal, you’ll receive a Benefits Identification Card (BIC). Sign your BIC when you get it and use it to get health care services.

You will need to visit or call a Health Care Options (HCO) representative at 1-800-430-4263 to help you choose a health plan and complete the necessary forms. 

The following health plans in Alameda County are available for you to choose from: 

• Alameda Alliance; or, 
• Anthem Blue Cross. 

You may also visit the California Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Care Options website to view or download Alameda County Plan materials and to view how Medi-Cal plans compare on quality of care.

You may now also enroll in a Managed Care Plan on the Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Care Options site.

Additional Services

Once you have chosen a health plan, you may also have access to the following:

Mental Health -  Medi-Cal Services for Children and Young Adults: Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment 

Medical and Dental Health Check-Ups - Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP)

Denti-Cal - Dental Care

Confidential Youth Medical Services - Confidential medical services are available to minors under 21 years of age through Medi-Cal Minor Consent Program. Confidential medical services, regardless of citizenship or immigration status are offered for the following: 

• Sexual assault 
• Pregnancy or family planning 
• Sexually transmitted diseases 
• Drug or alcohol abuse 
• Outpatient mental health

• Requirements
  
  • Under 21 years of age 
  • Living with parents (they will not be notified or contacted) 
  • In pregnancy cases, must have income under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) 
  • Must apply in person

• Important
  
  • Property and income of parents are not counted 
  • Parental consent is not required, and they are not notified of the child’s participation in the Medi-Cal Minor Consent Program
  • Apply in person at one of our office locations.

Reporting Requirements

Individuals or families receiving Medi-Cal benefits must report any life changes that affect their eligibility for Medi-Cal within 10 days after the change happened. This applies to both MAGI and Non-MAGI Medi-Cal. You may report changes in person or by mail, fax, phone or electronically. 

Reported changes may be completed online through BenefitsCal.

Renewal

Medi-Cal benefits must be renewed at least once every 12 months. Some benefits are renewed automatically. If your benefits cannot be renewed automatically, we will mail you forms that you need to submit back to Alameda County Social Services Agency. If you received a renewal packet, please submit the renewal application packet back to the Alameda County Social Services Agency along with verifications by the deadline indicated on the renewal or you may lose your health coverage.

If you enrolled in a private health insurance plan with Covered California, you will receive a notification from Covered California and you may renew your health coverage on their website at Covered California.

Required Documentation

Remember that you might have to provide additional documentation to report a change or renew your benefits. These could be any of the following:

• Proof of income - Current pay stubs, Social Security award letter, child support and alimony, unemployment/disability stubs, or veteran benefits 
• Proof of residency - Current rent or mortgage receipt or utility bill 
• Resources - Current checking and savings account statements, savings bonds, stock certificates, retirement accounts, vehicle registration 
• Proof of ID