California Medicaid Application

Covered residents in the state of California with Medicaid increased from 22 to 25 percent between 2013 and 2014. The state program called Medi-Cal, now offers a health insurance policy to a third of their nation’s residents.

Unlike other states, California doesn’t have strict guidelines for offering health insurance to its occupants. Due to the generous requirements for a policy, the state of California had only ten percent of its inhabitants who were uninsured as of 2014. By October 2015, the amount of uninsured Californians fell to 3.85 million.

As of April 2016, the overall monthly Medicaid and CHIP enrollment reached 11,887,524 inhabitants. Medi-Cal has the largest enrollment of taxpayers for any state in the in the entire country.

Additionally, the state’s Medi-Cal program covers undocumented immigrant children after Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill removing the immigration status requirement from the application procedure.

What’s Covered Under Medi-Cal

Together with these advantages, these services are covered:

  • Emergency services
  • Outpatient services
  • Maternity and newborn care providers
  • Emotional health
  • Prescription drugs
  • Physical treatment
  • Laboratory solutions
  • Wellness, preventative, and management of chronic diseases
  • Cosmetic and vision care services for children

To find out more about the whole range of covered services, residents may use the Covered California site.

Who’s Covered Under Medi-Cal

Beneath the Medi-Cal program in California, the following groups of people can get coverage:

  • Kids up to age 18 who have family incomes of up to 266 percent of the federal poverty level
  • Pregnant women whose incomes aren’t any greater than 213 percent of the poverty level
  • Nonelderly adults with and without dependent children whose income is no greater than 138 percent of the federal poverty level

The Medi-Cal Access Program has allowed pregnant women to be insured if their family income is between 213 and 322 percent of the federal poverty level. Under the eligibility conditions, pregnant women are recorded as two individuals for the purposes of determining policy based on family income and size.

How to Apply to Medi-Cal in California

Residents of California looking to have coverage under Medi-Cal can do so with the state’s site, Covered California. Applications can also be taken by phone in 1-800-300-1506 or by visiting a county human services agency.

Together with the self-service portal, you can complete an application online.

PO Box 989725

If you do not have all the requested information to complete your application, the agency asks that you sign it and return it anyhow. In case additional information is necessary, they’ll be in touch with you.

Following the Application Procedure

If you’ve been approved for coverage under Medi-Cal, you’ll receive a benefits identification card (BIC) via the mail. It is possible to use the card everywhere Medi-Cal is approved for covered medical services. In case more information is needed, an agency rep will contact you to verify information in your program.

Eligible participants will be sent a packet of information on the available health programs under Medi-Cal.

When you haven’t received a benefits identification card in the mail and haven’t received a decision on your application, your case is still in a pending/review status.

More details can be provided by contacting the neighborhood county human services agency. If you’re accepted, you have to choose between 22 health programs under Medi-Cal. You’ll be given 30 days to make that choice or else a strategy will be selected for you.

In case you’ve sent in your application for coverage, you’ll be given a letter within 45 days to ascertain your eligibility for Medi-Cal participation. Residents have the ability to receive health insurance coverage regardless of the existence of a preexisting medical condition.

Hearings on Program Decisions

In case you’ve been denied coverage under Medi-Cal and believe that the decision is wrong, you have the right to file an appeal. You may Request an appeal through the state’s site, by telephone by calling 1-800-300-1506, faxing a charm to 1-888-329-3700, in person by going to the county social services office, or by sending an appeal by mail.

If you’re waiting to learn the status of your application and need emergency medical services, dial 911 and go to your nearest hospital to get medical care. In the event you’ve been approved, Medi-Cal may cover the expense of emergency services retroactively.