Am I eligible?

Medi-Cal pays for many kinds of medical expenses. Your medical provider will know what services are available at no cost or with a "co-payment" (also called a “share of cost” or deductible").

You or other family members may be eligible for Medi-Cal if you are:

• 65 and over, 60 or under 21 years of age.
• A family with deprived children.
• Disabled or Blind
• Pregnant
• Have a specific disease such as Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Breast or Cervical Cancer.
• In Long-Term Care.

Pregnancy

You may be eligible for Medi-Cal to pay for medical expenses for yourself and the baby if you are pregnant and cannot afford to pay for health care during pregnancy and for the baby's first year of life. Medi-Cal is often available at no cost to the mother even if she has income. Increases in family income will not count after Medi-Cal pregnancy-related services are approved.

Children

Children may be eligible even if their parents are not. Children may get Medi-Cal at no cost if income requirements are met. There are different programs available for infants, for children ages 1 to 6, and for children ages 6 to 19. Children who receive Medi-Cal can get free health and dental check-ups through the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP) to help keep them healthy, find health problems early, and answer health questions.

Confidential Medical Services for Minors

Confidential medical services are available to unmarried persons under age 21 and living with their parents. Parental consent is currently not needed under the Minor Consent Program. Medical services covered under this program are those which relate to family planning, pregnancy, drug/alcohol abuse, venereal and other sexually transmitted infections, sexual assault, and outpatient mental health services for sexual or child abuse.

Income and Property Limits

To qualify for most no-cost Medi-Cal, your monthly income minus any allowable deductions must be less than the amount in the second row in the chart below. If your income is higher, you may still be eligible but will have to pay for part of your medical expenses. Your property or assets, must be within specified limits. Examples of property include cash, bank accounts, vehicles, and homes. The home that you live in and one vehicle are not counted for most Medi-Cal programs, and there are many other property exemptions. If your property is worth more than what is permitted for Medi-Cal, you may still qualify under a property waiver.