WHAT IS MEDI-CAL?

Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost health coverage for California residents who meet eligibility requirements. Most applicants who apply through Covered California and enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through managed health plans. Medi-Cal has always covered low-income children, pregnant women and families. On Jan. 1, 2014, California expanded Medi-Cal eligibility to include low-income adults. When you complete a Covered California application, your eligibility for Medi-Cal will automatically be determined.

APPLY FOR MEDI-CAL

You may apply for Medi-Cal online via BenefitsCal, in person at your local offices, via mail, over the phone, or by fax.

The easiest and quickest way to apply for CalWORKs, CalFresh and/or Medi-Cal is online at www.benefitscal.com.

See Medi-Cal brochures for more information on eligibility criteria and requirements.

MEDI-CAL BROCHURES

English

Spanish

MEDI-CAL GUIDES

WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU

MEDI-CAL FAQs

We cannot refer you to individual providers. In San Bernardino County you will be required to select a managed care provider such as Molina or the Inland Empire Health Plan as your primary care provider.​

  • If you are entitled to or receiving Medicare, you may be eligible to payment of your Medicare Part A and/or Part B premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance fees by applying for the Medicare Savings Programs,  even if you are not receiving Medi-Cal. The Medicare Savings Programs are:
    • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)
    • Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
    • Qualifying Individual (QI)
    • Eligibility requirements include property and income limits which may change annually.
  • You can apply for the Medicare Savings Programs online (www.benefitscal.com) or by coming in to one of our local offices.​
  • Recipients must inform their worker about specific changes that might affect their benefits within 10 days. The worker will explain the Rights and Responsibilities on what must be reported. Correct and timely reporting is important because the recipient must pay back benefits if too much is issued.
  • Recipients must submit a report semi-annually that gives the information needed to make sure that the rules are still being met. This report is called a SAR 7 Eligibility Status Report.
  • The Welfare-to-Work program can help recipients get the skills needed to get a job. Recipients will be asked to attend an Orientation that will give information regarding the responsibilities in finding a job.
  • EBT is a benefit issuance system, using a debit-type card, which is run by Fidelity Information Services under a contract with the state.
  • “Golden State Advantage Card” is the name of the EBT card that the client will use. Each client will have their own card and will use it via their own Personal Identification Number (PIN).
  • The EBT card can be used just like a debit card at ATMs and Point-of-Sale (POS) devices.
  • The client has separate accounts for CalFresh and for cash and they are both on the same card.
  • If a client does not use all of their benefits in a given month, the balances will “roll over” to the next month. The EBT card can be used outside of San Bernardino County. All CalFresh cases are included.

On the day you apply for CalWORKs assistance, you will be asked to complete some forms and to listen to an explanation of your rights and responsibilities. You will be given an appointment to return within one working day to see an Eligibility Worker and complete the application process. To expedite the process, you are advised to bring the following items with you if applicable:

  • Identification (Driver’s License or California Identification Card)
  • Social Security Card or verification that they have applied for all family members
  • Statements of Bank Accounts and any other resources
  • Proof of United States (US) citizenship
  • Proof from US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly INS) of permanent resident alien status.
  • Immunization
  • Verification of income, wages and Social Security Benefits
  • A copy of vehicle registration
  • Needy families may apply for assistance online, or by coming in to one of our local offices.
  • The easiest and quickest way to apply for Cash Assistance, CalFresh (Food Stamps) and/or Medi-Cal is online at  www.benefitscal.com.

Cash benefits for the care of needy children may be available when:

  • One or both parents is deceased
  • One or both parents is physically or mentally incapacitated
  • The principal wage earner parent is unemployed
  • One or both parents is continually absent from the home in which the child is living

APPLICATION PROCESS

Submit an application for CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, County Medical Services Program (CMSP), or Disaster CalFresh via BenefitsCal by clicking Apply Now from the homepage. Fill out the application as completely as possible to avoid delay in processing your application.

Staff verifies the application submitted is complete and schedules the customer for an interview to obtain appropriate non-financial/financial information and verifications to determine program eligibility.

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Staff approves or denies the County based Medi-Cal program within prescribed timeframes.

If ineligible to a County based Medi-Cal program, the customers application will be referred to Covered CA to determine eligibility to other non-County based health coverage.

Customer picks a Covered CA plan, if ineligible to Medi-Cal.

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