Does L.A. Care cover hospital visits?

Asked by: Barrett Senger I  |  Last update: July 18, 2025
Score: 5/5 (7 votes)

L.A. Care covers medically necessary inpatient hospital care when you are admitted to the hospital.

Does L.A. Care cover er visits?

Emergency care is covered at all times and in all places. If you're not sure if you should visit the Emergency Room and need advice, you can: Call the Nurse Advice Line 1-800-249-3619 (TTY 711) Call Member Services at 1-888-839-9909 (TTY 711)

Can you go to any hospital with L.A. Care?

For emergency care, you do not need pre-approval (prior authorization) from L.A. Care. Inside the United States, including any U.S. Territories, you have the right to use any hospital or other setting for emergency care.

Does Medicaid pay for hospital visits?

State Medicaid programs are required to cover inpatient hospital services, that is, services and items furnished by a hospital for the care and treatment of a patient.

Does Medi-Cal fully cover ER visits?

In the event you have a medical emergency before you find a doctor, contact 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital. Medi-Cal does cover emergency services for enrolled members, and if you show your BIC to emergency room staff, Medi-Cal will pay for the services you receive.

L.A. Care Covered Open Enrollment 2020 (English)

30 related questions found

Why is my ER visit not covered by insurance?

According to section 1371.4 of the California Health and Safety Code, coverage of ER visits can only be denied if it is shown the patient “did not require emergency services care and the enrollee reasonably should have known that an emergency did not exist.” The California rule does not rely on a fictitious “prudent ...

How much is an ER visit without insurance in California?

On average, an emergency room visit in California can range anywhere from $150 to over $3,000. This variation is influenced by the facility's location, the complexity of the treatment required, and the presence of additional diagnostic tests.

What does Medi-Cal not cover?

Restricted scope Medi-Cal covers limited services. It does not cover medicine or primary care. If you have pregnancy-related limited scope Medi-Cal, you will have the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, if the service is medically necessary.

Does Medicare cover 100% of hospital bills?

Whether you're new to Original Medicare or have been enrolled for some time, understanding the limitations of your coverage is important as you navigate decisions about your healthcare. One of the main reasons why Original Medicare doesn't cover 100% of your medical bills is because it operates on a cost-sharing model.

Why do hospitals not accept Medicaid?

One reason is that reimbursement rates for Medicaid are lower than for Medicare or commercial insurance. Another (often overlooked) factor, however, is physician's risk of payment denials and the administrative hassle they face trying to get reimbursed by Medicaid.

What is the difference between Medi-Cal and L.A. Care?

L.A. Care is the health plan for Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles County. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) works with L.A. Care to provide your Medi-Cal health care.

Is L.A. Care only for low income?

The Local Initiative Health Authority for Los Angeles County (L.A. Care) is a public agency that provides health insurance for low-income individuals in Los Angeles County through four health coverage programs including Medi-Cal.

Does L.A. Care cover an ambulance?

L.A. Care covers ambulance services to help you get to the nearest place of care in an emergency. This means your condition is serious enough that other ways of getting to a place of care could risk your health or life.

What type of insurance is L.A. Care?

L.A. Care offers a Medi-Cal plan built with our community in mind. Medi-Cal is a public health care program for those with limited income. This free or low-cost public health insurance program pays for medical services for eligible California residents.

Is the emergency room free?

Going to the Hospital Without Insurance

The legal obligation for emergency rooms to treat you whether or not you're insured shouldn't be confused with free treatment. You'll be charged afterwards, whether you can pay or not.

Does L.A. Care have a copay?

Aside from the monthly premium, you may be responsible for paying a charge when you receive a covered service. This charge is called a copayment and is outlined in the Summary of Benefits. If you review your Summary of Benefits, you'll see that the amount of the copayment depends on the service you receive.

What are the 6 things Medicare doesn't cover?

Some of the items and services Medicare doesn't cover include:
  • Eye exams (for prescription eyeglasses)
  • Long-term care.
  • Cosmetic surgery.
  • Massage therapy.
  • Routine physical exams.
  • Hearing aids and exams for fitting them.

How many days will Medicare pay for a hospital stay?

Once you meet your deductible, Part A will pay for days 1–60 that you are in the hospital. For days 61–90, you will pay a coinsurance for each day. If you need to stay in the hospital for longer than 90 days, you can use up to 60 lifetime reserve days.

What covers hospital bills?

Find help paying for medical care
  • Medicaid.
  • Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Medicare.
  • The Affordable Care Act (ACA) / Health Insurance Marketplace.
  • Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

Does Medi-Cal cover er visits?

Restricted Medi-Cal only covers emergency services. It does not cover things like medicine and primary care.

Why do some doctors not accept Medi-Cal?

Why doctors say they don't see Medi-Cal patients. While low reimbursement rates are the most common reason California doctors say they limit the number of Medi-Cal patients they see, the program's administrative burden is also daunting. Source: California Health Care Foundation.

What happens if I go to the hospital without insurance in California?

Uninsured patients: California law now requires hospitals to provide free or discounted care to uninsured patients who earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level. You may qualify if you earn $4,530 per month for one person or up to $9,250 per month for a family of four in 2022.

How much does a 3 day stay in the hospital cost?

It's easy to underestimate how much medical care can cost: Fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500. The average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000.

How do you lower your ER bill?

1. Understand your medical bill.
  1. Request an itemized bill. Like a receipt, an itemized bill breaks down all the charges, including the cost of each procedure, medication, and service. ...
  2. Double-check your medical codes. ...
  3. Compare prices. ...
  4. Offer to pay upfront. ...
  5. Try a payment plan. ...
  6. Negotiate based on comparable rates.